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2º Semestre

Biologia da Actividade Física

6.0

Duarte Fernando da Rosa Belo Patronilho de Araújo

To develop theoretical competences to the practice of scientific research, through the systematic study of the fundamental processes and specific strategies of planning, realization, analysis, discussion and presentation of results. To afford the theoretical and methodological discussion of the research questions and the problems in the Human Movement domain.

I. Introduction
Research in human movement science
What is science and scientific research
Ethics in scientific research
II. Starting research
To choose a topic or a problem to research: the questions, the research aims and the means to answer these questions
How to use theories and models, and how to conduct a literature review
III. How to study the selected topic
To choose a method
The nature of the research: variables and measurement, validity, reliability and sensibility
Representative design: Sampling participants and sampling contexts
Data collection
IV. Obtained results
Describe, present and explore data
Interpret and discuss results
V. To communicate the research process
To write a research project
Publish the work on scientific journals

The teaching is both theoretical and practical. The contents are presented as applied to concrete cases of research in the domain of human movement, which in turn are implemented in a research project about a topic selected by the student.
Assessment: Students must conduct a research project, according to their choice. The written report should have a maximum of 10 pages including introduction, methods and references.
The project should be organized as follows: 1. Introduction: Theoretical rationale under the domain of the Master (post-graduation), description of the aims of the study, and hypothesis formulation; 2. Method: 2.1. Sample; 2.2. Material: description of the documents, tools, equipment etc. used for assessment; 2.3. Procedures; 3. References in APA format (6th Edition); The reports should be delivered in a digital format (or optionally in paper).

- Almeida, L., & Freire, T. (2008). Metodologia da Investigação em Psicologia e Educação (5th Ed). Braga: Psiquilibrios.
- Carmo, H., & Ferreira, M. (2008). Metodologia da investigação: Guia para auto-aprendizagem (2nd Ed). Lisboa: Universidade Aberta.
- Nestor, P., & Schutt, R. (2012). Research Methods in Psychology: Investigating Human Behavior. London: Sage.
- Thomas, J., Nelson, J. & Silverman, D. (2005). Research methods in physical activity (5th Ed). Champaign, Il: Human Kinetics.