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 focuses on introducing Research in Cultural and Media Policy Studies. Through a combination of lectures and seminar sessions, it explores the philosophical foundations of specific research traditions in these fields. Additionally, it provides a practical introduction to essential research skills, including conducting a literature review, developing research questions, and adhering to ethical standards.

In Term 1, Research Design is complemented by three sessions on Academic Writing which are designed to support students across all the MAs in refining and developing their academic writing skills.

Term 2 focuses on the exploration and analysis of methodologies commonly used in cultural and media policy studies and related fields. Through lectures and seminar sessions, students are introduced to a variety of research methods and guided in making informed choices for developing their research proposals and Major Projects.

The methodologies can include, but are not limited to:

• Qualitative Research (interviews, ethnography, and focus groups)
• Counting Culture and Surveys
• Document and Text Analysis
• Audience Research
• Netnography and Digital Methods

Learning outcomes

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

• Develop their own original 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
• Critically engage with the use of AI in academic writing

Indicative reading list

• Allison B and Race P (2011) The student’s guide to preparing dissertations and theses. 2nd ed. London ; New York: Routledge, 2011.
• Booth WC et al. (2016) The craft of research. 4th edition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
• Brinkmann S and Kvale S (2018) Doing interviews. 2nd edition. London: SAGE
• Gunter B (2020) Media research methods: measuring audiences, reactions and impact. London ; Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.
• Iphofen R and Tolich M (eds) (2018) The SAGE handbook of qualitative research ethics. Los Angeles: SAGE.
• Potter S (2006) Doing postgraduate research. 2nd ed. Milton Keynes, U.K.: Open University in association with SAGE Publications.
• Sloan L and and Quan-Haase A (2017) The Sage handbook of social media research methods. London: SAGE Publications.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

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
Ethical use of AI tools for research and writing