The teaching aims to provide students with knowledge and skills that involve understanding and constructing a research design, so that they can identify and apply the different phases. The main methods of social research will be described. The following topics will be developed during the course lectures:
a) Paradigm: preliminary definitions
b) Ontology, Epistemology and Method: preliminary definitions
c) Positivism - Post Positivism - Interpretivism - Postmodernism
d) Structure versus Agency
e) Social Theory
f) Scientific Method and its Limits
g) Research Questions
h) Deduction - Induction - Abduction
i) Quantitative versus Qualitative research.
j) Two research studies in brief.
k) The stages of the research process and design.
l) Qualitative techniques: a focus. 1. participant observation; 2. interviews; 3. use of documents.
m) Examples of qualitative research analysed in depth.

Expected learning outcomes.

At the end of the course, the student should possess the following knowledge and skills:
- General knowledge of the main research paradigms and methods.
- Knowledge of the main definitions and key words inherent to social research methods and techniques, with a particular focus on qualitative techniques.
- Ability to analyse and contextualise research.
- Capacity and competence in the formulation of a research design.

Autonomy of judgement
The student will be able to:
- Manifest appropriate critical thinking about paradigms, methods, and techniques of social research.
- Evaluate appropriate research techniques with respect to specific topics and aims.

Communication skills
The student will have the ability to:
- effectively communicate a research project.

Learning skills
The student will be able to:
- Carry out individual and group research on specific aspects of the course.
- Select contents and methods for a research design hypothesis.