Research Seminar

2023/2024

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

9

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Институт медиа

Статус:

Курс обязательный

Когда читается:

2-й курс, 1-3 модуль

Преподаватели

Милонас Янис

Пулакидакос Стаматис

Ферра Иоанна

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Part 1. The module teaches the core principles and techniques of professional writing for beginning researchers (MA students), focusing on the central report sections of the academic article, preliminary steps towards rhetorical positioning of one’s “saying” in the research field, and some auxiliary genres of academic writing – the short bio, academic CV, article and application cover letter, and conference presentation. The final grade, out of 10 points, will be composed of written work (8 pts, see the distribution below) and attendance and participation (2 pts). Part 2. This seminar is meant to introduce to students the ontological and epistemological premises of qualitative and quantitative methods in media research. The nature of qualitative and quantitative methods of research and analysis will be introduced. Then students will be required to work with tasks connected to the understanding of the development of a research strategy, preferably by working on their master thesis plans. Relevant tasks include the designing and formulation of research questions, the making of literature review, the choice of the most suitable methodology for research and analysis of media-related phenomena, and the development of sampling processes. The students will work in groups as well as individually on the different related seminar tasks. Students will be asked to develop their final thesis ideas in line to the methodological exercises developed during the module. Part 3. This course aims at training students with the use of different qualitative methodologies, while also considering the potentialis in combining qualitative and quantitative methods of research and data sampling. In particular, the course will examine the logics and aims of qualitative research and it will focus on the training of students with qualitative interviewing and focus groups sampling strategies, as well as with the use of diaries as a sampling method to analyze media-related phenomena (e.g., connected to audience research). Students will be asked to work with specific sampling methods and for the final seminar, they will be required to develop and present a mixed methods research design, with data drawn from a variety of sources and different genres and media, that can respond to the study of complex research questions that the students should develop. Part 4. In the current course, students will be introduced to the design and conduction of quantitative surveys and content analysis with the use of the SPSS- Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. This part includes the following topics: SPSS environment, data entry, data control and correction, data processing, statistical tests (chi-square, t-tests, ANOVA, correlation) and statistical conclusions. Part 5. This course will introduce students to methods for carrying out research, sometimes referred to as digital methods. Students will experiment with different tools and methods for researching culture, society and the digital world. During this course we will concentrate on key debates in the field; What is digital methods? What questions can we ask and answer by looking on online data and platforms? Which are the challenges, limitations and opportunities? How can we combine different methods for understanding the online world? What is the power of (online data), visualization and social media features? Part 6. This course aims at training students with the use of important qualitative methodologies for research and analysis. In particular, the course will examine the logics and aims of qualitative research and will focus on the training of students in qualitative analytical methods such as qualitative content analysis, thematic analysis, narrative analysis. Furthermore, the course will also introduce the study of archives from critical qualitative perspectives. Students will engage with these analytical methods by analyzing relevant media content, while considering questions related to media genres as well.