Learning Objectives

• This curricular unit aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for the successful development of their doctoral thesis in Bioethics.
• By the end of this curricular unit, students should be able to:
• Acquire the skills necessary to develop a well-structured, substantiated, and appropriately scheduled doctoral thesis project;
• Develop a research plan, identifying scientific questions and objectives, selecting the most appropriate methodologies for data collection, interpreting results, and presenting conclusions in accordance with the theoretical framework studied;
• Identify ethical issues in research, as well as matters relating to research ethics and scientific integrity, including submission procedures to Ethics Committees (CECs);
• Prepare a final written document presenting their research project, present it publicly, and defend it before an examination panel;
• Understand the processes of scientific communication, publication, and peer review.

Syllabus

• The nature of a research project.
• Structure of a research project.
• Development of the project's theoretical framework: literature review and bibliographic research.
• Identification of research topics, problems, and scientific questions.
• Identification of ethical considerations and compliance with scientific integrity principles at each stage of the research process.
• Criteria for selecting the thesis supervisory team.
• Research planning and scheduling.
• Academic and scientific research regulations, and funding.
• Research methodologies.
• Scientific communication.

NOTE: The course content for each topic should be tailored to each student and their individual thesis project. The programme coordination team, together with the thesis supervisory teams, will ensure appropriate guidance and support throughout this process.

Assessment

Formative assessment in this curricular unit will take place through the various presentations students are required to deliver, for which appropriate and timely feedback will be provided.

Summative assessment will take place at the end of the academic year. It will be based on the preparation of a written document and the public presentation and defence of the thesis project before an appointed examination panel composed of experts in the chosen research field.

Throughout the curricular unit, each student will be required to deliver presentations to the class, addressing the following aspects of their research project:

Introduction (e.g., research topic, problem, scientific questions, and objectives).

Theoretical and Conceptual Framework.

Methodological Approach.

Expected Results.

These presentations will be scheduled according to the development and progress of each student's work.

The final assessment will be weighted as follows:

Class Presentations: 20%

Final Written Assignment: 50%

Public Presentation and Defence of the Thesis Project: 30%