Formal Requirements

BA (Hons) Communication: Level 3BA (Hons) Communication: Level 3 11

Independent StudyIndependent Study


Today’s SessionToday’s Session

Formal Requirements of the Independent Formal Requirements of the Independent Study UnitStudy Unit

Refreshing researchRefreshing research The blogsiteThe blogsite Getting StartedGetting Started


Aims of Independent StudyAims of Independent Study

Focus on an area of personal interestFocus on an area of personal interest Student directed, student managed Student directed, student managed

(independent study skills)(independent study skills) Demonstrate students’ knowledge, skills and Demonstrate students’ knowledge, skills and

competencies in conducting research in a competencies in conducting research in a specialized area of interestspecialized area of interest

Develop extra-curricular skills (decision making, Develop extra-curricular skills (decision making, negotiation, making contacts, confidence negotiation, making contacts, confidence building)building)

Possibility of enhancing student employability Possibility of enhancing student employability after graduationafter graduation


Outline of study optionsOutline of study options

All studies must be explicitly linked to All studies must be explicitly linked to communication (see proposal writing communication (see proposal writing guidelines)guidelines)

There are three options:There are three options: Empirical Research studyEmpirical Research study Theoretical studyTheoretical study Creative studyCreative study


Formal requirementsFormal requirements

Research proposal (10%)Research proposal (10%) Final product (90%)Final product (90%)

(Including a Research Diary)(Including a Research Diary)


SupervisionSupervision

Devise and develop your own study ideas Devise and develop your own study ideas Talk to as many staff as you can/wish Talk to as many staff as you can/wish Staff advise you directly or recommend another team memberStaff advise you directly or recommend another team member Ask a member of staff explicitly to be your supervisor.Ask a member of staff explicitly to be your supervisor. Staff will agree to be your supervisor if:Staff will agree to be your supervisor if:

best suited best suited AND they have not already agreed to supervise too many other AND they have not already agreed to supervise too many other

students’ studies.students’ studies. May have to change or adapt your study idea.May have to change or adapt your study idea.

Staff availability: see calendar (some reading/research before you Staff availability: see calendar (some reading/research before you go to meet with staff)go to meet with staff)

Complete and submit ‘supervision agreement form’ to Admin office Complete and submit ‘supervision agreement form’ to Admin office (see calendar for all submission dates)(see calendar for all submission dates)


What is research?What is research?

Reflect on one of the units you have Reflect on one of the units you have studied this academic year studied this academic year

What practical research activities were What practical research activities were you involved in?you involved in?

What research methodologies did you What research methodologies did you use?use?

How and by whom were these research How and by whom were these research activities framed?activities framed?



is a collection of info on a particular topicis a collection of info on a particular topic is a process exploring an area of interestis a process exploring an area of interest is about is about gaininggaining knowledge knowledge is the is the foundationfoundation of everything of everything is is gatheringgathering useful information useful information is time-consumingis time-consuming the starting process of a productthe starting process of a product helps to answer questionshelps to answer questions sometimes pointlesssometimes pointless a process of asking questionsa process of asking questions reading and interpretingreading and interpreting easier than it soundseasier than it sounds gathering ideas to form an opiniongathering ideas to form an opinion is trial and erroris trial and error THE ENDTHE END


UnitsUnits

Analysing OrganisationsAnalysing Organisations Communication and the MediaCommunication and the Media Human Inquiry/In ActionHuman Inquiry/In Action Marketing CommunicationsMarketing Communications Communicating CultureCommunicating Culture Theatre as CommunicationTheatre as Communication Documentary Film ProductionDocumentary Film Production



Research as pervasive in our cultureResearch as pervasive in our culture Research as processResearch as process Research as not linearResearch as not linear Research as everyday activity made formalResearch as everyday activity made formal Research as reading and writingResearch as reading and writing Systematic recording of activitiesSystematic recording of activities Keeping notes (library, books, newspapers)Keeping notes (library, books, newspapers) ReferencingReferencing Thoughts and ideasThoughts and ideas Not necessarily earth shattering discoveriesNot necessarily earth shattering discoveries New because of what you, the researcher will bring to it.New because of what you, the researcher will bring to it.


Getting StartedGetting StartedChoosing a topic Generating ideasChoosing a topic Generating ideas

Relate it to previous study workRelate it to previous study work Think about your outside interestsThink about your outside interests Think autobiographicallyThink autobiographically Read newspapers and magazinesRead newspapers and magazines Start from a quote or book that has engaged you in the pastStart from a quote or book that has engaged you in the past Look at previous students’ studiesLook at previous students’ studies Draw some picturesDraw some pictures Think of a product you’d like to make.Think of a product you’d like to make. Think of an activity you’d like to plan, produce, or evaluate.Think of an activity you’d like to plan, produce, or evaluate. Think of a research method you’re interested inThink of a research method you’re interested in Think about what you want to do after universityThink about what you want to do after university Is there a social ‘problem’ that you’d like to tackle? Is there a social ‘problem’ that you’d like to tackle?


Key wordsKey words

FocusFocus DataData OutcomesOutcomes Aims/questionsAims/questions RecordingRecording Archiving Archiving SupervisorSupervisor RequirementsRequirements


Doing ResearchDoing ResearchSome starting guidelinesSome starting guidelines

Keep a blogKeep a blog Keep cuttings and ideas Keep cuttings and ideas Read actively: how is this relevant to my research?Read actively: how is this relevant to my research? Read about research process, method and product.Read about research process, method and product. Start a discipline of writingStart a discipline of writing Write reflexively about research processWrite reflexively about research process Draw Mind-maps of ‘concepts’ or ideasDraw Mind-maps of ‘concepts’ or ideas Summarise, paraphrase, quoteSummarise, paraphrase, quote Speak your ideas out loud – tape them and then Speak your ideas out loud – tape them and then

transcribe themtranscribe them


Coming up …Coming up …

The views of previous students Friday 2nd May 10.00 – 12.00

Scoping Library & Digital resources Tues 6th 10.00 – 12.00 [Birley 2.3]

Building your own ideas Wednesday 7th May 10.00 – 12.00

Saving and sharing resources Thursday 8th May 10.00 – 12.00

Consultation with potential Monday 12th – 16th May

Supervisors

Preparing a poster Monday 21st May 10.00 – 12.00

Poster Display Thursday 22nd May 10.00 – 12.00

Formal Requirements

Education

Transcript of Formal Requirements