module specification

CODE: new module
TITLE: Digital Media Dissertation
BRIEF DESCRIPTION:This module aims at enabling students to research, plan and develop their Digital Media Dissertation. The module addresses issues about the research tradition in digital media, the process of planning and managing research and the appropriate research methods to ivestigate Digital Media topics.
The module will allow students to develop theoretical and research skills in the area of interactive media and digital communications.
PREREQUISITE: None
ASSESSMENT: Proposal (20%)+Dissertation (80%)

None

To undertake research into a particular topic or issue within the chosen field of study
To produce a research project proposal and identify appropriate methodologies
To plan, organise, research and write a substantive research project

This module aims at enabling students to research, plan and develop their Digital Media Dissertation.
The module addresses issues about the research tradition in digital media, the process of planning and managing research and the appropriate research methods to investigate Digital Media topics.
The module enables students to develop theoretical and research skills in the area of interactive media and digital communications.

The module also covers methodology issues and research methods.

The module is delivered via scheduled Research Workshops as well as one-to-one dissertation tutorials.

The Research Workshop syllabus covers the following:

• Digital Media and interactive communications theories.
• Digital Media-specific research issues.
• Dissertation structure.
• Identifying suitable research topics for a Digital Media Dissertation and formulating research questions.
• How to produce a Dissertation Proposal.
• How to research and write a Literature Review.
• Identify and evaluate research methodologies and research methods.
• Selecting and evaluating the appropriate research tools.
• Data gathering and data analysis techniques.
• Research ethics.
• Presenting the research findings.
• Managing the research and evaluation process.

This module will be delivered via time-tabled workshops, tutorials and online resources. Students are also expected to manage their own learning, not only defining their own topic, but also managing their own time and resources in the process of researching, producing and evaluating the Dissertation. They will receive support and guidance from an allocated supervisor and will be required to attend individual and group supervision tutorials.

On successful completion of this module, postgraduate students will be able:

LO1 Produce a Proposal for the Digital Media Dissertation
LO2 Critically evaluate and review relevant literature
LO3 Select and justify chosen methodologies
LO4 Effectively present the research findings
LO5 Conduct a substantive piece of research within the field of digital media

A) a 3,000 words Proposal for the Digital Media Dissertation(weighting 20%). The proposal should include: aims and objectives, a review of available literature on the chosen topic, the selected methodology, a feasibility study. This part of the assessment will test the students’ ability to evaluate the current debate and research trends on the chosen topic, select the appropriate methodology, analyse and investigate the feasibility of the proposed project..
Due in week 14 of the first Semester. [LO1, L21, LO3].

B) a Digital Media Dissertation (weighting 80%), the topic will be determined by the students in consultation with the tutor [LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5]. This part of the assessment is designed to test the students’ ability to research, plan and write a Digital Media Dissertation. The Dissertation should be between 12,000 and 15,000 words (excluding appendices)


Students may pass on aggregate.

Core

Biggam, J. (2011) Succeeding with Your Master’s Dissertation: A Step-by-Step Handbook, 2nd ed. ed, Open UP study skills, McGraw Hill/Open University Press: Maidenhead.

Background

Beardsmore, C. (2013) How to Do Your Research Project: A Guide for Students Inmedicine and the Health Sciences, Wiley-Blackwell: Chichester.
Bell, J., Waters, S. (2014) Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First Time Researchers, 6th ed. ed, McGraw-Hill Education: Maidenhead.
Berg, B.L., Lune, H. (2014) Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences, 8th ed. ed, Pearson Education: Harlow.
Booth, A., Papaioannou, D., Sutton, A. (2012) Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review, Sage: Los Angeles, Calif. ; London.
Brennen, B. (2013) Qualitative Research Methods for Media Studies, Routledge: London.
Davies, M., Hughes, N. (2014) Doing a Successful Research Project: Using Qualitative or Quantitative Methods, 2nd ed. ed, Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke.
Greenfield, T., Greener, S. (Eds.) (2016) Research Methods for Postgraduates, 3rd edition. ed, John Wiley & Sons: Chichester, UK ; Hoboken, NJ.
Halfpenny, P., Procter, R. (Eds.) (2015) Innovations in Digital Research Methods, SAGE: Los Angeles ; London.
Hewson, C., Vogel, C.M., Laurent, D. (2016) Internet Research Methods, 2nd ed. ed, SAGE: Los Angeles ; London.
Toninelli, D., Pinter, R., Pedraza, P. de (Eds.) (2015) Mobile Research Methods: Opportunities and Challenges Ofmobile Research Methodologies, Ubiquity Press: London.