Thesis Preparation Seminar

• 3GJ303 Research Methodology
• In addition, as the main rule, 60 ECTS credits must have been completed (i.e. the first year of the programme). Exceptions to this rule may only be made in circumstances where minor parts are missing.

Knowledge

The student:

• has knowledge of the basic design of a research project
• is aware of the elements involved in the preparation of a small-scale research project

Skills

The student:

• can write a proposal for a small-scale research project
• can assess and make preliminary judgments of potential ethical dilemmas expected to arise in a research project

General competence

The student:

• is able to prepare a small-scale research project, practically and theoretically

3GJ321-1: Preparing a research proposal

The student is introduced to the preparation and writing of a research proposal, with a particular view on the MA thesis proposal. The students will work both individually and in response seminars with their proposals. An important part of the research proposal process is to arrive at an appropriate method for the project, thus drawing directly on the material covered in 3GJ303 Research Methodology. A submission date will be given for the final proposal to be handed in at the end of the course.

3GJ321-2: Working with theory in a research project

This part of the course focuses on how theory becomes an integrated part of a research project, both at the planning stage, fieldwork stage, and writing stage. Students are urged to use knowledge from this part of the course when preparing their research proposal. Material covered in all previous courses in the programme is potentially applicable as theoretical points of departure for the project. This part of the course also deals with how to write the literature review.

3GJ321-3: How to do field research

This is a practically oriented part of the course advising students how to prepare and carry out field research. Various methods from 3GJ303 are revisited from a practical point of view, discussing items such as to how to conduct fieldwork interviews, how to get in touch with respondents, how to obtain a research certificate, and how to save the project when everything seems to fall apart. Particular attention is paid to the many troubles which may occur when crossing cultural and national boundaries, which are inherent to many research projects in Global Journalism. Instructors will draw from their own research experience in this part of the course.

3GJ321-4: Writing an MA thesis

This part of the course focuses on how to write a research report, with a particular view on the MA thesis. Items covered are organization of the thesis, style, argumentation, clarity of speech, plagiarism, working with statistics, and more.

3GJ321-5: Research ethics

This part of the course covers theoretical and practical issues in research ethics. Particular attention is paid to ethical considerations that are characteristic to journalism research.

Compulsory components

All lectures in the introductory week of 3GJ321 are compulsory, which, according to NLA regulation, means at least 80% attendance. The requirement of attendance is set to avoid excessive resources spent on individual follow-up at the subsequent stage when the actual MA thesis project begins. It is also compulsory for the students to attend the session where he/she responds to other students’ thesis proposal drafts. The student must submit an MA research proposal within the announced due date towards the end of the course.

The assessment of 3GJ321 comprises of one compulsory item: Submission of MA research proposal (pass or failure).

The submission date is final. The proposal will be assessed by the programme's Academic Committee and be given a pass or failure grade. In the case of failure, the student will be given a report outlining what needs to be improved in order to bring the proposal up to an acceptable standard. Two resubmissions are allowed. The proposal must obtain a passing grade before the student is assigned an advisor for the MA project (3GJ322/323). The proposal must follow the guidelines provided in the course. If the student’s proposal is not approved after the mentioned three attempts, the student will have lost his/her right to sign up for the course again.