Overall objectives:

0 - This curricular unit aims to promote the acq uisition of introductory knowledge about scientific research methodology and its application to the methods and designs of research in Psychology. Students shall accomplish the following specific goals:
1 - Perspective science and scientific research in the frame of the several sources of knowledge
2 - Recognize the indispensability of scientific research for the advancement of knowledge in Psychology.
3 - Identify the main ethical implications associated with research in Psychology.
4 - Characterize the underlying paradigms and methodological scope of main research approaches (quantitative qualitative and mixed designs).
5 - Identify and characterize the main stages of the scientific research process.
6 - Differentiate between quantitative and qualitative research plans.
7 - Increase scientific curiosity and critical thinking through the anal ysis of different research outputs (e.g., theoretical and empirical articles).

Syllabus:

1 - Introduction to Research in Educational Psychology.
1.1 - Sources of knowledge.
1.2 - Characteristics of the s cientific knowledge.
1.3 - Objectives of scientific research.
1.4 - Scientific method and the logic o f the research process.
1.5 - Ethical implications of research in Psychology.
2 - Introduction to research methodology.
2.1 - Stages of the scientific research process.
2.2 - Research approaches: main assumptions and methodological scope.
3 - Quantitative research plans (experimental, quasi-experimental, non experimental).
4 - Qualitative research plans (e.g., case-study, grounded theory, phenomenology, ethnography).
5 - Validity of empirical research.

Literature/Sources:

Alferes, V. , 1997 , Investigação Científica em Psicologia , Lisboa: Almedina
Almeida, L. & Freire, T. , 2008 , Metodologia da Investigação em Psicologia e Educação , Braga: Psiquilibrios
American Psychology Association , 2010 , APA Publications Manual , Washington, D.C.: Author
Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. , 2001 , Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for generalized causal inference , Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Coutinho, C. P. , 2011 , Meto dologia de investigação em ciências sociais e humanas: Teoria e prática , Coimbra: Almedina
Creswell, J . W. , 2009 , Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches , Los Angeles: Sage
Flick, U. , 2005 , Métodos Qualitativos na investigação científica , Lisboa: Monitor
Martins, C. , 2011 , Manual de análise de dados quantitativos com recurso ao IBM SPSS: Saber decidir, fazer, interpretar e redigir , Braga: Psiquilibrios
Marôco, J. , 2018 , Análise Esta tística com o SPSS Statistics , Lisboa: Report Number

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
In theoretical classes the lecture methods will consist on the explanation and exposition of the topics, and also can be combined with the interrogative method. In more practical classes the active participation of the students will be promoted by analyzing several research outputs and related tasks. Assessment methodology will follow the model b of the assessment regulation of the University of Madeira, including: a theoretical component (e.g., Individual test accounting for 50% of the final grade) and a practical component (e.g., individual and group assignments, practical research reports accounting for 50% of the final grade).