370007 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Subject type: Mandatory

Coordinator: Judith Turrión Prats

Trimester: Third term

Credits: 4

• Catalan
• English

Check the schedules of the different groups to know the language of teaching classes. Although the material can be in any of the three languages.

This subject aims to delve deeper into the bases of the scientific method and provide students with the basic work tools to be able to design and execute a research project. On the other hand, improve your skills to use a series of instruments and tools that allow you to manage the different steps of the research process more efficiently and communicate your results more effectively: research tools and information management ; text processing and editing; organization and data processing; and presentation and communication of results.

Also, knowing and mastering the characteristics of the scientific method is of crucial importance in the business world: setting questions, carefully observing reality through the collection of data and verifiable facts, formulating and contrasting hypotheses, drawing conclusions and reformulating the problems and questions we ask ourselves is fundamental to the functioning of markets, companies, and organizations.

This subject has the following specific objectives:

1. Provide students with a basic knowledge of the scientific method and a set of fundamental skills to apply it to their academic and professional activities.
2. Convey the importance of the use of empirical data and databases and provide the basic tools to organize and present the information derived from this data in the form of diagrams, graphs, tables, etc. using the appropriate software.
3. Develop useful communication skills for the presentation of the results of a research project, or any academic or professional work, from the design of the contents and materials used in a presentation, to the most effective strategies in oral communication for present ideas effectively and efficiently.

Block 1. Background and research question

1. Research approach
2. Sources of information
3. Citation
4. Critical reading
5. Elaboration of antecedents
6. Objectives and hypotheses

Block 2. Academic written communication

1. The formal registration
2. Organization of written work
3. Editing and presentation of formal documents

Block 3. Academic oral communication

1. Elements of communication
2. Oral communication strategies
3. Planning, design and execution of academic presentations.

Block 4. Data collection and analysis methodology

1.  Quantitative Methodologies vs. qualitative
2. The data collection process
   1. Quantitative methodology
   2. Qualitative methodology
3. Presentation of results

• FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES (20%). It includes the class activities and delivery of activities proposed throughout the course. This grade cannot be recovered. 
• TEAMWORK (10%). Teamwork skills are assessed at different times during the course, both outside and inside the classroom. This grade cannot be recovered.
• ORAL COMMUNICATION (10%). Oral communication skills will be assessed through different activities throughout the course. This grade cannot be recovered.
• PROJECT (30%). A project will be proposed that will be worked on as a team throughout the course to put into practice the knowledge developed throughout the subject, as well as the competence of Written Communication (which will represent ⅓ of the project's overall grade). This grade can be recovered. It is necessary to get a grade equal to or higher than 5 in the delivery of the project to pass the subject. If the project grade is below 5, all team members will have to redo it and resubmit it for recovery. 
• FINAL EXAM (30%). It will consist of a written test in which concepts worked on in the subject will be evaluated. It can be recovered. It is necessary to get a grade in the exam equal to or higher than 5 to pass the subject.

RECOVERY. Students will be retaken if the exam and/or project grade is lower than 5 out of 10 points. Only students who have taken part in the regular call (that is, those who have done the project and the exam beforehand) can apply for recovery.

Under no circumstances can students receive help from third parties for any course evaluation activity; and if this happens, the student will lose all the right to continue with the remaining assessments of the subject. The teaching staff may summon the student to make the necessary clarifications in case of doubt about the originality of the activities.

Amat Salas, Oriol., & Rocafort Nicolau, Alfredo. (2017). How to do research?: final degree thesis, master's thesis, doctoral thesis and other research projects (First ed.). Barcelona: Profit Editorial.

McGregor, Sue L. (2017). Understanding and evaluating research: A critical guide. Sage Publications.

Dad, Bora. (2022). Introduction to research methods: A hands-on approach. Sage publications.

Lluch, Gemma., & Nicolás, Miquel. (2015). Academic writing: planning, documentation, writing, citation and models. Barcelona: Editorial UOC.

Turull, Max (2017). Work and communication techniques: tools for the legal and social sciences. Barcelona: Huygens Publishing

Ang, Siah. (2014). Research design for business & management. SAGE Publications Ltd, https://www.doi.org/10.4135/9781473909694

Philips, Richard and Johns, Jennifer (2023). Fieldwork for Social Research: A student's Guide. Sage Publications

Creswell, John W., & Creswell, J. David. (2022). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.