1. Starting Academic Research Starting Academic Research Introduction to Research

2. Starting research Identify and select a research question, in the disciplinary field of media studies, suitable for exploration … Start thinking about your own research question now. It does not have to be perfect. Identify and select a research question, in the disciplinary field of media studies, suitable for exploration … Start thinking about your own research question now. It does not have to be perfect. “Research questions are crucial. No research questions or poorly formulated research questions will lead to poor research… No or poor research questions will cause you problems.” Alan Bryman (2004, 31) Alan Bryman (2004, 31)

3. Starting research Some people will just have a theme. Some people will just have a theme. Some people will have a specific question. Some people will have a specific question. Is it a research question? Is it a research question? … What is research? … What is research?

4. Defining ‘research’ “All social research sets out “All social research sets out with specific purposes from a particular tradition and aims to persuade readers of the significance of its claims.” (Clough and Nutbrown 2007, 15)

5. Defining research Research… Research… Answers a specific question. Answers a specific question. Is logical, systematic and methodical. Is logical, systematic and methodical. Changes an understanding, person or situation. Changes an understanding, person or situation. Academic research also… Academic research also… Contributes to an academic discipline. Contributes to an academic discipline. Makes a claim to knowledge that succeeds or fails by a process of critical scrutiny from other scholars. Makes a claim to knowledge that succeeds or fails by a process of critical scrutiny from other scholars.

6. Goldilocks test Is the research question clear question? Is the research question clear question? Can it be accurate? Not speculative? Can it be accurate? Not speculative? What is its coverage? Is it appropriate? What is its coverage? Is it appropriate? Is it feasible? Can the issue be decided with a limited investigation? Is it feasible? Can the issue be decided with a limited investigation? Does it motivate the researcher and supervisor? How? Does it motivate the researcher and supervisor? How? Is it relevant to the academic field? How does it contribute? Is it relevant to the academic field? How does it contribute? Does it change the world? Will it persuade, not just describe? Does it change the world? Will it persuade, not just describe? Can it be objective? Does that matter? Can it be objective? Does that matter? Will it be ethical? What are the issues? Will it be ethical? What are the issues?

7. Anatomy of research Research strategy, practice and writing are all related to each other. Research strategy, practice and writing are all related to each other. They feed into each other: They feed into each other: Strategy > Practice > Writing What sort of things are included within all this? What sort of things are included within all this?

8. Anatomy of research Strategy includesPractice includesWriting includes DisciplineQuestion isolation Introduction Specialism Secondary research: Literature reviewLiterature review > > > > Methodology:Primary research:Methodology section PhilosophyData gatheringPresenting findings PhilosophyData gatheringPresenting findings DesignData interpretation DesignData interpretation Methods Methods EthicsConstructing Conclusion EthicsConstructing Conclusionargument … A new term to use: the OBJECT OF STUDY is … A new term to use: the OBJECT OF STUDY is the thing being studied.

9. Broad distinctions 1. Secondary and primary research: 1. Secondary and primary research: these are complementary parts of every original research process. Secondary research means gathering and building understanding from other people’s studies. v Primary research means using what you have found to mount your own original investigation.

10. Broad distinctions 2. Quantitative and qualitative research: 2. Quantitative and qualitative research: Two distinct types of approach to research defined by the data they wish to collect. Quantitative research Qualitative research deals with numbers.deals with language and meanings.

11. Broad distinctions 3. Empirical and non-empirical studies: 3. Empirical and non-empirical studies: This distinction is based upon the object of study. Empirical studies are those that have an object in the “real world” rather than looking purely at theory.

12. Further aims for ME5121 Identify and justify a conceptual framework for the proposed research. Identify and justify a conceptual framework for the proposed research. Outline and justify appropriate and practical research strategies to explore the question. Outline and justify appropriate and practical research strategies to explore the question. Justify the selection and use of a range of appropriate literature related to the selected question. Justify the selection and use of a range of appropriate literature related to the selected question. Demonstrate the ability to describe and critically analyse research case studies and approaches. Demonstrate the ability to describe and critically analyse research case studies and approaches. … Convey these things in appropriate spoken and written communication. … Convey these things in appropriate spoken and written communication.

13. ME5121 Assessments 1 1 Assignment for Friday 30 th October: Assignment for Friday 30 th October: Focus on one empirical study and… Isolate the research question. Isolate the research question. Primary and secondary research. Primary and secondary research. Quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative or qualitative. Methodology and methods. Methodology and methods. Research Proposal for Friday 8 th January: Research Proposal for Friday 8 th January: Create a research proposal with… Research question. Research question. Objectives. Objectives. Methods. Methods. Literature review. Literature review. Bibliography. Bibliography. Exam after week 24 analysing case study. Exam after week 24 analysing case study. Since all the assessments are related we are, in effect, starting them all at once. Please print out the handbook so you get a good idea of what each assessment requires.

14. Review Starting research - creating a question. Starting research - creating a question. Refining a question - the Goldilocks test. Refining a question - the Goldilocks test. Anatomy - Strategy > Practice > Writing. Anatomy - Strategy > Practice > Writing. Broad distinctions: Broad distinctions: Secondary and primary research. Secondary and primary research. Quantitative and qualitative research. Quantitative and qualitative research. Empirical and non-empirical research. Empirical and non-empirical research.

15. Bibliography Bell, J. (2005) Doing Your Research Project. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Bryman, A. (2004) Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Clough, P. and Nutbrown, C. (2007) A Student’s Guide to Methodology. London: Sage.