Checking date: 06/05/2025 14:43:30


Course: 2025/2026

Research Methodology in Digital Information
(17455)
Bachelor in Management of Information and Digital Contents (Study Plan 2017) (Plan: 376 - Estudio: 340)


Coordinating teacher: LASCURAIN SANCHEZ, MARIA LUISA

Department assigned to the subject: Library and Information Sciences Department

Type: Basic Core
ECTS Credits: 6.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:

Branch of knowledge: Social Sciences and Law



Requirements (Subjects that are assumed to be known)
"There are no prerequisites required to take the course; however, it is recommended to have basic knowledge of statistics and spreadsheet management."
Objectives
It is intended that students access to a basic theoretical knowledge to understand what scientific activity consists of, as well as practical knowledge to be able to apply them to different research processes. To achieve the proposed objective, in addition to offering a scientific perspective in the field of digital information, which allows expanding the scientific basis of this discipline, they are provided with the fundamental methodological tools that will help them plan, manage and evaluate the processes that are carry out in any organization in a scientific and professional manner.
Learning Outcomes
K1: Know the principles and values of democracy and sustainable development, in particular, respect for human rights and fundamental rights, gender equality and non-discrimination, the principles of universal accessibility and climate change. K2: Know basic humanistic contents, oral and written expression, following ethical principles and completing a multidisciplinary training profile. K3: Identify and analyze research methodologies and sources to develop academic work in the field of digital information management K4: Understand and apply the fundamental theories, instruments and techniques to manage information in digital media, covering its organization, control, communication and preservation K5: Know the fundamental theories, instruments and techniques for managing information in digital media, covering its organization, control, communication and preservation K6: Know models of information retrieval and visualization using database systems and visual representation methods. K7: Understand the fundamentals of statistics and quantitative analysis to interpret data, as well as the appropriate techniques for their collection and processing, understanding different structures, social contexts and user needs. S1: Plan and organize teamwork by making correct decisions based on available information and gathering data in digital environments. S2: Use the information by interpreting relevant data, avoiding plagiarism, and in accordance with the academic and professional conventions of the area of study, being able to evaluate the reliability and quality of said information. S3: Apply digital information management principles in different organizational environments, ensuring effective communication of processes and results to stakeholders. S5: Be able to design, manage, and operate with information through database systems, demonstrating skill in information retrieval and the use of query languages to meet complex information needs. S6: Be able to collect, process, cleanse and aggregate data by understanding the needs of users and organizations and how they need them. S7: Experiment with data visualization tools to represent information intuitively, properly presenting the results to different types of audiences. S10: Apply statistical analysis techniques and metric studies to evaluate and measure the impact of data in digital environments. S12: Be able to advise on the definition of strategy and project management regarding tracking, indexing, content structuring, link building, etc C1: Know and be able to manage interpersonal skills on initiative, responsibility, conflict resolution, negotiation, among others, which are required in the professional field. C2: Be able to apply knowledge in a professional way in solving specific digital information management problems using the tools and techniques learned in the academic field C3: Demonstrate ability in the development and execution of digital content projects autonomously working in multidisciplinary teams. C4: Capacity for continuous autonomous learning that facilitates adaptation to new situations and the updating of knowledge in the field of digital information.
Description of contents: programme
T1. Science and Scientific Knowledge T2. Research in Social Sciences T3. Different Perspectives on Information Research T4. Stages of the Research Process: The Problem T5. Stages of the Research Process: Hypotheses and Variables T6. Stages of the Research Process: The Design T7. Stages of the Research Process: Sample, Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data T8. Presenting the Results T9. The Role of Digital Media in Research
Learning activities and methodology
Theoretical, theoretical-practical and practical classes: Acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge (4 ECTS) through the theoretical and practical classes, teaching materials prepared by the teacher, online tutorials, specialized readings and comments on the readings, as well as the personal study of the students. It is related to the CB1, CB5, CG2, CG4 and CG5 competitions. Individual or group work of the student Acquisition of skills and abilities (2 ECTS) through practices in which the acquired knowledge will be applied for the design, development, obtaining of results, discussion and extraction of conclusions in a research work. It is related to the CB3, CB5, CG5 and CT3 competences.
Assessment System
  • % end-of-term-examination/test 60
  • % of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 40

Calendar of Continuous assessment


Extraordinary call: regulations
Basic Bibliography
  • Alison, J. P. . Research Methods in Information. Facet Publishing. 2017
  • Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). The Sage handbook of qualitative research. Sage. 2011
  • Dochartaigh, N. Ó. . Internet research skills.. Sage. 2012
  • Egghe, L., & Rousseau, R. . Introduction to informetrics: Quantitative methods in library, documentation and information science. Elsevier Science Publishers. 1990
  • Gauchi Risso, V.. Research methods used in library and information science during the 1970-2010. New Library World, 117(1/2), 74-93. 2016
  • Hernández Sampieri, R., Fernández Collado, C., & Baptista Lucio, P. . Metodología de la Investigación. Sexta Edición. Editorial Mc Graw Hill. México. 2014
  • Hernández Sampieri, R., Fernández Collado, C., & Baptista Lucio, P. . Metodología de la Investigación. Sexta Edición. Editorial Mc Graw Hill. México. 2016
  • Hesse-Biber, S. N., & Leavy, P. (Eds.). Handbook of emergent methods. Guilford Press. 2010
  • Hjørland, B.. Domain analysis in information science: eleven approaches¿traditional as well as innovative. Journal of documentation, 58(4), 422-462. 2002
  • Hjørland, B. . Library and information science: practice, theory, and philosophical basis. Information processing & management, 36(3), 501-531. 2000
  • López-Roldán, P., & Fachelli, S. . Metodología de la investigación social cuantitativa. Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès): Dipòsit Digital de Documents, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. 2015
  • Ruíz Olabuénaga, J. I. . Metodología de la investigación cualitativa. Universidad de Deusto. Bilbao. 2012
  • Sloan, L., & Quan-Haase, A. (Eds.) . The SAGE handbook of social media research methods. Sage. 2017
  • Togia, A., & Malliari, A. . Research Methods in Library and Information Science. InTech. 2017
  • Vaishnavi, V. K., & Kuechler, W. . Design Science Research Methods and Patterns: Innovating Information and Communication Technology, 2nd Edition. CRC Press. 2015
  • Walliman, N. . Research methods: The basics. Routledge. 2017
Additional Bibliography
  • Anderson, C. . The end of theory: The data deluge makes the scientific method obsolete. Wired magazine, 16(7), 16-07. 2008
  • Buchanan, E. A., & Ess, C. M. . Internet research ethics and the institutional review board: Current practices and issues. ACM SIGCAS Computers and Society, 39(3), 43-49. 2009
  • Couper, M. . Designing effective web surveys (Vol. 75). New York: Cambridge University Press. 2008
  • Gosling, S. D., & Johnson, J. A.. Advanced methods for conducting online behavioral research. American Psychological Association. 2010
  • Gunter, B., Nicholas, D., Huntington, P., & Williams, P. . Online versus offline research: implications for evaluating digital media. Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 54 (4), 229-239. 2002
  • Hanna, P. . Using internet technologies (such as Skype) as a research medium: A research note. Qualitative Research, 12(2), 239-242. 2012
  • Houghton, J., Steele, C., & Henty, M.. Research practices and scholarly communication in the digital environme. Learned Publishing, 17 , 231¿249. 2004
  • Hussein, A. . The use of triangulation in social sciences research: Can qualitative and quantitative methods be combined?. Journal of Comparative Social Work, 1, 1-12. 2009
  • Jensen, K. B. (Ed.). A handbook of media and communication research: Qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Routledge. 2013
  • Julien, H., Pecoskie, J. J., & Reed, K. . Trends in information behavior research, 1999¿2008: A content analysis. Library & Information Science Research, 33(1), 19-24. 2011
  • Karpf, D. . Social science research methods in Internet time. Information, Communication & Society, 15(5), 639-661. 2012
  • Mahrt, M., & Scharkow, M.. The value of big data in digital media research. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 57(1), 20-33. 2013
  • Mazzocchi, F. . Could Big Data be the end of theory in science?: A few remarks on the epistemology of data¿driven science. EMBO reports, 16(10), 1250-1255. 2015
  • Neuendorf, K. A. . The content analysis: Guidebook. Los Angeles: SAGE. 2017
  • Ramírez Atehortúa, F. H. & Zwerg-Villegas, A. M. . Metodología de la investigación: más que una receta. AD-minister, (20), 91-111. 2012
  • Salaverría, R. . Ideas para renovar la investigación sobre medios digitales. El profesional de la información, 24(3), 223-226. 2015
  • Shah, D. V., Cappella, J. N., & Neuman, W. R. . Big data, digital media, and computational social science: Possibilities and perils. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 659(1), 6-13. 2015
  • Sonnenwald, D. H.. Theory development in the information sciences. University of Texas Press. 2016
  • Tredinnick, L., & Laybats, C. . Evaluating digital sources: Trust, truth and lies. Business Information Review, 34(4), 172¿175. 2017

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.