Admission requirements
This course can only be taken as part of the Minor in Journalism and New Media (30 EC).
To start a minor, you must have obtained a binding study advice (BSA) of at least 45 EC.
Description
This course (partly lecture, partly practical) deals with the ways in which journalism is researched. Journalism Studies is a rapidly developing international discipline that adapts theories and methods from related fields such as psychology, sociology and anthropology. The lectures deal with these research methods and some important theories are discussed along the way. In addition, this course is about doing your own media research. Four or five research methods will be explicitly discussed, divided into qualitative and quantitative research. Quantitative: survey, quantitative content analysis and/or experimental media research. Qualitative: interview (focus group), qualitative content analysis and news ethnography. This course is a preparation for the (research) internships in the second semester of this Minor.
Weeks 1-6 are lectures. Week 7 is exam week. Weeks 8, 9 and 10 are for working on the research yourself. Lecturers are available by appointment to coach research groups.
In the last three lectures (weeks 11-13), students will present their research results in an oral presentation.
At the end of the course, the following will be in the student's portfolio:
Research plan
PowerPoint presentation of own research
Course objectives
After completing the lectures, students will have knowledge and insight into:
The most important elementary questions when assessing scientific research
Six methods and techniques of media research and associated skills in the field of:
o Conducting research independently
o Finding and unlocking information of a wide variety of nature and complexity using traditional and modern techniques (internet, classic literature research, interview with specialist)
o Clearly and well-structured orally presenting independently collected and analyzed information.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
- Lecture
Assessment method
Assessment
Online exam (40%)
Presentation & research assignment (60%)
Attendance
In principle, an attendance requirement applies to this course, which consists largely of learning skills. (See below under Exemption). In case of two missed lectures, students will receive an extra assignment as compensation, in case of three missed lectures they will have to redo the course next year.
Exemption: No exemptions are granted for subjects in the minor. Students who believe they have already taken sufficient courses in the field of methods and techniques of journalism studies, communication science or media studies can request to be considered for the in-depth variant. For them, this means an exemption from attending the lectures; they will join the research assignment halfway after the exam. Instead of the lectures and written exam, they will take an oral exam on an in-depth reading list and a self-written response paper. The reading list and paper assignment will be distributed in the second week of the lectures.
Please note: In order to be eligible for this in-depth variant, the student must send a request to the lecturers by email by Wednesday 12.00 p.m. in week 2 of the lectures, stating 1.) a letter of motivation, 2.) proof of grades and credits obtained plus 3.) a course description of the relevant courses taken in the field of methods and techniques. The oral exam will be taken by two lecturers during the exam week. The essay must be submitted one week in advance.
Weighing
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
The exam can be retaken once. In case of a re-sit, the last grade obtained does not apply, but the highest grade obtained. The course is completed if the weighted average according to the aforementioned distribution key is 5.5 or higher (the grade then becomes a 6). Partial grades are normally rounded off to one decimal place. If the total final grade after resit(s) is still insufficient (5.4 or lower), the entire course must be retaken in the following academic year.
If fewer than 11 students have to retake the open-book exam, the lecturers may choose to take an oral exam.
The research assignment cannot be retaken. In case of an unsatisfactory assessment of the assignment, a new research assignment will be issued that involves a replication of research previously carried out by others. A presentation can no longer be given. Instead, a more extensive research report will be requested. Guidelines will be provided with the assignment.
Inspection and feedback
At the latest when the results of the exam are announced, it will be indicated how and when the discussion of the exam will take place. A discussion will be organized in any case if a student requests this within
Reading list
TBA
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal.
Remarks
not applicable