Class Introduction to Social Sciences Methodology

This curricular unit intends to convey an introductory knowledge to Social Sciences research
methodologies, in general, and, in particular, in Human Resources Management. At the same time, this
curricular unit will ground the preparation of academic studies or papers, throughout the degree, in order
to bounce scientific accuracy and notation.
To this end, emphasis is placed on the concepts of science and on the general and initial notions about
writing articles and academic and scientific documents; the phases to be fulfilled for the elaboration of a
research work and data colection tools  as well to induce individual and group skills on oral and written communication.

1. Methodological Principles of Social Science Production
   Norms for the production of scientific texts (PT and APA Style)
   Abstracts, citations and references, communication and scientific stylistics

2. Epistemology of science and scientific knowledge
   Scientific Knowledge and other forms of knowledge
   Social Sciences and their specificities
   Constraints to scientific knowledge production
3. Planning and the research process
   Types of research
   From the starting question to the construction of a model
   Choice of field of analysis and method, Universe/sample and sampling methods
   Data description and variable definition
4. The Data Collection
   Research Methods and Techniques
   Intensive vs. extensive method or qualitative vs quantitative analysis
   Documentary analysis, Participant observation, Non-participant observation (Interviews,
   Questionnaire survey, Attitude and opinion test and measurement)
   The case study on data triangulation

Active adult education methods will be used, namely: a) classroom debates; B)
viewing of online videos followed by debate; c) group exercises in the classroom, using the
websites of the European Commission and other national and international bodies.

• Haro, F. et al (2018). Investigação em Ciências Sociais: Guia Prático do Estudante, Ed. Pactor, Almedina.
• Quivy, R., Campenhouldt, L.V. (2018), Manual de Investigação em Ciências Sociais , Reimpressão da 1ª edição de 1992. (ULHT, Cota S / 148.5)
• ULHT (2021). Normas para a Elaboração e Apresentação de Teses, Dissertações e outros Trabalhos Académicos. https://www.ulusofona.pt/media/normas_elaboracao_teses_dissertacoes.pdf