Class Methodology and Scientific Research Project

This curricular unit aims to give students the appropriate skills for structuring thought that will allow them to create the idea that will lead to the theme they intend to develop within the scope of their research, as well as guide the research of sources and formal forms of presentation and submission of work.  

Not applicable

1. Preliminary considerations of scientific research methodology. 2. Key notions and terminology. 3. The scientific text: factors of valuation. 4. The choice of theme. 5. The research process. 5.1 Planning: choosing the topic and the supervisor, identifying the problem or research questions, the timetable, bibliographic and jurisprudential research. 5.2 The research of the sources: prior questions, the libraries, bibliographical and archive files, jurisprudence and legislation, reading sheets and reading notes. 5.3 Structuring the text. 5.4 The drafting: footnotes, citation, bibliographical references in footnotes, organization of the final bibliography, revision and final formatting of the text. 6. Ethical considerations. Intellectual humility. Plagiarism and self-plagiarism. Academic fraud and intellectual dishonesty. 7. Relevant factors of a thesis. 8. Public defence. 9. Publishing the text.

The curricular unit is taught as a seminar system, so the assessment is based on the students’ participation in the works prepared and debated in continuous assessment. This participation includes the presentation and discussion of a written article, prepared through individual tutoring. In the first classes, the stages and the main concepts and methods involved in the research process will be presented. The sessions include an expository part but involve permanent interaction with the students. The student must write a research proposal on a selected topic, ideally related to the topic he intends to work on in the thesis. 

Poças, L. (2021). Manual de Investigação em Direito. Metodologia da preparação de teses e artigos jurídicos. Coimbra. Almedina Vilelas, J. (2020). Investigação. O processo de construção do conhecimento. Lisboa. Edições Sílabo Larenz, K. (2010). Metodologia da Ciência do Direito. Lisboa. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian Aragão, A. (2009). “Breves reflexões em torno da investigação jurídica”. Boletim da Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Coimbra. Vol. LXXXV. Coimbra, pp. 765-794 Hespanha, A. (2009). Como preparar uma dissertação: um guia em cinco pontos, FDUNL. Disponível em https://www.scribd.com/document/170566570/AMH-2012-Como-elaborar-uma-dissertacao, consultado em 22/07/2024. Meirim, J. M, (2008). Como pesquisar e referir em Direito. Coimbra. Coimbra Editora Eco, U. (1998). Como se faz uma tese em ciências humanas. Lisboa. Presença.