Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
60 credits
Class Size: 305
Module manager: Dr Lee Edwards
Email: l.m.s.edwards@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 View Timetable
Year running 2016/17
This module is mutually exclusive with
COMM5800M Final Independent Project
This module is not approved as an Elective
Module summary
This module provides students with the academic competencies
necessary to study successfully at postgraduate level and particularly
for producing a good dissertation. The dissertation itself counts for 60
credits and forms one third of the programme of study; therefore, a
good dissertation is vital for obtaining a good Masters degree. The
module runs over two semesters and is complemented by meetings
with a personal supervisor. The first semester is taught by lectures
covering general issues and theory of research design, and gives an
introduction into the common research methods in media and
communications studies. The second semester provides in-depth
training in specific qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Objectives
This module provides students with the theoretical and methodological
knowledge that enables them to carry out an independent piece of
research in the field of Communication and Media Studies. The main
objective of this module is the preparation of the dissertation. The
module introduces the dissertation process, the key underlying
principles of research projects and major methodological approaches
that guide research in the field of Media and Communication, in order
to help students develop a coherent research design for their own
dissertation. In addition, it makes students familiar with basic research
techniques the understanding and application of which are not only
essential for an academic career, but also for professional careers in
communications-related fields.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
Syllabus
Lectures:
1. Introduction
2. Question development
3. Methodological approaches an overview
4. How to develop an argument and writing a literature review
5. Content analysis
6. Visual methods
7. Rhetorical and discourse analysis and ideological critique
8. Historical analysis and using archives
9. interviewing and focus groups
10. ethnography and online research
11. Ethics
Seminars:
Run parallel to the lectures in weeks 1-3 specifically for students who
have completed a dissertation previously. These seminars replace the
introductory lectures for experienced students. They are designed to be
interactive sessions allowing students to discuss their past experience
of a dissertation, what their current research interests are, and how
they want to develop their skills as a researcher and build upon their
previous experience.
Workshops:
Online methods workshops will be set up in semester 2 and more
information about them will be made available closer to the time. Drop-
in sessions with teaching assistants will also be scheduled for you to
use as you start developing your research proposals.
Teaching methods
Student
Delivery type Number Length hours
hours
Supervision Meetings 8 0.50 4.00
Lecture 11 1.50 16.50
Seminar 3 1.50 4.50
Private study hours 575.00
Total Contact hours 25.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 600.00
Private study
11 x 5 hours preparation for classes: 55 hours;
Preparation of dissertation proposal: 25 hours;
Field work and preparation of the dissertation: 495 hours.
Total hours of private study and independent learning: 560
Methods of assessment
Coursework
Assessmen Notes % of formal
t type assessment
Essay or 1 x 12,000-15,000 word dissertation to be 100.00
Dissertatio submitted at the end of the academic year
n
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100.00
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first
attempt, unless otherwise stated