Hart, C (1998) Doing a Literature Review, Sage
Kumar, R (2002) Research Methodology, Sage
Seale, C (2004) Researching Society and Culture, Sage
Sapsford, R and Jupp, V (2006) Data Collection and Analysis, Sage
Walliman, N (2005) Your Research Project, Sage

Access to a computer and Blackboard
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module.
You will have access to customised social networking tools provided by Ning.
Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Students will have access to a supervisor, or a supervisory team, who will aid the student in planning their progress. This will amount to a maximum of 18 hours contact time. In this instance contact means through a DL model, through e-mail, telephone conversations and other means. Structured dissertation advice will be provided through the online handbook.
Relevant staff will be chosen in relation to the student's topic of research.
In addition, you will complete formal training in media research methods at the start of the Masters Project and write a 2,000 word proposal under the supervision of the module tutor.

The project is an extended piece of scholarship in which students have the opportunity to study in some depth a topic of their own choosing in partnership with a relevant staff member who is able to supervise this topic.
The topic will integrate the knowledge and skills that the student has attained whilst on the course. It can be empirical or theoretical or both. The empirical element must be original and add something to the knowledge of the social phenomena under study.
The empirical element may involve field research in a relevant area of media communication in global context (e.g. audiences, or media practices). Or it may involve action-research in the context of a defined media development project where the outcome may be in part some form of media production, supported by a reflective report on the project.
The introduction to media research methods will consist of a programme of on-line lectures and associated reading.

A proposal length 2,000 weighted at 0%
A dissertation length 15000 words weighted at 100%
OR
A practical project (equivalent to 7,500 words) and reflective report 7,500 words weighted at 40% and 60% respectively

Learning Outcomes 1-6