Introductory description

This module aims to prepare you for your Major Project, a substantial piece of independent research on a topic of your choice. The module will equip you with a broad understanding of relevant research methods from which to select an appropriate approach for your own project,. It will introduce you to ethical dimensions of research. It will equip you to write an effective proposal (including research questions, rationale, explanation and justification of research methods, identifying relevant literature and data sources). By the end of the module you should be ready to submit your proposal and equipped with a broad understanding of research methods in the cultural, creative and media industries field.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Term 1
Session 1 Introducing the Research Methods and Approaches

Terms 2 and 3
Session 2: Writing your research proposal
Session 3: Introducing Research Methods for CMPS
Session 4: Research Ethics
Session 5: Qualitative research methods for CMPS

Moodle Activities across terms
Session 6: Counting Cultural Value - statistics and research in CMPS Session 7: Using case studies within CMPS
Session 7: Document and text analysis for CMPS
Session 8: Visual Research Methods for CMPS
Session 9: Survey design for CMPS
Session 10: Audience research methods for CMPS

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Develop their own research proposal within the field of cultural and media policy studies.
• Understand the research skills and methods appropriate to their proposal
• Understand the differences between primary and secondary research and the methods and approaches appropriate to undertaking empirical research in the field
• Ability to create well-phrased research questions/problems that can be pursued ethically and appropriately
• Write up a portfolio that demonstrates understanding of the methods and approaches viable within the field
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of different methods and approaches for analysing cultural policy and the cultural industries

Research element

Research Proposal
Literature Review
Ethics Training

Subject specific skills

Scoping the literature appropriate to the field
Exploring and selecting viable research methods
Applying for ethics approval where appropriate
Establishing research problems and questions

Transferable skills

Ethical considerations and approval
Researching literature
Designing proposals
Time management