| CODE | MCS2230 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Dissertation Proposal Development - Media Studies and Journalism | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Media and Communications | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Students will be guided through different types of research methodologies and their application as appropriate for research into journalism and media studies, how to formulate a hypothesis and research questions, essential elements that need to be addressed when formulating a proposal, different approaches to writing a literature reviews, and how to substantiate proposed research design. Students will also be guided through different types of longform journalism and be exposed to the basics of feature writing for those who may choose a practice-theoretically based dissertation. The study-unit will also cover issues surrounding the access of reliable data, how to make use of online tools and referencing software, as well as the ethical use of AI in research, and ethical principles in general, in relation to research. They will be walked through the Research Ethics submission process. Study-Unit Aims: The objectives of the study-unit are to give students a solid understanding of: - What constitutes valid research questions; - Different methodologies and how they suit research into journalism and the media; - The elements that make up a sound research proposal; - Different types of literature reviews; - The different approaches to journalistic and theoretically based dissertations; - Ethical frameworks. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Have a clearly articulated dissertation proposal; - Have an achievable work plan to serve as a basis for their dissertation journey; - Have the required skills to approach their chosen area of inquiry with confidence; - Be assured that any queries or insecurities that they might have will be addressed. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify and articulate clearly valid research questions pertinent to the fields of journalistic inquiry and media studies; - Identify a relevant methodology/ies that would best suit their dissertation research proposal; - Formulate their dissertation proposal through clearly structured and substantiated arguments; - Source valid literature and data; - Reference sources accurately and clearly; - Have a clear understanding on types of literature reviews. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Stokes, Jane. 2021. How to Do Media and Cultural Studies (THIRD EDITION). Sage. - Ricketson, M and Graham, C. 2017. Writing Feature Stories: How to research and write articles - from listicles to longform. (SECOND EDITION). Routledge. Supplementary Readings: - Greetham, B. (2019). How to Write your Undergraduate Dissertation (3rd ed.). London: Red Globe Press. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Seminar and Tutorial | |||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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