Professor Ellen Helsper

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

This course is available for those who are qualitatively oriented and NOT on ESRC scholarships.

This course aims to provide students with methodological grounding in media and communications. Harvard style seminars combine insight into epistemology and ontology of academic research, alongside 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 computer science, 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.

Please note, MC5M1 includes within it MY464: Critical Data Literacy for Media and Communications. This is a compulsory element and automatically included within the MC5M1 course code; no separate registration is necessary. Full details about this course, including structure, content, and assessment, can be found via the MY464 course page.

Qualitative Analysis: Students are required to register for an additional half unit course in the Methodology Department focussed on qualitative methods (see MC5M1 handbook for course recommendations). Students will have to register for this separately (registration is not automatic).

This course is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops totalling a minimum of 35 hours across the AT and the WT. This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of term.

1. Advanced Principles of Social Research: Delivered through Harvard Style seminars totalling 20 hours across the WT.

2. Critical Data Literacy for Media and Communications: Delivered through a combination of classes and lectures (MY464) totalling a minimum of 15 hours across the AT.

1. Advanced Principles of Social Research: All students are expected to complete advance readings and weekly assignments, and help prepare one seminar. Students submit their formative assignment consisting of a methods chapter in ST1.

• Braun, V & Clarke, V. (2022). Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide. London: SAGE.
• Brennen, B. S. (2017). Qualitative Research Methods of Media Studies. New York: Routledge.
• Couldry, N. (2000). Inside Culture: Re-Imagining the Method of Cultural Studies. London: SAGE.
• Costa, E., Lange, P. G., Haynes, N. & Sinanan, J. (2022). The Routledge Handbook to Media Anthropology. London: Routledge.
• Hansen, A & Machin, D. (2018). Media and Communication Research Methods. London: Springer.
• Jeppesen, S. & Sartoretto, S. (2020). Media Activist Research Ethics: Global Approaches to Negotiating Power in Social Justice Research. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave.
• Jøregensen, M. & Phillips, L. (2002). Discourse Analysis as Theory and Method. London: Sage Publications. 
• Kubitscho, S. & Kraun, A., eds. Innovative Methods in Media and Communication Research. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave.
• Mason, J. (2018). Qualitative Researching. 3rd edition. London: SAGE.
• Miller, T. Birch, M. Mauthner, M & Jessop, J. (2014). Ethics in Qualitative Research. London: SAGE

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the January exam period.

1. One assessment relating to Intermediate Quantitative Analysis: One exam in the January exam period for MY464 (see Methodology Department course guides).

Students must pass all components of MC5M1.