Analysing Media Texts

Uitgebreide vaknaam	Analysing Media Texts
Leerdoelen	After completion of this course unit, the student is able: - to describe the general differences between quantitative and qualitative research; - to define basic statistical techniques and employ them for analysis based on the assigned literature and seminars; - to describe the different aspects of conducting a research into media texts (design, sampling, data collection, data analysis) based on the assigned literature and seminars; - to name the key characteristics of content analysis and discourse analysis to analyse different media texts based on the assigned literature and seminars; - to describe the strong and weak points of the respective methods for (comparative) media research based on the assigned literature and seminars; - to design and conduct a limited (comparative) research into media texts; - to present the results of their research in a clear and coherent research report.
Omschrijving	While courses in the first year of the BA introduced the theories, academic skills, and dominant frameworks for understanding media, this course unit together with Analysing Media Production and Use delves more specifically into the methodologies needed to do empirical media research. Here, the focus is on methods of data collection and analysis to examine media texts, whether they are published in print or online. The course unit begins with an introduction to the ideas behind both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. This includes an overview of basic statistics used in media and communications research. After these foundations are set, the two main methodologies introduced in this first unit are content analysis and discourse analysis. In addition, attention will be given to how to conduct these analyses in comparative frameworks, whether it is longitudinally (over time), geographically diverse, or a comparison between different media outlets. In order to achieve this, the course will consist of bi-weekly seminars followed by weekly (supervised) method labs where students will have a chance to practice the methods with the aim of completing small-scale group research assignments. The labs not only provide an opportunity for students to practice each method, but also provide students with tutoring to assist in completing the assignments.
Uren per week	4
Onderwijsvorm	computerpracticum, werkcollege (This course unit contains two-hour seminars, two-hour method labs, computer practicals, practical exercises and self-study.)
Toetsvorm	schriftelijk tentamen, schriftelijke opdracht(en)
Vaksoort	bachelor
Coördinator	dr. A.M.L. Van Cauwenberge
Docent(en)	C. Dagoula, PhD. ,dr. A.M.L. Van Cauwenberge , Q. Zhu, PhD.
Verplichte literatuur	Titel Auteur ISBN Prijs Social Research Methods (Oxford University Press, 2012; 5th edition) Alan Bryman 978-0-19-920295-9 ca. €  40,00
Entreevoorwaarden	Positive BSA for the bachelor’s degree programme of Media Studies. Available for exhange students with a university background in Media Studies with adequate English language skills. This course cannot be combined with MJC VI: Media Analysis.
Opmerkingen
Opgenomen in	Opleiding Jaar Periode Type Course units for exchange students 2 semester I a intm Ba Media Studies 2 semester I a verplicht Ba Media Studies  (Pre-master Digital Literacy and Datafication) 3 semester I a verplicht Ba Media Studies  (Pre-master Social Media and Society) 3 semester I a verplicht Ba Media Studies  (Pre-master Journalism (English-taught MA)) 3 semester I a verplicht Facultaire Minor Journalism 3 semester I a verplicht Facultaire Minor Mediastudies 3 semester I a verplicht