MC4M1      Half Unit
Methods of Research in Media & Communications (including Qualitative & Quantitative Analysis)

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

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

1. Critical Data Literacy for Media and Communications (MY464): As part of MC4M1, students take MY464 in the Methodology Department in Autumn Term. This course is compulsory and automatically included within the MC4M1 course code; no separate registration is necessary. Summative assessment for MY464 takes the form of an exam and is weighted at 20% of the overall grade for MC4M1. Basic information about this course is included below, while full details can be found via the MY464 course 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 MC4M1.

The general remit for this main component of MC4M1 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.

MC4M1, which includes MY464 within it, is delivered across 34 hours throughout the AT and WT. There is a Reading Week in Week 6 of each term.   

1. Critical Data Literacy for Media and Communications (MY464): Delivered through a combination of seminars and lectures totalling 16 hours in the AT.
2. Research in Media and Communications: Principles and Practice: Delivered through 2 lectures and 8 workshops totalling 18 hours in the WT.

Critical Data Literacy for Media and Communications (MY464): Self-guided practical exercises and readings to be completed before seminars for discussion, and Moodle (online) quizzes to support learning.

Research in Media and Communications: Principles and Practice: One essay of 2000 words, to be submitted to the dissertation supervisor.

• 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.
• Niederer, S. & Colombo, G. 2024. Visual Methods for Digital Research: An Introduction. Cambridge: Polity.
• Pink, S. (2016) Digital Ethnography: Principles and Practice. Los Angeles: SAGE.
• Rose, G. (2012). Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to Researching with Visual Materials. London: SAGE.
• Smith, L. T. (2021). Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples. 2nd edition. London: Bloomsbury.
• Stokes, J. (2003). How to Do Media and Cultural Studies. London: SAGE.
• Van den Bulck, H., et al. (2019) The Palgrave Handbook of Methods for Media Policy Research. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave.
• Vasquez, C. (2022) Research Methods in Digital Discourse Analysis. London: Bloomsbury.
• Yates, S., Wetherell, M. & Taylor, S. (2001). Discourse as Data: A Guide for Analysis. London: SAGE.

Exam (20%), duration: 120 Minutes in the January exam period

Oral examination (15%)

Essay (65%, 2000 words)

Critical Data Literacy for Media and Communications (MY464): Exam (20% of overall mark for the course, duration: 2 hours) in the January exam period.

Research in Media and Communications: Principles and Practice: Essay (65% of overall mark for the course, 2000 words) due in Spring Term.