Important notice
The course guide is provisional.
The PDF version of the course guide may take a few days to become available in the DDD.

Legal Research Methodology
Code: 42992Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Law | OB | 1 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Joan Cuadrado Soler
- Email :
- joan.cuadrado@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Eliseo Sierra Noguero
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
There are no previous requirements
Objectives
Provide students with the knowledge in the field of legal research and the tools necessary to carry out the Master's degree project
Learning outcomes
- CA08 (Autonomously manage the learning processes necessary to design, write and defend a legal research project, applying the methods and resources learned from this subject.) Autonomously manage the learning processes necessary to design, write and defend a legal research project, applying the methods and resources learned from this subject.
- CA09 (Investigate an issue or problem in the business environment, and provide effective and well-founded solutions.) Investigate an issue or problem in the business environment, and provide effective and well-founded solutions.
- KA09 (Select and compare relevant doctrinal, jurisprudential and regulatory sources to initiate legal research.) Select and compare relevant doctrinal, jurisprudential and regulatory sources to initiate legal research.
- KA10 (Evaluate specialised electronic resources to locate, select and manage legal information for an investigation.) Evaluate specialised electronic resources to locate, select and manage legal information for an investigation.
- KA11 (Identify legal research methods and write texts with appropriate technical criteria.) Identify legal research methods and write texts with appropriate technical criteria.
- SA10 (Differentiate legal research methodologies and their similarities and differences.) Differentiate legal research methodologies and their similarities and differences.
- SA11 (Apply systems for the organisation of legal and doctrinal sources in legal research processes.) Apply systems for the organisation of legal and doctrinal sources in legal research processes.
- SA12 (Use digital tools to draft complex legal documents.) Use digital tools to draft complex legal documents.
Contents
Lesson 1: Scientific research. The research method. Phases of the preparation of the Master's Thesis (TFM)
1. Scientific research.
2. The method of scientific investigation.
3. Phases in the process of preparing the master's thesis.
Lesson 2. Main variables in the initiation to quality research
1. Student motivation. The choice of the research topic. Organization of the research project. Initial scheme and planning of the completion time.
2. The election of the advisor / director of the master's thesis.
Lesson 3: Sources of legal research
1. The sources of the investigation in general.
2. Bibliographic sources. The search for bibliographic sources. Internet use.
3. National and foreign legislation. Comparative law. International and uniform law.
4. The jurisprudence.
5. Scientific doctrine.
Lesson 4: Basic strategies for reading legal texts
1. Selection and evaluation of bibliographic sources.
2. Organization of the research bibliography. Data record, bibliographic records and readings. The ordering of the reading cards
Lesson 5: Structure and writing of the TFM.
1. Classic structure of a master's thesis. The general index.
2. The numbering of the parts, chapters, sections and subsections.
3. The organization of ideas that are the object of the exhibition and the written writing.
4. Source citations and footnotes.
5. Use of italics, capital letters and underlines. Other formal aspects related to the presentation of the work.
6. Observations of the advisor. Correction and reorganization of the text.
7. The conclusions.
8. Complementary elements and indices.
9. Legal argument. The formulation of criticisms and personal opinions.
Lesson 6. The defense of the TFM in court.
1. Delivery of work.
2. Administrative processing and deposit prior to defense.
3. Preparation of the defense.
4. Observations of the court and defense of the master's thesis.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theory lecturers | 36 | 1.44 | CA09, KA11 |
| Personal study | 44 | 1.76 | CA08, CA09, KA09, KA10, KA11, SA10, SA11, SA12 |
| Resolution of exercises | 10 | 0.4 | CA08, CA09, KA09, SA12 |
Each day of class, a system of lecturing the knowledge corresponding to each lesson of the program will be established. Individual and group work will be programmed to apply the acquired knowledge.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final exam | 50 | 4 | 0.16 | KA09, KA11 |
| Assignments | 30% | 20 | 0.8 | CA08, CA09, KA09, KA10, KA11, SA10, SA11, SA12 |
| Attendance and active participation in class | 20% | 36 | 1.44 | CA08, CA09, KA09, KA10, KA11, SA10, SA11, SA12 |
The final mark of every student will be awarded according to the following criteria:
Active participation in class will be valued (20% of the final grade) and the realization of the proposed practices (30%). The final exam will be performed (50%), with the following content:
- Theoretical exam consisting of several questions of the theory taught.
- Practical exam for correcting citations from research sources.
- Sending through the virtual campus (aula moodle) of the provisional index and of about 10-15 pages of the TFM, written according to the knowledge of the subject.
Once the evaluation has been communicated, a review may be requested in order for the Professor to explain the applied criteria to the student (art. 114.3 UAB Academic Regulations),
without prejudice to the student's rights to challenge the grade.
The date of the final exam of the subject is scheduled in the exam calendar of the Faculty.
The scheduling of the evaluation tests cannot be modified, unless there is an exceptional and duly justified reason why an evaluation act cannot be carried out. In this case, the people responsible for the Master Degree, after consulting the lecturers and the student, will propose a new schedule within the corresponding school period (art. 115.1 Calendar of evaluation activities, UAB Academic Regulations).
To pass the subject, the student must have participated in the three evaluation activities and to obtain at least a 3,5 at the final exam. To take the final exam, it is necessary to attend at 90% of the classes.
To retake the exam, it is necessary to have obtained at least 3 in each of the three evaluation activities. Students who retake the exam may obtain a maximum grade of 7 in the subject.
It will be considered that a student who participates in any of the continuous evaluation activities will no longer be eligible for a “non-evaluable” status.
This subject/module does not provide for a single evaluation system.
AI Usage Policy: For this module, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for activities specified by the teaching staff. Students must clearly identify which parts were generated using this technology, specify the tools employed, and include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Failure to be transparent about the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may result in a partial or total grade penalty, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.
Committing any irregularity during an assessment activity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or the improper use of AI—unless such use is expressly authorized in the course syllabus) that could lead to a significant change in the grade will result in that activity being graded as a 0. If multiple irregularities occur across assessment activities for the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0. Furthermore, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits such irregularities.
Bibliography
BAELO ÁLVAREZ, M. y HAZ GÓMEZ, F. E., Metodología de investigación en ciencias sociales y jurídicas, Tirant, Valencia, 2019 (disponible en los recursos on line de la UAB).
BARRETO POZO, Antonio, LOZANO RODRÍGUEZ, Eleonora, Metodologías de investigación jurídica: experiencias y desafíos del oficio de investigar en Derecho, Ediciones Uniandes, 2021,
BELL, Judith, Cómo hacer tu primer trabajo de investigación. Guía para investigadores en educación y ciencias sociales (trad. de R. Filella), Gedisa Ed., Barcelona, 2005.
BLAXTER, L., HUGHES, CH., TIGHT, M., Cómo se hace una investigación (trad. de G. VENTUREIRA), 2ª reimp., Gedisa Ed., Barcelona, 2002 (disponible en los recursos on line de la UAB).
CALZADILLA MEDINA, Marina Aránzazu et al, Iniciación a la investigación jurídica, Dykinson, 2021.
CID, P., PERPINYA, R., Cómo y dónde buscar fuentes de información. Servei de Publicacions de la UAB, Bellaterra, 2013 (disponible en los recursos on line de la UAB).
ECO, H., Cómo se hace una tesis, 1ª reimp., Gedisa Ed., México, 2004.
GÓMEZ, M., Introducción a la metodología de la investigación, 2ª ed., 2009 (disponible en los recursos on line de la UAB).
MARVÁN LABORDE, María (coord.), Metodologías de investigación jurídica y fenómenos de relevancia jurídica, UNAM, 2022.
MÉNDEZ COCA, D. y MÉNDEZ COCA, M., Iniciarse en la metodología de la investigación. Materiales e ideas para investigar en Ciencias Sociales, Editorial CCS, Madrid, 2020.
SÁENZ LÓPEZ, K. A. C. Y OTROS (EDS. /DIRS.), Metodologías para investigaciones de alto impacto en Ciencias sociales y jurídicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León y Universidad Juan Carlos I, 2012 (disponible en los recursos on line de la UAB).
SIERRA NOGUERO, E., “La iniciación a la investigación jurídica en el trabajo de fin de máster: especial referencia al Máster Universitario de Derecho Empresarial de la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona”, en Congreso Nacional de Innovación en Ciencias Jurídicas: Coordinación y planificación en los estudios de derecho, 2011 (disponible en los recursos on line de la UAB)
VILLASEÑOR RODRÍGUEZ, I. y GÓMEZ GARCÍA, J. A., Investigación y documentación jurídicas, Dykinson, 2013 (disponible en los recursos on line de la UAB).
Software
The subject does not need any specific sofware.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TEm) Theory (master) | 1 | Spanish | first semester | afternoon |