Formação académica em metodologia qualitativa: Prática pedagógica em Psicologia da Educação

Abstract

The development of research skills is a concern in the academic training of future psychologists. Associated with this concern, there is also a discussion about the most appropriate methodological option for research: quantitative, qualitative or mixed methodology. The main goal of this study is to reflect and to discuss, in a more specific way, the adequacy and the effectiveness of teaching qualitative research, through the presentation of a course of Research Methods. Participants were 12 students (10 women and 2 men), with a mean age of 25.4 years old, who participated in the course of Research Methods II, integrated in the 1st year of the curricular plan of a 2nd cycle course in Educational Psychology, in a Portuguese university. The data were collected through an individual narrative about the functioning of the course and were analyzed using content analysis, based on 2 topics. In the topic Dynamics of Classes were registered categories such as: Classroom climate and motivation, Pedagogical strategies and Teacher’s role. In the topic Qualitative Approach there were categories such as: Clarification and knowledge, Rigor and validity, Experience, and Ethics. The results generally reflect satisfaction with the dynamics of the classes as well as the acquisition of knowledge and qualitative research skills, revealing adequacy and effectiveness of teaching qualitative research. Some considerations are discussed and guidelines for future work are presented.