Sumários

Cartography

27 Março 2026, 11:00 Ana Isabel Oliveira Delicado

 Graphic semiology basics
 Map analysis


Research methodologies in social sciences: potential and limitations

20 Março 2026, 11:00 Ana Isabel Oliveira Delicado

• Qualitative and quantitative methodologies: characteristics and procedures
 Interviews and fieldwork. Surveys (construction, application, and data analysis)
 Participatory Science and Citizen Science methodologies
• Research examples


Research methodologies in environmental sciences

13 Março 2026, 11:00 Ana Isabel Oliveira Delicado

Environmental systems: components, relationships and boundaries. Spatial and temporal scope of research.
The scientific process in environmental sciences: basic sciences vs applied sciences.
Scientific method: from observation to hypothesis; from hypothesis to its confirmation or refutation.
Limits of application to environmental sciences. Methodologies and methods in environmental sciences: descriptive and normative. Numerical observations and quantitative analysis tools. The interface with social sciences.
Prospective methods: extrapolation vs. envisioning.
The role of non-scientists in environmental science research.
The normative value of sustainability in environmental science research.


Process Methodology and epistemological issues

6 Março 2026, 11:00 Ana Isabel Oliveira Delicado

 The design and construction process of a Research Project
 Clarification of the intriguing question and its background
 Identification and critical review of relevant bibliography.
 Formulation and justification of the problem and identification and demonstration of the relevance of the research object.
 The planning of work and the calibration of the plan in relation to the resources that can be mobilised
 The critical monitoring of the processes of construction and execution of the project.
 Some operational concepts: Theorem and hypotheses. Observing and measuring. Experimentation. Explanation and cause. Proof and evidence.


Course Presentation

27 Fevereiro 2026, 11:00 João Pedro Gouveia

- Why this Course and its objectives
- Course structure and content
- Evaluation
- Discussion with students of their research topis