Research Methodology

The course intends to prepare the student for a small-scale research project such as an MA thesis. The course offers an historic and thematic overview of common methods within media and journalism research. The student will also gain insight as to how these methods may practically be applied in a research project.

As an area of research, Global Journalism is part of journalism studies which in turn belongs to the wider field of media and communication research. Methodologies within media and communication research draw on theories from various disciplines and are rooted in both the humanities and the social sciences.

Due to the programme's focus on Global Journalism, research topics are likely to demand field research in foreign cultures and societies. Thus, ethnographic methods will constitute a key area of the course. The course also introduces other methods within media research, and effort is made to ensure that the student may acquire essential knowledge of a variety of research approaches. Research ethics is emphasized as a crosscutting theme throughout the course.

Knowledge

The student:

• can explain key methods within journalism and media research, both qualitative, quantitative and combined approaches
• can explain the philosophical foundation of major methodological approaches

Skills

The student:

• is able to critically assess relevant methodological approaches for a research project within journalism studies
• can evaluate potential methods for a specific research project in Global Journalism
• can reflect ethically on the choice of a research method

General competence

The student:

• is able to prepare a small-scale research project within journalism studies on a theoretical level

GJ 303-1: Research history and the globalization of media research

Research history is introduced with particular emphasis on traditions within media and communication research. The reorientation towards globalization in media research is considered.

GJ 303-2: The research process

This part of the course discusses elementary steps in research, such as planning a research project, making a research design, formulating research questions, reviewing literature, and reflecting on ethical challenges.

GJ 303-3: Methods in journalism and media research

The classic distinction between quantitative and qualitative approaches is discussed, as is the combination of the two approaches in actual research. Common approaches in journalism and media research are explored. The following methods are paid particular attention to: content analysis, discourse analysis, framing analysis, reception analysis, ethnographic method, media production studies, qualitative interview methods, survey studies, and comparative research. All methods are situated within Global Journalism research in the course, and the students are introduced to peculiar strands of research foci within the scholarship of different continents.

The course has an introductory week with intensive teaching from Monday to Friday. The remaining six weeks of the course have weekly lectures. Online connection is available for the weekly lectures, but not for the introductory week.

As part of the course, students are required to write a concept paper for a potential MA thesis project which they will embark on in the second year of the programme.

1. Written assignment: All

2. Written exam: None