MCH8199 Dissertation for MA Media and Public Relations Semester 3, 2022-2023

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MCH8199

Dissertation for MA Media and Public Relations

Semester 3, 2022-2023

60 credits

Summary

Aims

• To enable students to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a selected topic in the field of Media & Public Relations

• To enable students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the research process by devising and conducting an original investigation in the field of Media & Public Relations

• To provide students with the opportunity both to extend their repertoire of methodological skills and demonstrate a capacity for critical reflexivity

• To heighten students’ awareness of the dilemmas encountered when undertaking research in this field of study and to be able to address them

Students undertake a substantial, independent textual, theoretical or empirical enquiry into an approved topic relating to the programme of study. MCH8058 Methodologies: Researching Media, Culture & Society supports MA Media and PR Dissertation by developing skills in terms of method and conducting research and developing an assessed dissertation proposal.

Students embark on their dissertation in the third semester. The module is introduced with two interactive sessions provided in MCH8058 Methodologies. These enable the students to explore issues of common concern relating to research design, methods and the conduct of their planned enquiries, including ethics. These initial sessions, together with subsequent group tutorials, provide an additional source of support complementing the one-to-one tutorials with supervisors.

Students are expected to support this exploration by independent study and research activity through the following: retrieval of information, location of evidence, analysis, interpretation and synthesis of materials, critical thought and evaluation, questioning of assumptions and, where appropriate, relating theory to practice.

The research is presented in a chaptered dissertation of 12,000 words. The approval of dissertation topics is subject to the agreement of the module leader and relevant tutor and ethical approval.

Members of the programme team assist students both in the initial stages of identifying a suitable dissertation topic (in MCH8058) and during the dissertation research and writing-up periods (through an allocated supervisor). The programme team offers additional advice on appropriate research methods and provides students with feedback on drafts of their dissertation. Guidance is provided throughout by an individual supervisor allocated to the student according to the topic and theme of the dissertation.

The dissertation project offers students the opportunity to bring together and demonstrate their learning on the MA programme and acts as a foundation for those who may undertake a PhD after completing the MA.

Outline of Syllabus

The programme team assist students in negotiating an appropriate title. Support and guidance on topic, focus and methodology is provided on the module MCH8058, Methodologies: Researching Media, Culture & Society.

The outline of the syllabus is as follows:

1. Interactive session: Devising and planning a research project I

2. Interactive session: Devising and planning a research project II

3. Regular meetings on a one-to-one basis with supervisor

4. Regular group tutorials to report on progress

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students should have:

K1: Specialist knowledge and understanding of a specific aspect of the course

K2: Critical grasp and detailed knowledge of the relevant literature in the selected field

K3: Enhanced knowledge and understanding of the research process

K4: Enhanced knowledge and understanding of methodological issues, including the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to research design and different types of data

K5: Enhanced knowledge and understanding of matters relating to informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, objectivity and transparency

K6: Ability to develop a sustained argument that is supported by systematically collected evidence

Intended Skill Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students should have:

S1: The capacity to devise and undertake independent research in the field of study

S2: The ability to utilise key concepts, theories and approaches relevant to the selected field

S3: The ability to interpret and evaluate primary and secondary research data

S4: The ability to formulate a valid research question and select and apply the appropriate methods for its investigation

S5: The ability to communicate research findings in a transparent and unambiguous manner outlining, where appropriate, their practical implications

Canvas

This module is supported by a site (known as a ‘course’) in the University’s Virtual Learning Environment, Canvas (accessible via the Student Essentials area of the Student Homepage or directly at canvas.ncl.ac.uk).

In addition to the above specific skills, there is a collection of generic and transferable skills that we may expect students to demonstrate collectively throughout their programmes, this is known as the ‘Graduate Skills Framework’. You should have the opportunity to be (A) assessed on, or

(P) practice the following skills throughout this module.

Cognitive / Intellectual Skills:

Þ Critical thinking (A), data synthesis (A), active learning (A), numeracy (N/A), literacy (A)

Þ Information Literacy:

Source materials (A), synthesise & present materials (A), use of computer applications (P)

Self-Management:

Þ Self-awareness & reflection (N/A)

Þ Planning & Organisation:

Goal setting & action planning (P), decision making (A)

Þ Personal Enterprise:

Innovation & creativity (A), initiative (P), independence (N/A), problem solving (A), adaptability (P)

Interaction:

Þ Communication:

Oral (A), interpersonal (P), written other (A)

Þ Team Working:

Collaboration (P), relationship building (P), leadership (N/A), negotiation (N/A)

Application:

Þ Occupational awareness (A)

Þ Commercial Acumen:

business planning (A)

Þ legal awareness (P)

Teaching and Learning Activities

Expected Workload

The University expects each student to spend roughly 600 hours completing a 60-credit dissertation module. This consists of:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities

A total of 3.5-hour supervision tutorials over the summer (led by a member of staff, who is allocated as your supervisor; could either be one-on-one tutorials or take place in groups of roughly 3-6 students), between 1 May and August 18, 2023. Please contact your dissertation supervisor for their update on your supervision meetings.

A series of non-synchronous structured guided learning sessions – Learning Sways equating to approx. 16 hours

These will be delivered as a series on Learning Sways released on Canvas on topics such as Literature reviews; case studies; and finishing your dissertation. Please pay attention to Canvas notification for updates.

A total of 579-hours structured guided learning

Guided Independent Study

Roughly 579 hours completing readings required by your supervisor, literature review, research planning, data collection and analysis, writing up of your dissertation.