Aims

To support students to independently design, plan, and conduct research, including formulating research questions, developing hypotheses, choosing appropriate methodologies and employing appropriate research ethics.

To encourage students to carry out an in-depth engagement with a particular topic, concept, or issue within media, communication and cultural studies, showcasing their understanding and analytical skills.

To encourage critical engagement with contemporary research in the field, data, and findings, requiring students to evaluate evidence and make informed arguments.

To support students in their chosen communication/output format so that complex ideas are clearly and effectively communicated. This may be in written formats but may include other creative and cultural forms of media.

Outline Of Syllabus

Semester One
This may include, but is not limited to, an introduction to the module, completing a research proposal, advanced library skills, good academic practice, ethical issues, and transforming a research proposal into a project.

Semester Two
This may include, but is not limited to, analysing data, writing in different formats, writing a commentary for creative projects.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module involves different styles of teaching and learning at targeted stages of the dissertation.

The module uses a combination of scheduled learning and independent study to build key competencies and skills in order for students to produce self-directed research, apply critical analysis and articulate key concepts and ideas.

Drop-in/Surgery There is an opportunity for the students to have an individual meeting with the module leader across semester one and semester two. These voluntary appointments enable students to clarify any aspect of the modules that they are unsure about or require more support (K3, K4, K6).

This module uses the practice of ‘write-ins’. Write-ins are where students and the lecturer sit together to carry out their writing. Such sessions will enable students to work on their own projects in a group whilst being able to draw upon the module leader for help. (S3, S4, S6)

Lectures are designed to support students in understanding the processes of developing and managing the process of completing and submitting a research proposal, through to the carrying out research, analysis and the reporting on the results of the project. (K3, K5, K6)

Groups supervisions are used to bring students together to share their ideas and practices. This is led by a supervisor to help students with their focus, design and research practice. (S1, S2, S3).

Individual, one-to-one supervisions are designed to support students in the development of their individual projects. (S1, S2; K1, K2, K4)

Teaching is designed to support students in the completion of their project proposals. This includes on-campus lectures, in-person group tutorials and one-to-one online tutorials. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to drop in with the module leader across each of the semesters.

As students progress in their research work, more informal supervision support becomes predominant. In semester two, the students will have one timetabled group supervision session and a maximum of three research support sessions across the semester. These feedback and support sessions will usually involve feedback on a section of their writing.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

In Semester One, students submit a research proposal and an accompanying ethics form.

1.       The Research Proposal will cover a number of areas that you expect to be included in an academic research proposal. This will be a form-based assessment that will cover areas such as, but not limited to, Aims, Significance, Literature in the Field, Methodological Approach, and Analysis.

2.       Students in Semester One are also required to submit an ethics form. Failure to submit the form will result in a failed module.

The research proposal will include, but not be limited to, a research focus, the context and significance of conducting research, an awareness of the contemporary research field, and a knowledge and understanding of sampling, method and analysis.


In Semester Two, students conduct research in their chosen area. They then have the opportunity to report their research findings and analysis in a number of formats.

The written project must consist of 8,000 words in the form of a:

3.       A written piece of work. This may take the form of a journal article or a report.

This must be a total of 8,000 words.

4a. A written piece of work. This will take the form of a written commentary.

This must be a total of 6,000 words.

4b. And a creative dissemination of the commentary. This may include but is not limited to, a podcast / a short film / a digital portfolio / a radio broadcast / a website.

The length of the mode of dissemination will depend on the media chosen.