Cursos / 2º Ciclo / Institute of Psychology and Educational Sciences :: Educational Psychology

MÉTODOS DE INVESTIGAÇÃO EM PSICOLOGIA DA EDUCAÇÃO - 2025/2026

1º curricular year
Semestralidade: 1st semester
ECTS: 6

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Prof. Doutora Sofia Marques Ramalho
Assistant Professor: Prof. Doutora Sofia Marques Ramalho

Class type and School hours

Prática Laboratorial : 1 Horas
Teórico-prática : 2 Horas

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

Explore research methods in educational psychology. Promote understanding of the theoretical and practical foundations of different research designs, the ability to present research data, and emphasize the importance of basing educational psychology practice on scientific evidence.

Specific Aims/Objectives

Develop skills in research methods applied to educational psychology, enabling students to formulate research questions and hypotheses, guide the decision-making process regarding the choice of research design, collect and analyze data, and interpret results. Promote critical thinking and prepare students for action research.

Skills to be acquired

- Formulate research problems/objectives.
- Recognize different types of studies in clinical psychology and define appropriate methodologies according to the research problem.
- Perform advanced statistical analysis.
- Develop critical thinking about the process of scientific knowledge creation and foster ethical reflection in the context of educational psychology research.

Teaching Procedures

Articulation between the active and expository method using problem-based learning. Pedagogical techniques such as brainstorming, individual critical analysis of articles, quizzes/serious games, and group pitches on research ideas will be used.

Programme

1. Epistemology of Psychology - Stages of the knowledge creation process
1.1. Epistemology: object and methods
1.2. Major Epistemological Forms/Theories
2. Research in educational psychology
2.1. Problem, objectives, hypotheses, and variables
2.2. Online and face-to-face data collection: Sampling, procedures, instruments, research validity
2.3 Analysis and discussion of results
2.3.1. Statistical significance
2.3.2. Generalization, explanation, and prediction
2.3.3 Regression analysis, moderation/mediation
3. Research plans in educational psychology
3.1. Descriptive and qualitative studies
3.2. Correlational studies
3.3. Experimental and quasi-experimental studies (Randomized Clinical Trials; Studies of psychotherapeutic efficacy and differential efficacy; Evaluation and monitoring of the efficacy of intervention programs)
3.4 Case studies, meta-analyses, and systematic literature reviews
4. Ethical and deontological considerations in research, implications of the use of artificial intelligence

Evaluation Type

Minimum attendance of 70% of classes. The assessment elements are 1 written assignment and 1 written group assignment, with an oral presentation in poster format, involving theoretical reasoning, analysis, and writing of scientific results (60% - 30% + 30%) and a final written exam (40%).

Teaching Resources

Computer and projector for lectures.
Books and scientific articles.

Sustainability Objectives

Ensure access to inclusive, quality, and equitable education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Keywords

Research methods;
Research in Educational Psychology;

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography