Professor Ellen Helsper

This course is available on the MSc in Gender, Media and Culture, MSc in Global Media and Communications (LSE and Fudan), MSc in Global Media and Communications (LSE and UCT), MSc in Global Media and Communications (LSE and USC), MSc in Media and Communications, MSc in Media and Communications (Data and Society), MSc in Media and Communications (Media and Communications Governance), MSc in Media, Communication and Development, MSc in Politics and Communication and MSc in Strategic Communications and Society. This course is not available as an outside option.

Students who wish to take this course instead of MC4M1 must discuss their suitability with the course convenor (see 'teacher responsible' above) before requesting a place. They will also be required to take a test to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of quantitative methods and statistics.

This course aims to provide students with methodological grounding in media and communications. It comprises two interrelated elements, which are as follows:

1. Applied Regression Analysis (MY452A): As part of MC4M7, students take MY452A Applied Regression Analysis taught by the Department of Methodology in the AT. This course is compulsory and automatically included within the MC4M7 course code; no separate registration is necessary. Summative assessment for MY452A takes the form of an exam and is weighted at 20% of the overall grade for MC4M7. Basic information about this course is included below, while full details can be found via the MY452A course guide page.
2. Research in Media and Communications: Principles and Practice: This is the main component of the course, taught ‘in house’ in the Department of Media and Communications in Winter Term. Teaching for this component of the course comprises a combination of lectures (1 hour each x 2 weeks) and workshops (2 hours each x 8 weeks). Summative assessment takes the form of an essay and is weighted at 80% of the overall grade for MC4M7. The general remit for this main component of MC4M7 is as follows:

Lectures will afford insight into what we research as well as how, why, and with what implications, while workshops offer practical instruction in several methods commonly deployed in our field, including interviews, surveys, textual analysis and more. Recognising the interdisciplinary character of media and communications research, course content will draw from this arena as well as disciplines such as sociology, cultural studies, linguistics, psychology, and anthropology. The integral links between theory and method will be underscored, as will crucial issues of ethics and reflexivity. Support will be provided in the development of key skills, from crafting a research question through to study design and methods writing.

MC4M7, which includes MY452A within it, is delivered across 38 hours throughout the AT and WT. 

1. Applied Regression Analysis (MY452A): Delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 20 hours in the AT.
2. Research in Media and Communications: Principles and Practice: Delivered through a combination of lectures (1 hour each x 2 weeks) and workshops (2 hours each x 8 weeks).

There is a Reading Week in Week 6 of each term.

1. Applied Regression Analysis (MY452A): Most statistics courses require weekly assignments.
2. Research in Media and Communications: Principles and Practice: One essay of 1500 words, to be submitted to the dissertation supervisor.

• Agresti, A., & Finlay, B. (2008). Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences (4th ed.). Prentice Hall.
• 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.
• 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 (20%, duration: 2 hours) in the spring exam period.
Essay (80%, 3000 words) in the ST.

1. Applied Regression Analysis (MY452A): Exam (20% of overall mark for the course, duration: 2 hours) in the spring exam period.
2. Research in Media and Communications: Principles and Practice: Essay (80% of overall mark for the course, 3000 words) due in Spring Term.