Introduction to Research Methods Latymer Version

8/14/2019 Introduction to Research Methods Latymer Version

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Critical Research StudiesCritical Research Studies

You will need to choose one of the You will need to choose one of thefollowing areas:following areas:

Women and FilmWomen and FilmPopular Music and Youth CulturePopular Music and Youth CultureCommunity RadioCommunity Radio

Children and TelevisionChildren and TelevisionCrime and the MediaCrime and the Media


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Once you have chosen your topicOnce you have chosen your topicarea, you will need to focus yourarea, you will need to focus yourstudy on a particular issue orstudy on a particular issue orquestion.question.

This involves creating a relevant This involves creating a relevant

hypothesishypothesis This will probably be most useful if it This will probably be most useful if itis in the form of the questionis in the form of the question


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Some ExamplesSome Examples

Women and FilmWomen and FilmHow have representations of femaleHow have representations of female

crimefighters in film changed over the last 50crimefighters in film changed over the last 50years?years?In what ways do female audiences respond toIn what ways do female audiences respond toimages of the male body in modern films?images of the male body in modern films?

Popular Music and Youth CulturePopular Music and Youth CultureHow does death metal music represent theHow does death metal music represent thevalues and beliefs of its audiences?values and beliefs of its audiences?In what ways do teenage audiences defineIn what ways do teenage audiences definethemselves by the music they listen to?themselves by the music they listen to?


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Community RadioCommunity RadioIn what ways can a community radio stationIn what ways can a community radio stationdefine the values of the audiences which listendefine the values of the audiences which listento it?to it?

Children and TelevisionChildren and TelevisionIn what ways is the behaviour of youngIn what ways is the behaviour of youngchildren affected by the television they watch?children affected by the television they watch?Do advertisers exploit children in order to sellDo advertisers exploit children in order to selltheir products on television?their products on television?


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Crime and the MediaCrime and the MediaWhat is the relationship between crimeWhat is the relationship between crime

reporting and representations of race in thereporting and representations of race in thetabloid press?tabloid press?Why are TV crime dramas so popular withWhy are TV crime dramas so popular withBritish audiences?British audiences?


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You are now ready to begin You are now ready to beginthinking about researchthinking about researchsourcessources

The more that you can get The more that you can getdone at an early stage of done at an early stage of the study, the easier youthe study, the easier youwill find this paper overall.will find this paper overall.

Remember:Remember:Critical Research is like aCritical Research is like a

sharkshark ..As soon as it stops moving, itAs soon as it stops moving, it

will die!will die!


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How do I carry out my research?How do I carry out my research?A huge variety of choices is availableA huge variety of choices is available

The best research offers a balance of The best research offers a balance of sources, methods and datasources, methods and data

Generally, you need to show evidence of Generally, you need to show evidence of bothboth primary primary andand secondary secondary research inresearch inyour examyour exam


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Primary ResearchPrimary Research

This term refers to any research in This term refers to any research inwhich you, as researcher, generatewhich you, as researcher, generateyour own data or information.your own data or information.

There are various forms of primary There are various forms of primaryresearch which you might want toresearch which you might want tocarry out.carry out.


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Techniques of Primary Techniques of Primary

ResearchResearchQuestionnairesQuestionnairesStructured interviewsStructured interviews

Unstructured interviewsUnstructured interviewsFocus groupsFocus groupsParticipant observational studiesParticipant observational studiesNon-participant observational studiesNon-participant observational studies

Content analysisContent analysis Textual analysis Textual analysisExperimentsExperiments


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Secondary ResearchSecondary Research

This term refers to any research in This term refers to any research inwhich you, as researcher, collectwhich you, as researcher, collectdata that already exists in somedata that already exists in someshape or formshape or form

There are various forms of secondary There are various forms of secondarysources which you might want tosources which you might want tolook at in order to collect your data.look at in order to collect your data.


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Sources of SecondarySources of Secondary

ResearchResearchBooks and textbooksBooks and textbooks

Journals and magazines Journals and magazinesAcademic papersAcademic papers

The internet The internet

Official reports and statisticsOfficial reports and statisticsUnofficial reports and statisticsUnofficial reports and statistics


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Types of Data Types of Data

You will find that the research that You will find that the research thatyou carry out will produce, broadly,you carry out will produce, broadly,

two types of data:two types of data:

3.3. Quantitative data - data that isQuantitative data - data that is

largely numerical in formlargely numerical in form 4.4. Qualitative data - data consisting of Qualitative data - data consisting of

words/meaning/interpretationswords/meaning/interpretations

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Introduction to Research Methods Latymer Version