Methodologies of Media and Communication Studies: How to avoid pitfalls and face challenges
15-19 March, the Murikka Training Centre, Tampere, Finland. The course is funded by the NordForsk organization.
Course description
The communicative landscape is changing and so is media research. Media and communication researchers must employ several methodologies in order to approach their research objects, and the combinations of methodologies raise new challenges to young researchers. Not only is knowledge about several methodologies required, the researcher must also in each project critically assess which methodologies to use in what ways, in order to answer their theoretical and empirical research questions raised. Special attention has to be paid on the unifying metalevels, emerging issues and prerequisite skills of crossdisciplinary work.
The course aims to develop the students’ skills in making such assessments and make choices in how to approach methodological issues in their research. The course will combine theoretical discussions about the relationship between theoretical approaches and methodologies with hands-on discussions of issues that arise in the students’ own projects. Communication theory, semiotics, and cultural constructivism and postmodern philosophies, also methods derived from grounded theory, design theory and holistic cognitive science are to be considered in the course.
Lecturers
Thorbjörn Broddason, Iceland
Sari Elfving, Finland
Pekka Isotalus, Finland
Andre Jansson, Sweden
Pille Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt, Estonia
Kim Schröder, Denmark
Tore Slaatta, Norway
Preliminary course schedule
Every day will also feature student presentations and feedback sessions
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Day 1 |
Posters on methodological issues. The participants introduce their projects. |
Lecture: From toolboxes to methodologies. (to be announced) |
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Day 2 |
“Kitchen of research”. Workshops, 3-4 groups. Organizer: Pille Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt |
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Day 3 |
Ethics and ethical challenges. |
Workshops, 3-4 groups. Organizer: Tore Slaatta |
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Day 4 |
From fieldwork data to generalization. Organizer: Kim Schrøder. |
Speaker: Bente Halkier (Roskilde, Denmark). |
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Day 5 |
Online/offline territories. Organizer : André Jansson. |
Revised posters: What have we learnt? Coordinator: Sari Elfving |
Course enrollment and application deadline
The Danish ph.d. school, FMKJ, can send up to 6 students to the course. The course application, including a 1-page project outline, should be sent by email no later than 1 February 2010 to the FMKJ office at fmkj@ruc.dk
All participants must present a paper that focuses on the methodological aspects of their ph.d. project, to be submitted by 26 February.
Registration form available at http://fmkj.dk/?page_id=12
Costs and practical matters
The NordForsk foundation covers all participation expenses (travel, meals, accommodation) for the doctoral students selected.
For questions about practical arrangements, please contact the FMKJ secretary Chris Holmsted Larsen at fmkj@ruc.dk
For questions about course content and organization, please contact Professor Kim Schrøder, kimsc@ruc.dk
Course readings
Course readings will be made available 1 month before the course, with required reading and suggested literature for the Ph.D. course. Students are expected to have read the literature before the beginning of the course.