The purpose of the course is to introduce students to a number of the most commonly used media research methods and to develop practical understandings of the methodological underpinnings, application and critical analysis of these methods for those studying media, culture and journalism. As such, the course provides an overview of methods within the social sciences, and then explores the various stages and processes students undertake to produce a coherent media research design. It will provide instruction on how to approach the practical aspects of media research in ways which centre ethical concerns and procedures such as data management and privacy, informed consent and effective referencing.

The course will be delivered via a ten week programme based on a model of blended learning. Each week there will be a one hour all cohort online lecture and one hour small group tutorials on campus (approx. 25 students each). The course will be team taught with expertise drawn from the methods and media teams within Sociology.

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Students have two options for the final assessment:

• A  3,500-word written proposal which requires them to show understanding of the process of developing and undertaking a research project including framing research questions and situating them in appropriate literature, the methods selected including the sampling strategy and tools for collecting data, the approach to data analysis, ethical considerations and bibliography (with a focus on methodological references).

• A 3,500-word annotated bibliography, in which students will gather and critically evaluate a range of sources on a topic of their choosing. This annotated bibliography should include a clear research project and research question(s) and justification for their selected research project, including detailing the chosen topic or issue, the research question(s) and underscoring the relevance of their study within the wider academic, public or policy discourse.

The course is designed to give students grounding in the way in which media researchers conceptualise, select and apply particular methods and how they may fit into a broader understanding of media, culture and society.

The broad aims of the course are to provide students with: a robust introductory knowledge of a range of media methods; the ability to identify and formulate appropriate research questions and the types of information and data which can deliver on them; the tools to apply media research methods such as online inquiry, content analysis, social media analysis and interviewing, ethically, and with skill and comprehension.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Build a critical understanding of the theoretical, political and professional context within which media research is located.

• Demonstrate a detailed and reflexive knowledge of a range of methods of media research and the appropriateness of their application in different contexts.

• Demonstrate a robust understanding of the process of constructing a research design with application of research methods including evaluation of sources, data collection and analysis strategies.

• Incorporate and apply a critical and reflexive understanding of research ethics when working with media professionals, audiences and online data, including data produced by social media users.

• Develop a detailed understanding of how to manage different datasets with appropriate attention given to GDPR, data privacy and data management.

• Evaluate the significance of the practical aspects of carrying out different forms of media research, such as formulating achievable aims and objectives, gaining ethics approval, and good referencing practice.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.