CK2S11 - Researching Media, Culture and Communication 12 Feb 2020 - 30 Aug 2026 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: CK2S11
Module Title: Researching Media, Culture and Communication
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Film and TV
Faculty Sub Group: Film and TV
Module Leader: Peter Jachimiak
Module Team: James Rendell, Gwyneth Moore
First Intended Intake: SEP 2020 Final Year of Intake: 2025
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 12 Feb 2020
Valid To 30 Aug 2026

Module Aims

The module has two aims. The first aim is to equip students with a basic understanding and critical overview of the key conceptual and methodological issues associated with various modes of research enquiry in Media, Culture and Communication Studies. The second aim is to prepare students for a final year undergraduate dissertation.

Content Summary

The module will address theoretical and practical issues in critiquing and designing research projects. The topics to be addressed include summarising and critiquing others' research, planning research, constructing research questions, choosing appropriate methods, gaining access to data, collecting data, analysing data, writing-up, and disseminating findings. Methodological paradigms (quantitative and qualitative) will be explored, as will specific research method tools (e.g. textual analysis, interviewing etc.).

Finally, this module: a) will adhere to, and engage with, all ethical considerations (as laid out in this document – see ‘H. Ethical Issues’, above); b) when and where appropriate, it will make full use of Faculty-wide teaching expertise and technical support in its endeavour to fully integrate practice with theory.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 16
Seminar 16
Tutorial 2
Project supervision 2
Independent Study 96
Directed Study 68
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critique methodologies and methods used in published research projects
LO2 Assess critically a research idea with a view to constructing a workable method with which to realize a research outcome
LO3 Critically reflect upon a research process and evaluate appropriate methods to use in its process

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Presentation (Asynchronous) 1 Asynchronous Debate that facilitates a critical unpicking of the ethical considerations and actions of both research and research methodologies. 10 N/A 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Self Reflective Assessment 1 Reflective Learning Diary engaging with content covered in the first five weeks of teaching on the module. 5x 300 words 0 1500 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3
Presentation (Asynchronous) 1
Self Reflective Assessment 1

Reading List

Bertrand, I. (2018) Media Research Methods: Audiences, Institutions, Texts. London: Palgrave.
Brennan, B. (2017) Qualitative Research Methods for Media Studies. London: Routledge.
Fielding, N., Lee, R., and Blank, G. (2017) The Sage Handbook of Online Research Methods. London: Sage.
Gray, A. (2003) Research Practice for Cultural Studies: Ethnographic Methods and Lived Cultures. London: Thousand Oaks.
Hansen, A. and Machin, D. (2019) Media and Communication Research Methods. London: Red Globe.
Pickering, M. (2008) Research Methods for Cultural Studies. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University.
Saukko, P. (2003) Doing Research in Cultural Studies. London: Sage.
Sloan, L. and Quan-Haase, A. (2016) The Sage Handbook of Social Media Research Methods. London: Sage.
Stokes, S. (2013), How to do Media and Cultural Studies, London: Sage Publications.

Van Leeuwen, T. and Jewitt, C. (eds.) (2000) The Handbook of Visual Analysis. London: Sage.
Journals: Cultural Studies
European Journal of Communication
Global Media
Discourse and Society
Journal of Communication Inquiry
Media, Culture and Society
Media History