RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
          in social
              sciences

about

The Winter School offers PhD candidates and young academics in the fields of urban studies and spatial planning the opportunity to interactively build their learning and training paths in research, with a specific focus on pre-methodological (e.g. how to write and publish an academic article) and methodological (e.g methods of policy analysis, geodesign methodology, engaged research etc.) questions.

The opportunity of individual meetings with faculty members on research projects and papers is offered to participants in the programme

structure

A network of scholars from a number of Italian universities, engaged with doctoral courses, have voluntarily set up a PhD learning project on research methodology in the field of planning and urban studies.

The school is organized around the following main sections:

BASICS

Basic questions will be addressed in this section, including: how to write an academic article or a PhD Thesis, and, how to publish in international scientific journals.

RESEARCH DESIGN

We will address: an overall strategy to integrate the different components of a qualitative study and effectively address the research problem. We will address topics including: questions about what research design is and what it is not, how to make sure all parts are properly in place before “tightening”, and why are you thinking of doing a qualitative study of the topic chosen.

METHODOLOGICAL QUESTIONS [METHODS]

Parallel workshop will be offered, addressing topics including: questions related to methods of qualitative and quantitative research and to the re- search-action approach, and, the challenge of working with comparative approaches beyond the stereotyped ‘divides’ that have influenced inter- national research (north/south divide; formal/informal etc.). 

APPROACHES

We will address hot topics in the field of planning and urban studies this section from a methodological perspective. Leading scholars in the field will give a talk addressing their methodological approaches to the topic.

RENT A RESEARCHER

“Rent a Researcher” is an opportunity to meet researches in an interesting, engaging and approachable way: a number of Italian scholars are available for peer-to-peer one-to-one meetings with a limited number of PhD candidates and young academics for exchange and tutoring activities.

registration

The Winter School will be held in English and will provide students with 4 ECTS credits (to be agreed with the sending universities). 

IMPORTANT DATES AND INFO:

October 26, 2025: Applications for registration are officially open!

December 14, 2025: Application for registration deadline (or before due to limited availability) (Google form for registration). 

December 14, 2025: Deadline for requests to cancel registration and receive a refund net of transaction costs. Registrations cannot be canceled or refunded after this date.

Number of attendees accepted: 80

Fee: 220€ (it includes: lunches; coffee breaks; the welcoming aperitif cost; the cost of the participation in the School)

The fee does not include: travel cost to reach the venue, accommodation, and the local tourist tax (4€/person/each day), the social dinner (which is around 30€) and the aperitif.

Students from low income countries are encouraged to apply. Participation grants for students from low income countries will be available thanks to the generous support of EURA - European Urban Research Association.

The Winter School will provide a certificate of participation.

Organizing Scientific Committee

Camilla Perrone - Università degli Studi di Firenze (coord.)

Francesco Chiodelli - Università di Torino
Stefano Moroni - Politecnico di Milano
Filippo Schilleci - Università di Palermo
Barbara Pizzo - Sapienza Università di Roma

with

Matteo Basso - IUAV
Michele Campagna - Università di Cagliari 
Leonardo Chiesi - Università degli Studi di Firenze

Giancarlo Cotella - Politecnico di Torino
Luciano De Bonis - Università del Molise
Anita De Franco - Politecnico di Milano

Lidia Decandia - Università di Sassari

David Fanfani - Università di Firenze
Valeria Fedeli - Politecnico di Milano
Umberto Janin Rivolin - Politecnico di Torino 

Laura Lieto - Università Federico II di Napoli
Anna Marson - IUAV
Lucia Nucci - Università di Roma 3
Elena Ostanel - IUAV
Marco Picone - Università di Palermo
Maddalena Rossi - Università di Firenze
Laura Saija - Università di Catania
Loris Servillo - Politecnico di Torino
Maria Rosaria Stufano Melone - Politecnico di Bari

Carla Tedesco - IUAV

Invited scholars

Greta Adamo - Libera Università di Bolzano

Stefano Borgo - ISTC, CNR

Riccardo De Benedictis - ISTC, CNR

Roberta Ferrario - ISTC, CNR

Krystallia Kamvasinou - University of Westminster (COST Coordinator)

Alexandra Paio - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa

Max Willis - Polytechnic University of Valencia

Organizing team:

Giulia Guadagnoli (coordinator), Margot Diradourian, Bianca Galmarini, Edison França, Stefania Zaccaro - Università degli Studi di Firenze, Maria Rosaria Stufano Melone - Politecnico di Bari with the support of Benedetta Masiani and Eni Nurihana - Università degli Studi di Firenze

venue