Course syllabus autumn 2025
Course syllabus autumn 2025
Title
Media and Communication Studies: Research Methods & Methodology
Swedish title
Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap: Forskningsmetoder och metodik
Course code
KK650A
Credits
15 credits
Grading scale
UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Establishment date
2023-05-15
Syllabus approval date
2023-08-23
Syllabus valid from
2024-08-26
Entry requirements
General eligibility for studies on advanced level + English 6
Level
Advanced level
Main field
Media and Communications Science
Progression level
A1N
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course is included in the main field Media and Communication Studies, and is a compulsory part of the programmes Media and Communication Studies: Culture, Collaborative Media, and Creative Industries, Master's programme (Two-Year) and Media and Communication Studies: Culture, Collaborative Media, and Creative Industries, Master's programme (One-Year).
Course objectives
Research Methods & Methodology is a course that examines epistemological issues; both key and more creative and exploratory scientific methods relevant to Media and Communication Studies; and what it means to be an ethical researcher.
Course contents
Based on the lectures and the reading list, students will acquire knowledge and skills with respect to different methods relevant to Media and Communication Studies. Students will gain practical experience in working independently with specific methods, and theoretical expertise through discussing methodological and ethical issues relevant to Media and Communication Studies in general. The course provides students with the methodological foundation required to complete an independent degree (thesis) project.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course students shall be able to:
- describe and discuss different methods and their areas of application, strengths and weaknesses, and epistemological roots
- design a scientific study using key method in Media and Communication Studies, including: formulating independent research questions; applying relevant methods; and relating the study to methodology paradigms in Media and Communication Studies
- design a scientific study using creative and/or experimental methods, including: formulating independent research questions; applying relevant methods; and relating the study to methodology paradigms in Media and Communication Studies
- critically describe and reflect on one’s own position as a researcher
- critically discuss and analyze ethical issues relevant to Media and Communication Studies
Learning activities
The course is based on lectures, seminars, readings, supervision, and three individual tasks.
Assessment
- The written documentation of a field exercise using key methods (5 credits; LO 2,4,5)
- The written documentation of a field exercise using creative and/or experimental methods (5 credits; LO 3,4,5)
- A final critical and reflective essay and its verbal presentation (5 credits; LO 1,4,5).
To pass the course, students must pass all assignments.
Three opportunities for examination are offered during the academic year. Students who have not finished the course, have the opportunity to take part in examinations the next time the course is offered. Under such circumstances, assignments are carried out according to the literature and assignments that are valid during the time the examination is carried out.
Course literature
- Hansen Anders and David Machin.?Media and Communication Research Methods. London: Red Globe Press Macmillan International Higher Education, 2019.
- Blaikie, Norman and Jan Priest. Social Research: Paradigms in Action. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2017.
- Kara, Helen. Creative Research Methods in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide. Bristol: Policy Press, 2017.
A selection of journal articles and book chapters available via the University library's full-text databases will be added to the list of mandatory readings each term.
Course evaluation
Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).
Interim rules
If a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that applied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.
Additional information
If a student has a Learning support decision, the examiner has the right to provide the student with an adapted test, or to allow the student to take the exam in a different format. The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.