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PORT30230

Academic Year 2026/2027

Research Methodologies (PORT30230)

Subject:
Portuguese
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Ana Vera
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Are you interested in developing a research project of your own in Portuguese, Lusophone, and/or Iberian Studies? Would you like to develop the skills that will help you to pursue research projects in these areas? Do you enjoy thinking and writing about language(s) and cultural issues and discussing your ideas with your peers?

This module introduces students to the main principles and practices of academic research in Portuguese, Lusophone, and Iberian Studies. It supports students in the early stages of developing a research project by guiding them through different stages: defining and developing a dissertation proposal, reviewing relevant secondary literature and theoretical approaches, identifying and analysing appropriate materials, and acquiring practical skills in bibliographic research, referencing, quotation, translation, and analysis of materials.

PORT30230 Research methodologies (Autumn – part 1) is aligned with PORT30240 Research Themes (Spring – part 2), preparing students to undertake a dissertation in Portuguese, Lusophone, and/or Iberian Studies (in the Spring). However, students may take it independently. Those who do not intend to pursue a research project/dissertation in the spring will still gain relevant methodological and analytical skills.

English is the main working language. No Portuguese language skills are required to register for this module.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students should be able to:

- define a clear and viable research problem/topic and demonstrate critical awareness of relevant primary and secondary materials.
- understand and apply appropriate methodological and theoretical approaches
- work with and analyse materials in one or more languages
- present research following appropriate academic conventions, including MHRA referencing.
- give constructive feedback and interact effectively and respectfully with other students, listen to and learn from others.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction to key principles of academic research in Portuguese, Lusophone, and Iberian Studies.
Seminars will explore:
- What research is: interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity, and methodological positioning
- Developing a viable research question and proposal
- Working with primary materials (texts, films, archives, digital sources)
- Reviewing secondary literature: bibliographic revision and theoretical approaches.

Students engage in practical, task-based activities such as reverse engineering academic articles or dissertation chapters, conducting targeted bibliographic searches, and practising quotation, referencing, and analytical writing.
Throughout, students develop skills in peer feedback, oral presentation, and collaborative discussion, supporting the preparation of their dissertation proposal, literature review, and research presentation.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Competent

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Competent

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Competent

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Competent

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Competent

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Competent

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Competent

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Advanced Beginner

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Competent

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

8
Project Supervision

4
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

60
Total

122

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This is a small-group module delivered through two-hour seminars held every two or three weeks, with some independent work in between.
Seminars are centred on active, task-based learning, including structured discussions, student-led presentations, and peer feedback. The module develops advanced research, writing, and citation skills through a series of written assignments that might be linked to the student’s dissertation topic. It also supports work with primary materials, including practices of quotation and analysis. Independent learning is fostered through guided preparation, learning activities, and student-led discussion.

Note on IA: AI may be used to help with the refinement of expression and style, but AI must be used critically, with an awareness of its limitations. You must add a note documenting and explaining your use of AI, mentioning the AI tool you used and the prompts you put in. The content and argument of the written assessment must be authored by you, and you must not allow the AI tool to alter the sense of any text, offer a critique of or modify any arguments.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

This module is targeted at Final‑Year students and provides foundational preparation for the Spring module PORT30240 Research Themes in Portuguese.
PORT30230 Research methodologies (Autumn – part 1) is aligned with PORT30240 Research Themes (Spring – part 2), preparing students to undertake a dissertation in Portuguese, Lusophone, and/or Iberian Studies (in the Spring).


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Individual project: Dissertation Proposal outlining research aims, questions, key sources, and methodological approach (500 words). Week 7 Graded No
20
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Literature Review (2,000 words): Critical review of secondary literature, assessing key debates and theoretical approaches related to the research/dissertation proposal
 Week 15 Graded No
40
 No
Individual Project: Oral Presentation (Sources and Research): In-class oral presentations on key primary materials and relevant scholarship for the dissertation/research topic proposed. Week 10, Week 11 Graded No
20
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Participation in Learning Activities: Seminar Participation: Assessed on active participation, preparation, and contribution to discussions and peer feedback. Week 2, Week 4, Week 7, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No
20
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Students are not required to purchase any materials for this module. All readings and specified learning materials will be made available on Brightspace

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Fri 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Fri 13:00 - 13:50
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