Class Research Methodologies in Communication

The discipline of Research Methodologies in Communication aims to introduce students to the foundations, methods, and stages of scientific research applied in the Social Sciences, with a particular focus on the field of Communication. This course seeks to foster in students the acquisition of skills and techniques necessary for conducting authentic and reliable investigations, as well as the use of specific analytical methods associated with key research methodologies, suitable for both practical market contexts and in-depth academic studies. By the end of this discipline, students will be equipped to select appropriate methodological approaches, carry out precise data collection, rigorously analyze information, and present well-founded results, thereby contributing to the completion of relevant and robust investigations.

• Introduction to scientific research: understanding theoretical and practical fundamentals.
• Planning and development of a research project: strategies for conducting research.
• Research methods: exploration of available methodological approaches.
• Stages of research work: essential stages of the research process.
• Data collection techniques: practical knowledge in data collection methods.
• Digital methods: exploration of digital approaches and tools for data collection, analysis, and visualization.
• Data analysis: examination of statistical and interpretative techniques to extract insights.
• Results interpretation: identification of relevant patterns, relationships, and implications.
• Ethics and research evaluation: ethical principles in research conduct and identification of research limitations and potentials.
• Writing and communication: Skills for composing scientific reports, enabling effective result communication.

Problem-Based Learning (PBL). With this approach, the program aims to engage students in purposeful learning experiences, encouraging them to tackle authentic and relevant challenges of the present. Students are prompted to apply critical thinking throughout the investigative process. This methodology fosters essential skills for both academic and professional contexts, enhancing their learning journey.

• Campenhoudt, L. V., Marquet, J., & Quivy, R. (2019). Manual de Investigação em Ciências Sociais. Gradiva.
• Clark, T., Foster, L., Sloan, L., & Bryman, A. (2021). Bryman’s social research methods. Oxford University Press.
• Coutinho, C. P. (2013). Metodologia de Investigação em Ciências Sociais e Humanas: Teoria e Prática. Almedina.
• Feria Avila, H., Matilla González, M. ., & Mantecón Licea, S. (2020). La entrevista y la encuesta: ¿Métodos o técnicas de indagación empírica? Didáctica Y Educación, 11(3), 62–79. ISSN 2224-2643
• Parija, S. C. & Kate, V. (2017). Writing and publishing a scientific research paper. Springer.
• Prodanov, C. C. & Freitas, E. C. (2013). Metodologia do trabalho científico: Métodos e Técnicas da Pesquisa e do Trabalho Acadêmico. Feevale.
• Quan-Haase, A., & Sloan, L. (Eds.). (2022). The SAGE handbook of social media research methods. Sage.
• Yin, R. K. (2017). Case study research and applications: Design and Methods. SAGE Publications.