Media Research Methods

Catalog description

This course provides essential training on how scholars think by asking students to participate in the process of knowledge creation. Students are familiarized with a variety of qualitative research methods used by media scholars, such as interview studies, focus groups, participant observation, historical and textual analysis. Not only do students read and critique prior research performed by media scholars, they also gain practical, hands-on experience with these methods through a series of method-based projects. This course is beneficial to students who wish to pursue research positions in the media industries as well as for those who plan to continue their studies in graduate school. As part of the MCST core curriculum, it also prepares students for the research-based capstone project in MCOM4200 .