Module manager: Bethany Klein
Email: B.Klein@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
| COMM2910 | Communication Research Methods |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module provides you with an opportunity to undertake an independent research project and produce a dissertation on a topic of your own choice under the guidance of a supervisor. Lectures introduce you to the research design and structure of a dissertation, including how to develop a research question, how to produce and organise a literature review, how to choose and apply a research method, how to analyse data, and how to present findings and arguments. You will receive individual tutorial support from an academic supervisor, but the emphasis is on independent study.
This module offers the opportunity to undertake an independent research project and to produce a dissertation under the guidance of a supervisor. Lectures focus on the research design and structure of a dissertation, including how to develop a research question, how to produce and organise a literature review, how to choose and apply a research method, how to analyse data, and how to present findings and arguments. Students will receive individual tutorial support, but the emphasis will be on independent study.
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. independently formulate and research a communication question;
2. carry out independent research into a topic in the field of communication;
3. show their in-depth knowledge and understanding of academic debates in their chosen topic of enquiry;
4. evaluate the debates and/or empirical evidence and methods they have used in the dissertation;
5. write an extended piece of work in the field of communication.
The dissertation is a piece of written work of 10,000-12,000 words on a topic of your own choice and based on independent research. You will be assigned a supervisor who will offer support through individual tutorials. Lectures will cover how to develop a research question, how to frame a topic through academic literature, how to select and apply a method, how to analyse data, and how to present findings and arguments.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 4 | 1.5 | 6 |
| Tutorial | 6 | 0.5 | 3 |
| Private study hours | 391 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 9 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 400 | ||
Details of private study will vary by project, but students are generally expected to dedicate their private study time to researching academic literature, planning and conducting an empirical study or theoretical analysis, and preparing and writing the dissertation.
Formative feedback will be provided to you in six supervision meetings. You will have an opportunity to receive written feedback from your supervisor on a draft literature review (up to 3000 words) and methodology chapter (up to 1500 words). The literature review is due in Week 9 / 10 (Semester 1) and the methodology chapter in Week 12 / 13 (Semester 1), although extensions to these deadlines may be agreed with individual supervisors where appropriate.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 x 10,000 -12,000 words | 100 |
| Written Work | Ethics form and approval | 0 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 6/4/2024
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