Class Scientific Research Methodology

The syllabus of this course is comprehensive: it seeks to standardize previous knowledge in this area, so it approaches research methodologies from a quantitative and qualitative perspective (not forgetting the comparative historical method). It also addresses scientific writing and academic fraud.

Not applicable

Contents Science, scientific knowledge, common sense Paradigms and methodologies: quantitative and qualitative The research process Hypotheses, variables, nature and measurement levels Types of designs and research processes Survey and interview Quantitative methodologies and data analyse: the importance of descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistical packages for data processing: SPSS Sampling: quantitative and qualitative samples Qualitative methodologies: their importance. Free observation and participant observation The life stories The comparative method and comparative historical analysis The importance of document analysis, Content analysis Scientific writing The APA Rules Strategies for disseminating scientific results

Critical reviews of scientific articles will be included with special focus on the methodology used.

Box-Steffensmeier, J. M., Brady, H. E., & Collier, D., eds. (2008). The Oxford Handbook of Political Methodology. Oxford University Press.   Della Porta, D. e Keating, M., eds. (2008). Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences. CUP.   Gonçalves, S., Gonçalves, J. & Marquers, C. G. (2022). Manual de Investigação Qualitativa. Pactor.   McNabb, D. (2010). Research Methods for Political Science: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. ME Sharpe.   Nina, S. R., Silveira, P., Terrenas, J., & Reis, L. (Coords.) (2024). Manual de Métodos de Investigação em Ciência Política. Almedina.