Dr Jean-Christophe Plantin TW3.7.01i

This course is compulsory on the MPhil/PhD in Data, Networks and Society. This course is available on the MPhil/PhD in Media and Communications. This course is not available as an outside option.

i. Principles of Research in Media and Communications: a series of lectures offered by Department of Media and Communications faculty in Michaelmas Term. The lectures will normally cover the following topics central to research design across the social sciences, with a specific emphasis on their application to media and communications contexts: the general nature of research as social inquiry, interviewing, discourse analysis, social network analysis, content analysis, visual analysis, survey design/questionnaires, case studies, ethnography and participant observation, as well as research ethics.

ii. Principles of Social Research: Workshop (three hours) x 10 Lent Term (5 comprised of two x 1.5 hour sessions and 5 comprised of one x 3 hour sessions) offered by Department of Media and Communications faculty in Lent Term. Students are required to participate in all ten workshops.

iii. Principles of Social Research Analysis: Students have to take at least one quantitative analysis course offered by the Department of Methodology (MY551M is the basic option). In addition, students need to take either another quantitative or  a qualitative analysis course offered by the Department of Methodology. The combination of courses must be approved by the supervisor and discussed with the MC5M2 convenor.

i. Principles of Research in Media and Communications: Lecture (one hour) x 10 Michaelmas Term; Lecture on Writing Methodological Chapters and Papers (one hour) x 1 Lent Term.

ii. Principles of Social Research: Workshop (three hours) x 10 Lent Term (each comprised of two 1.5 hour sessions).

iii. Principles of Social Research Analysis: Quantitative analysis course in Michaelmas Term: Lecture (two hours) x 9 Michaelmas Term; Computer class (one hour) x 9 Michaelmas Term; Quantitative or Qualitative Analysis course in Lent Term (Varies depending on the course): Lecture (two hours) x 9 Lent Term; Computer class or Seminar (one hour) x 9 Lent Term.

i. Principles of Research in Media and Communications: All students are expected to complete advance readings and submit one essay of 1,500 words in week 11 of MT.

ii. Principles of Social Research: All students are expected to complete advance readings and submit workshop assignments.

iii. Principles of Social Research Analysis: Most quantitative analysis courses require weekly assignments. The qualitative analysis courses vary in their formative assessment.

• Alasuutari, P. (1995). Researching Culture: Qualitative Method and Cultural Studies. London; Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications Ltd.
• Bauer, M. W., & Gaskell, G. D. (2000). Qualitative Researching with Text, Image and Sound: A Practical Handbook for Social Research. London; Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications Ltd.
• Bell, A., & Garrett, P. (1998). Approaches To Media Discourse. Oxford; Malden, Mass: John Wiley & Sons.
• Bertrand, I & Hughes, P. (2005) Media Research Methods. Audiences, Institutions and Texts. New York: Palgrave.
• Bryman, A. (2012). Social Research Methods. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.
• Deacon, D., Pickering, M., Golding, P., & Murdock, G. (1999). Researching Communications: A Practical Guide to Methods in Media and Cultural Analysis. London: Hodder Education.
• Flick, U. (1998). An Introduction to Qualitative Research. London; Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications Ltd.
• Hansen, A., Cottle, S., Negrine, P. R., & Newbold, C. (1998). Mass Communication Research Methods. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Jensen, K. B., & Jankowski, N. W. (1991). A Handbook of Qualitative Methodologies for Mass Communication Research. London; New York: Routledge.
• Kent, R. (1994). Measuring Media Audiences. London; New York: Cengage Learning EMEA.
• Rose, G. (2012). Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to Researching with Visual Materials. London; Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications Ltd.
• Schroder, K., Drotner, K., Kline, S., & Murray, C. (2003). Researching Audiences: A Practical Guide to Methods in Media Audience Analysis. London: New York: Bloomsbury Academic.
• Silverman, D. (2013). Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Handbook. London; Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications Ltd.

Exam (34%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Coursework (66%) in the ST.

Description of assessment:

1. Coursework: One written assignment of either 5,000 or 7,000 words to be submitted in Summer Term, depending on the MY courses selected.
2. One two-hour examination in Summer Term relating to Quantitative Analysis (e.g. MY551) and one two-hour examination in Summer Term if another quantitative analysis course is taken (see Department of Methodology course guides).

Note: Summative assignments differ depending on the components of the methodological training taken by the students. Students must pass all components of MC5M2.