Theories and Methods of Communication Sciences

Recommended Prerequisites

Sufficient knowledge to use bibliography in English.

Teaching Methods

The seminar will take place with theoretical-practical classes on a seminar basis. It will take place starting from the exposition of the syllabus contents, from the discussion of texts relevant to the objects of study, previously worked by and by the students, and from the realization of activities that allow the application of knowledge, namely the instruments of data collection and interpretation. The active participation of students in seminars also requires the presentation and discussion in class of the works required as components of the evaluation.

Learning Outcomes

In this curricular unit, the curriculum is articulated between the main theories of communication and the reflective resource to methods, techniques and procedures that can be implemented. Starting from the theoretical questions that guide the empirical approaches to communication problems, the course aims to develop skills that allow:

 

1. Establish better knowledge about the fundamental principles of the scientific process;

2. Formulate problems and build research questions and hypotheses for the study of different topics in Communication Sciences;

3. Be able to choose the appropriate methodological options to answer the questions and problems formulated;

4. Apply different methods and techniques for collecting and analyzing quantitative, qualitative and mixed data;

5. Reflect critically on the results achieved.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Research in Communication Sciences: epistemology, methodology, and ethic principles

2. Types of methodological proposals: processes and models

3. Research design: from principles to structure

4. Qualitative, qualitative and mixed research methods

5. Research in the digital environment.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 30.0%
Research work: 70.0%

Bibliography

Andersen, J. (2012). Media Research Methods. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington, DC: Sage.

Bou-Franch, P. & Blitvich, P. G.-C. (Eds.) (2019). Analyzing Digital Discourse. Palgrave Macmiller.

Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. (Eds.) (2018). The Sage handbook of qualitative research (pp. 777-804). Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC, Melbourne: Sage.

Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore: Sage.

Hine, C. (2015). Ethnography for the Internet. London, New York, New Delhi, Sydney: Bloomsbury Academic.

Krippendorff, K. H. (2003). Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology. Thousands Oaks, London, New Delhi: Sage.

Ragin, C, & Amoroso, L. (2011). Constructing Social Research: The unit and diversity of Method. Sage.

Richardson, J. (2006). Analysing newspapers: An approach from critical discourse analysis. Palgrave Macmillan.