| Module Title |
Digital Media Research: Approaches and Methods |
| Module Code |
MCO1085 |
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Faculty |
Humanities & Social Sciences |
School |
Communications |
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NFQ level |
9 |
Credit Rating |
10 |
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Description
This module seeks to provide students with a set of tools to research digital media practices. The module will develop a conceptual awareness of the key theories in digital media research, from mediatisation and media logic to media affordances and algorithmic logic. It will also equip students with knowledge of appropriate methods to critically research various digital media practices and platform dynamics. Students will apply theoretical insights and empirical tools and skills to contemporary case studies involving a variety of digital media environments, activities and politics. Throughout, students will be expected to engage with a wide range of reading materials including research articles, monographs, blogs, and in-depth media reporting.
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Learning Outcomes
1. Explain relevant theories and concepts in digital media research.
2. Understand the specificity of different digital media platforms and their role in a polymedia environment.
3. Achieve a practical and actionable understanding of the main methods and approaches in digital media research.
4. Apply theoretical and empirical insights to case studies and research projects.
5. Develop critical responses to emerging theoretical discourses, methodologies or practices, recognise and argue for a variety of approaches to them, and suggest new ones.
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| Workload | Full time hours per semester | | Type | Hours | Description |
|---|
| Lecture | 22 | Lectures on key theories and methods in digital media research; Discussion of class material and student research projects. | | Online activity | 25 | Formative reflections and reading responses. | | Assignment Completion | 45 | Completing and delivering individual and group assignments. | | Independent Study | 158 | Independent reading of assigned and other relevant material, research and study, data collection. |
| Total Workload: 250 |
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| Section Breakdown | | CRN | 21406 | Part of Term | Semester 2 | | Coursework | 100% | Examination Weight | 0% | | Grade Scale | 40PASS | Pass Both Elements | N | | Resit Category | RC1 | Best Mark | N | | Module Co-ordinator | Tetyana Lokot | Module Teacher | |
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| Assessment Breakdown |
| Type | Description | % of total | Assessment Date |
|---|
| Completion of online activity | Reading responses /reflections: Biweekly reading responses to engage critically with the readings. | 20% | n/a | | Assignment | Individual research proposal and peer feedback: Designing an individual research proposal and giving peer feedback. | 40% | Week 8 | | Research Paper | Group research project & presentation: Group research project & in-class presentation of results. | 40% | Week 12 |
| Reassessment Requirement Type |
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment
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Pre-requisite |
None
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Co-requisite |
, |
| Compatibles |
None |
| Incompatibles |
None |
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All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Indicative Lecture/Seminar Content
1. Introduction. Social media, digital platforms and the hybrid media ecosystem
2. Theories of digital media. Media logic, (re)mediation, mediatisation
3. Theories of digital media. Media practices and socio-technical affordances
4. Theories of digital media. Platformisation and algorithmic sociality
5. Theories of digital media. Influence, authority and authenticity in digital spaces
6. The research process. Digital media research ethics
7. Digital research methods. Qualitative and computational text analysis
8. Digital research methods. Digital ethnography
9. Digital research methods. Visual content analysis methods
10. Digital research methods. Social network analysis
11. Digital research methods. Platform analysis methods
12. Group project presentations
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Indicative Reading List
Books:
- Lindgren, S., & Krutrök, M. E.: 2024, Researching Digital Media and Society, 1st, SAGE Publications Limited, London,
- Christine Hine: 2015, Ethnography for the Internet, Bloomsbury Publishing, 230, 9780857855701
- Jean Burgess,Alice Marwick,Thomas Poell: 2019, The SAGE Handbook of Social Media, 5-13, SAGE Publications Limited, 9781526486875
- Anabel Quan-Haase, Luke Sloan: 2022, The Sage Handbook of Social Media Research Methods, Sage Publications Limited, 712, 9781529720969
- Axel Bruns,Gunn Enli,Eli Skogerbo: 2017, The Routledge Companion to Social Media and Politics, Routledge, 9781138300934
Articles:
- van Dijck, J. and Poell, T.: 2013, Understanding New Media Logics, Media and Communication, 1 (1), 214, 523489
- 2014: The relevance of algorithms, Media technologies: Essays on communication, materiality, and society, 167, 523490, 1
- Digital methods for ethnography: Analytical concepts for ethnographers exploring social media environments: Journal of contemporary ethnography, 47(5), 551, 523491, 1, Madianou, M. and Miller, D.
- International Journal of Cultural Studies: 16(2), 169,
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Other Resources
- 1: Website, SAGE, 2010, SAGE Research Methods Package, SAGE Publications
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