Research Methods in Development Studies (1 º Sem 2019/2020)

This curricular unit aims at to introduce the PhD students to the process of scientific research, and to offer an overview of research methods and analytical tools used in research in the field of Development Studies, intending to provide students with basic capacities to conduct scientific research in this area of studies. Emphasis will be put on basic epistemological considerations on research, the nature and stages of the research design and the research process, how to formulate research questions and research hypotheses, the use of secondary sources and the collection of primary data, and the use of qualitative and quantitative data (dichotomy among both and the approach of a complementary use of both).