Cursos / 1º Ciclo / Institute of Psychology and Educational Sciences :: Psychology

MÉTODOS DE OBSERVAÇÃO E ENTREVISTA - 2021/2022

1º curricular year
Semestralidade: 2nd semester
ECTS: 3

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Prof. Doutora Isabel Torres
Assistant Professor: Prof. Doutora Isabel Torres

Class type and School hours

Teórico-prática : 2 Horas

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

The aim of this course is to obtain knowledge (and practice) on how to conduct an observation and an interview within psychological research and practice.

Specific Aims/Objectives

Students should:
- Recognize observation and interview as specific techniques for psychological research and practice;
- Describe the phases, techniques and skills of observation and psychological interview, as well as the respective contexts of application;
- Describe the objectives, planning and evaluation of focus groups, as well as the role of the moderator.

Skills to be acquired

By the end of the course, students should demonstrate their ability to conduct a psychological interview and an observation, distinguish main steps, processes and techniques, and their adequacy to specific contexts of psychological research and practice. They also should be able to conduct focus group.

Teaching Procedures

Classes will include lecture and discussion, but students? participation will be strongly encouraged. Mandatory and complementary readings for each class will be indicated as teaching and learning method will stress students? active role. Practical exercises will be provided during classes.

Programme

I. The Interview as a method of collecting data in Psychology
1. Introduction to the interview method: the interview as a qualitative approach and its specificities
2. Basic aspects of the interview technique: relationship, interview sequence, structuring, conduction and direction, question formulation, reformulation, adaptation to the specific characteristics of the individual.
3. Basic approach to interview skills:
A. The empathic relationship and active listening.
B. Psychologist attitudes and behaviors: Neutrality, Behaviors and responses to type situations
C. Verbal and non-verbal communication. Basic interpersonal communication skills. Strategies for establishing a trust relationship. Obstacles to communication.
4. Pragmatic psychological interview: Facilitating external conditions: the setting, the space, the time.
5. Techniques of the interview: questioning, reflection, reformulation, clarification, confrontation, self-revelation, silence, exploration, restructuring, interpretation, humor, generalization, focus.
6. The History of Life and anamnesis: description of the components, sequence, structure and context. Psychological / emotional aspects of anamnesis: its exploration, identification and valuation in the individual context of the subject.

II. Observation as a method of data collection in Psychology
1. Observation as scientific method: Introduction, observation versus experimentation, phases of the observational method, advantages, limitations and difficulties of observations.
2. Degree of observer participation: external or non-participant observation, internal or participant observation, and self-observation.
3. The observer as researcher: Characteristics, role to be developed, ethical principles of the observer, relation between observer and observer, problems originated by the observer, training and improvement of observers.
4. Systematization of observation: Control levels: occasional or uncontrolled observation, controlled observation and systematized observation.
5. Techniques for recording observations.

III. The Focus Group as a method of collecting data in Psychology
1. Characteristics and Specificities.
2. The role and powers of the moderator.
3. The composition of the group.

Evaluation Type

The evaluation will be carried out through:
1) Simulation of a psychological interview and its written report;
2) Observation of the simulations with delivery of the respective grid;
3) 2 Tests.

Teaching Resources

Computer.

Sustainability Objectives

Keywords

- Observation
- Interview
- Focus group

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography