We don’t know who discovered the water, but we know it wasn’t the fish - McLuhan 182MC Critical Media Methods Ady Evans

What are ‘Media Methods’?

Research methods are tools that help us discover new knowledge about the world around us. They are related to a series of theoretical ideas > theory into practice. There is a particular structure to them, we should use them in different ways.

Research methods are…

BORING

EASY

IRRELEVANT

BORING By using different research methods, we can say something new about a theory, concept, idea, event… Each method incites a series of debates about how it is used and what it can say about the world e.g. ethics. They bridge theory and practice. Studying methods means being creative, imaginative, intellectual, intuitive…

EASY Using research methods well means: – Understanding the ideas that underpin their use; – Being able to apply complex ideas in practice; – Using this practice to say something new, original and interesting about mediated life.

IRRELEVANT Being ‘original’ = higher grades! To do this, you need to understand how to produce new knowledge. All modules require some sort of ‘systematic investigation’. The methods you learn now will be central to almost every other module on your degree.

Fish in Water Talk through the aims and content of the module. Introduce you to the assessment and marking criteria. Give a sense of the structure, organization and timetable.

Outcomes By the end of today, you should: Have a better understanding of the way this module works. Understand what we expect of you. Be in groups for the assessment, and be working towards producing it.

Module Structure

Seminar Groups Seminars are between 2.00 and 3.30 each week. Ginnie’s group = ET101 JongMi’s group = ET130 Ady’s group = ET135 Seminars will be structured around your assessment: they’ll be the space to explore ideas and discuss them with others.

Tutorials Your will also meet with your seminar tutor in smaller groups for tutorials. Tutorials are between 9.30 and each week. Group processes will be discussed and your work reviewed against the learning objectives – weekly feedback.

If you don’t see your name on either of these lists, tell me!!!

Researching… Culture People The Digital The Visual Space The Sensory

Summary of Module Structure Each week covers a different way of researching our mediated worlds. These methods are recapped and explored in greater depth by you in the seminars, and activities build up your assessment. Your weekly work will be reviewed in tutorials; you’ll receive feedback and an indication of your grade.

Assessment

‘Behind the Scenes’ The assessment for this module is a 30 minute ‘behind the scenes’ video (group) and a digital research diary (individual). The assessment should demonstrate your engagement with each of the methods covered throughout the module. It should draw on the genre of ‘behind the scenes’, but MUST incorporate theory.

‘Behind the Scenes’ The work will be composed each week. Your brief for the week will be discussed in the seminars, and will include: – A reading – A task – Suggestions for what to include The deadline is the 3 rd of March

Demystifying the Process

What we tend to ‘see’ of research is the finished piece: what’s important is the process of creating that. ‘Research’ is elitist, when it should be accessible. Research should be about making the invisible visible. A reflexive approach to research means recognizing research and the construction of knowledge as actively made

Media Research We are in a perfect position to put this into practice: media studies assumes that the media is something put together

Learning Outcomes Demonstrate the basic skills and knowledge required to plan and undertake research on a range of digital/media, cultural and communications topics; Demonstrate their understanding of the differences between and specific values of various research methods; Utilise key research methods and approaches while demonstrating an awareness of the contextual and theoretical implications of key concepts and debates in communication, digital media and cultural studies;

Learning Outcomes Prepare and undertake an appropriate research process in response to a pre-defined task, topic or project; Work effectively both individually and as a member of a group and demonstrate the value of effective collaborative team work, good written and oral communication and organizational skill in the research process.

Showing an awareness of the learning outcomes and a willingness to be original and creative will get you a good grade. Please note: one of the learning outcomes is being able to demonstrate the ‘value of collaborative team work’. The coursework is both group and individual, or…

Group Work Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality’ (Martin Luther King)

Submitting You should add to your digital research diary every week – this will be evidence of your contribution to the group work. Upload your group video onto Vimeo or Youtube. Individually upload a word document with a link to your behind the scenes video and your digital research diary onto Turnitin.

Deadlines Your document should be on Turnitin by the 3 rd March, Grades and feedback will be available by Spring Term APT week (wk beg 16 th March). You should review your feedback with your APT tutor.

Back up, back up, back up!!! Upload times, file size & time limitations. Problems, issues, concerns or worries – let me know asap.

Summary of Assessment The assessment is a 30 minute ‘Behind the Scenes’ video and a digital research diary, due 3 rd March. Behind the Scenes briefs will be provided each week. You will be given a group grade, supported by the work in the digital research diary.

Fish in Water Talked through the aims and content of the module Introduced you to the assessment and marking criteria Given you a sense of the structure, organization and timetable

By now you should… Have a better understanding of the content of the module Understand what is expected of you. In the seminar we will unpack the assessment in more detail and organize you into your groups.