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Researching Media & Communications (MECM90038)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
Students will be introduced to a variety of quantitative and qualitative approaches to researching communications, institutions, technologies, texts and audiences across the complex digital global media landscape. Students will gain practical experience in applying different research methods and data gathering processes, including techniques for semi-structured interviews, content analysis, semiotics, discourse analysis, ethnography, surveys and social media analysis. Students will learn how to conduct a literature review, develop a research question, design a research methodology, identify and collect a data sample, manage and analyse data, and present the findings through the execution of their own research project. Upon completion of the subject, students will have developed an understanding of the key issues, strategies, and ethical responsibilities of media and communications research such as, conducting a literature review, developing a research question, designing a research methodology, identifying and collecting a sample, managing and analysing data, and presenting findings through the execution of their own research project. To this end, students have the opportunity to develop special insight and expertise into an area of media and communications practice. The subject provides students with critical research skills for application to both industry and scholarly research projects, and equips them for further research subjects offered in the Masters of Global Media program.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should have:
- A critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses, benefits and restrictions, of different research methods and approaches
- A critical understanding of the ethical requirements of different research methods
- An ability to research and write a literature review on a chosen topic
- An ability to design and execute a sustained study of a chosen media and communications text, audience, or platform
- An ability to gather, manage, and critically analyse a research sample
- An ability to represent research in professional and scholarly format
Generic skills
Upon successful completion of this subject, graduates should be able to:
- reflect on their own use of media and relate this to broader theoretical issues;
- critically analyse the role of contemporary communications lanscape;
- prepare and present their ideas in both verbal and written mode at an intermediate level and in conformity to conventions of academic presentation; and
- participate in discussion and group activities and be sensitive to the participation of others.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Report phase 2: Methodology (LO2, LO4)
| Week 9 | 20% |
Report phase 1: Case of Inquiry & Literature Review, concluding with a Research Question and suggested method (LO1, LO3)
| Mid semester | 20% |
Report phase 2: students produce a poster of their research project to be discussed in class, equivalent to 500 words (LO5)
| Week 12 | 10% |
Final Research Report: new content to include findings, discussion, and conclusions (LO6)
| During the examination period | 50% |
Additional details
Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend 80% of all classes in order to pass this course
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Ingrid Volkmer Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours: 1 x 1 hour lecture and 1 x 1 hour seminar, taught weekly Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2018 to 27 May 2018 Last self-enrol date 9 March 2018 Census date 31 March 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 4 May 2018 Assessment period ends 22 June 2018 Semester 1 contact information
- Semester 2
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 23 July 2018 to 21 October 2018 Last self-enrol date 3 August 2018 Census date 31 August 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 21 September 2018 Assessment period ends 16 November 2018
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Links to additional information
Last updated: 3 November 2022