General provisions

The course is part of the Bachelor's Programme in Media, Communication and Journalism Studies. This course may be given in English or Swedish.

Entry requirements

15 credits in media and communication studies

Learning outcomes

After the course the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• distinguish between the different main research traditions and methodological approaches in Media and Communication Studies and identify the most common methods used within these traditions and approaches,
• understand different sampling and data-gathering methods used in Media and Communication Studies,
• understand the basic qualitative and quantitative methods for analysis in Media and Communication Studies,
• understand the role of theory in supporting Media and Communication Studies methods.

Competence and skills

• propose, and argue for, a research design (including formulation of research problem, purpose and research questions and the choice of object for study and methodological approach) for academic research projects in Media and Communication Studies,
• plan and perform basic sampling and data-gathering methods, using both quantitative and qualitative methods,
• plan and perform basic data analyses, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Judgement and approach

• critically evaluate strengths and weaknesses of different methods in Media and Communication Studies, and the appropriateness of their usage in academic research projects,
• critically reflect on different methodological approaches from philosophy of science and ethical perspectives.

Content

This course gives an introduction to different research traditions and methodological approaches in Media and Communication Studies, and provides the students training in designing research projects, as well as practical hands-on exercises in concrete methods.

The course combines introductory lectures with workshops, which both focus on the basic methods used in Media and Communication Studies, firstly for sampling and gathering data, and secondly for analysing these data, in a qualitative and quantitative way. While the lectures focus on the methodological principles, the workshops provide the students with practical training. The selected data gathering methods are quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews and participant observations. The data analysis methods focus on qualitative textual analysis and uni- and bi-variate statistical analysis.

All the method exercises are solidly anchored in a philosophy of science framework, encouraging critical methodological reflection, including ethical reflections.

Instruction

Lectures, seminars and workshops are combined with individual and group work activities and assignments.

Assessment

The course is examined through active participation in compulsory activities, in individual and group-work assignments, and in oral and/or written exam.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator or a decision by the department's working group for study matters.