1. Learning Objectives – General learning outcomes

This course contributes significantly to the preparation of (i) the various works that the students have to implement during their 5 years of studies and (ii) more over to their diploma thesis, irrespective of the subject under discussion. The course aims to familiarize students not with the techniques and strategies resulting from the adoption of one or another theory but with the logical course to follow in order to answer a research question.

Within the course, after a first introduction to the main subject, the main phases of the research process are examined. As a result, the objective of the course is to offer the opportunity to the students to acquire the knowledge that will enable them to approach scientifically a question and to use one of the data collection techniques (as questionnaire). It therefore contributes significantly to both the preparation of works and the preparation of their thesis.

• Knowledge

At the end of the lesson, the students are able to understand the general methodology required to answer a research question. At the same time, they have gained basic knowledge of conducting a field survey using questionnaires as tool for data collection.

• Skills

Upon completion of the course, the students have acquired the basic methodological skills in order to conduct dissertation and assignment.

• Abilities

Upon completion of the course, the students have gained the necessary capacities in order to respond to a research question, provided that they have acquired the basic theoretical background relative to the different fields taught in the department.

The general skills that the student should have acquired during the course are:

• Independent work
• Collective work
• Exercising criticism and self-criticism
• Promote free, creative and inductive thinking.

In this course, after a first introduction to the main subject, the  basic phases of the research process are successively examined and in particular: the formulation of the central question, the field investigation, the development of the problematic, the structure of the analysis (formulation of the central assumptions, conceptual tools, assumptions and model of analysis), the observation (what? Who? And how do I observe?), the selection of the means used for observation and their examination, the data collection with particular emphasis on the structure of the questionnaire as a method of data collection, the analysis of the data (brief presentation) and finally conclusions.

In particular, the lectures’ schedule is as follows:

1. Introduction: Science (Causality-Objectivity), Theory – Theories / Specificities of Social Sciences
2. Introduction, the approach of the research subject / phases of the research process
3. The formulation of the central research question and the exploration of the scientific field
4. The development of the problematic (part I)
5. The development of the problematic (part II)
6. The structure of the analysis model (part I)
7. The structure of the analysis model (part II)
8. Observation / data collection (part I)
9. Observation / data collection (part II)
10. Observation / data collection (part III)
11. Observation / data collection (part IV)
12. Analyzing the data and formulating the conclusions
13. Writing a scientific paper setting research question.

The course outline mentions how to evaluate students and is available on the website of the department as well as on the open e-class of the university of Thessaly.

The evaluation is based on:

Two (2) small progress tests during the semester that include multiple-choice questions: 20%

The final exam: 65%

and a small individual work to be accomplished before the final exam: 15%

Transparency is fully guaranteed. If there is a divergence of opinion regarding their final assessment, the students have the right to request upgrading from the General Department of the Department.

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