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By the end of the course students will:

1. Have gained a fuller understanding of the range of research methods available in the field of media
2. Understand the implications of different research method choices on the kinds of knowledge produced
3. Understand the components of, and be able to produce a research proposal
4. Understand the difference between a range of disciplinary approaches to research 
5. Be able to produce a literature review and understand its importance in their own research process
6. Have gained skills in referencing softwares and data management softwares (if relevant)
7. Have gained a broad understanding of the research agendas of media studies in general, and how their own project fits within the field.

Required readings for this course will be made available electronically to students.

This subject will be run as a weekly seminar. As it is an advanced level, attendance and participation are required – there are no lectures for content delivery, there is only discussion. The content of the seminars will be driven by your own project material and input. A high level of engagement is expected. As assessment tasks start from the first week, you are expected to attend from the outset. This class will be discussion based and very much oriented towards your own individual projects and topics. You will be expected to articulate ideas and problems to the class from the outset. The topic areas will mostly be guided by your own choices and will thus be relevant and interesting to you.

Class time - 2 hours per week, 24 hours per semester
Individual meeting times - 4 hours per semester
Required reading - 6 hours per week, 72 hours per semester
Supplimentary research - 6 hours per week, 72 hours per semester
Assignment preparation - 140 hours per semester

Weekly topics:
Topic 1 - 'Research Methods'?
Topic 2 - History of Media Research
Topic 3 - Research Planning
Topic 4 - Literature Reviews
Topic 5 - Textual, Content, and Semiotic Analyses
Topic 6 - Critical Discourse Analysis
Topic 7 - Ethnographies
Topic 8 - Interviews & Focus Groups
Topic 9 - Quantitative Methods
Topic 10 - Digital and Computational Methods
Topic 11 - Project design
Topic 12 - Presentations

4x1000 word essays handed up in seminars                            40%
20 minute Presentation on your research topic                        15%
Essay/Research proposal                                                         35%
Participation                                                                           10%

Short Essays:
Collectively, your short essays will be around 4000 words (+/- 10%), cite supporting material from appropriate disciplinary sources (both course readings and additional research) as needed, and demonstrate excellent Harvard referencing throughout. Essays should cover:
1. Identification of approximately 10-15 academic resources on your proposed thesis topic with brief description of their value to your proposed project
2. A comparative review of two different pieces of media scholarship in the area you want to explore, evaluating the methodological approaches taken by those involved
3. A comparison between up to three different methodological approaches to your research, weighing up the benefits, risks, and challenges of each approach
4. An exploration of the key ethical concerns connected to your proposed research topic, consideration of how you as the researcher can mitigate any risks, and a rationale for the project in light of the ethical considerations and potential risks.
Collectively, your short essays will be around 4000 words (+/- 10%), cite supporting material from appropriate disciplinary sources (both course readings and additional research) as needed, and demonstrate excellent Harvard referencing throughout.

Presentation:
The presentation should cover:
• The topic of the project
• Why you are passionate or curious about this area of media studies
• What your research questions or aims are
• Some background to the topic, including the main pieces of research that you will build from
• The chosen methodology and methods for your proposed project, including your justification and any limitations resulting from your choices
• What you hope to find out, and why
Your presentation will include appropriate support and utilise correct Harvard referencing. Slides will be submitted via MyUni at the conclusion of the seminar.

Research Proposal:
This assignment should cover:
• Your chosen methodology/ies and method(s)
• The relationship between these and your theoretical framework
• Why these methods are appropriate for your research project, and why other methods are not (or why you haven’t used other methods)
• Relationship between different methods if using a mixed approach
• What other methodological approaches have been used by key researchers in the field, and their similarities and differences to your approach
• What ethical questions are central to your project, and how you intend to address them
• What issues of representation, inclusion, or erasure need to be considered in relation to your project
• Your positionality as a researcher within this project (reflexive statement)
The structure and format of this assignment will be developed in class, with formal requirements set during the mid-semester break.

Participation:
This is a small seminar group that will rely on your attendance and participation to work. As both Honours and Masters study requires a level of engagement beyond that of undergraduate courses, you are expected to show your willingness to engage in the tasks by coming to all seminars prepared and willing to speak – doing this weekly will result in a strong participation grade

Assessments will be submitted in person, or electronically via MyUni.