Loughborough Newspaper Sources Reporting on Chapel Hill Shooting Instance Analysis

2CXP317 – Researching Communications 2: Texts and Digital Platforms
Instructions for CW1 and CW2
CW1 – instructions
The first coursework consists of a simulated research project report of 1,500 words
based on a simulated research project.
Deadline: 23rd of March 2023 by 12pm (via TurnitIN)
The assignment will test the ability of students to develop a simulated research
project using content analysis on a topic relevant to communication research. It will
include a literature review consisting of a summary of at least three empirical
research articles based on content analysis and dealing with the same (or closely
related) research topic.
[YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COLLECT & ANALYSE ANY DATA]
The structure of the project should be as follows:
[Title of the project]
1. Description of the research problem [minimum 1 paragraph]
A brief introduction outlining the topic of the proposed research, including its
academic/societal relevance.
This section should be guided by following questions: What am I proposing to study?
Why is it interesting and relevant?
2. Formulation of aims / objectives of the research [2-3 sentences]
Clear statement saying what the main aim of this research will be (+ possibly other,
secondary aims – optional), and how it will contribute to better understanding of the
problem.
3. Literature review [minimum 500 words]
Overview of at least three empirical papers (scientific journal articles) dealing with the
selected topic, all utilising content analysis as either the main method or one of the
methods for the study. Each overview should summarise, in a narrative and
comprehensive way, a) research topic; b) methodology, including research sample,
and c) main conclusion(s). See the guidelines for finding articles below.
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4. Formulation of research questions
At least 3 research questions (RQ1, RQ2, RQ3), related to the research topic.
5. Research method [minimum 300 words]
A brief description of the research method, based on methodological literature,
including a reflection of advantages and disadvantages.
6. Unit of analysis, sample and data collection
Specification of the unit of analysis, population and method of sampling. Explanation
of which media outlets will be examined in the analysis (and why), including expected
number of cases (= size of your sample).
This section should also explain how you are planning to collect your data (i.e. which
databases will be used, especially in case of digital data).
7. Operationalization – construction of variables
At least 7 content categories (= variables) should be briefly outlined, including the
instructions on how they will be coded in the text.
8. Conclusions
Summarize again the topic and aim of your research. Repeat why do you think this
topic is important and relevant, and try to hypothesise what results can be expected
(the expectation should be based on your own, tentative experience with the
research material and any readings).
8. Bibliography (at least 8 sources)
9. Appendix: Codebook
Additional guidelines:
Please follow this template as closely as possible; this is not supposed to be an
essay, but a structured proposal, following the sub-headings (above).
As for the literature review: all the three research articles reviewed in this section
should be related to the topic of your research; all of them need to be empirical (that
is, research-based, not just theoretical), so you can summarize it as a) research
topic; b) methodology, including research sample (s), and c) conclusion(s). Please
give preference to academic journal articles from reliable sources (not just
downloading the first article which comes up when you google your topic). The safest
way to find them is through the library website,
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/library/ ; search by inserting keywords into “catalogue
plus”. Alternatively, you can go e.g. to http://online.sagepub.com, and search (using
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keywords) there.
Unit of analysis: you should give information about what is it you are going to code
(articles, headlines, photos, videos, comments….?) and how are you going to select
your sample. The information about the number of cases is supposed to be just an
estimate – that is, what will be the expected size of your sample? (= how many
articles, photos, paragraphs, comments or whatever else you choose to study will
approximately be coded). There is no recommended length of this section; one
paragraph should suffice, given that it is mostly just technical information.
Construction of coding categories: this is not supposed to be a table, but rather a
brief narrative explanation of what kind of content variables do you plan to use (at
least 7) and how are they going to be defined, in general terms.
The Appendix: should basically be a “mini codebook” (coding manual) as you know
it from the workshop sessions (they are also on LEARN). That is, a short table
including the minimum of 7 content variables (not just identification variables!), with
their values (codes) and instructions for coders how to recognize them.
Neither the Bibliography nor the Appendix are included in the total word count. There
is no tolerance on the maximum word count.
CW2 – instructions
The second coursework consists of a simulated research project report of 1,500
words.
Deadline: 25th of May 2023 by 12pm (via TurnitIN)
The assignment will test the ability of students to develop a simulated research
project using one of the qualitative methods taught in this module (conversation
analysis, or thematic analysis, or critical discourse analysis) on a topic relevant to
communication research. It will include a literature review consisting of a summary of
at least three empirical research articles based on the chosen research method and
dealing with the same (or closely related) research topic. Note: depending on the
method you select your project will focus either on media outlets OR social media
platforms OR social interactions.
[YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO COLLECT & ANALYSE ANY DATA]
The structure of the project should be as follows:
[Title of the project]
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1. Description of the research problem [minimum 1 paragraph]
A brief introduction outlining the topic of the proposed research, including its
academic/societal relevance.
This section should be guided by following questions: What am I proposing to study?
Why is it interesting and relevant?
2. Formulation of aims / objectives of the research [2-3 sentences]
Clear statement saying what the main aim of this research will be (+ possibly other,
secondary aims – optional), and how it will contribute to better understanding of the
problem.
3. Literature review [minimum 500 words]
Overview of at least three empirical papers (scientific journal articles) dealing with the
selected topic, all utilising the chosen research method as either the main method or
one of the methods for the study. Each overview should summarise, in a narrative
and comprehensive way, a) research topic; b) methodology, including research
sample, and c) main conclusion(s). See the guidelines for finding articles below.
4. Formulation of research questions
At least 1 research question (RQ), related to the research topic.
5. Research method [minimum 300 words]
A brief description of the research method, based on methodological literature,
including a reflection of advantages and disadvantages.
6. Unit of analysis, sample and data collection
Specification of the unit of analysis, population, and method of sampling. Explanation
of which media outlets OR social media platforms OR social interactions will be
examined in the analysis (and why), including expected number of cases (= size of
your sample).
This section should also explain how you are planning to collect your data (i.e. which
databases will be used, especially in case of digital data).
7. Conclusions
Summarize again the topic and aim of your research. Repeat why do you think this
topic is important and relevant, and try to hypothesise what results can be expected
(the expectation should be based on your own, tentative experience with the
research material and any readings).
8. Bibliography (at least 8 sources)
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9. Appendix: Codebook (only for thematic analysis projects)
Additional guidelines:
Please follow this template as closely as possible; this is not supposed to be an
essay, but a structured proposal, following the sub-headings (above).
As for the literature review: all the three research articles reviewed in this section
should be related to the topic of your research; all of them need to be empirical (that
is, research-based, not just theoretical), so you can summarize them in terms of (a)
research topic; b) methodology, including research sample (s), and c) conclusion(s).
Please give preference to academic journal articles from reliable sources (not just
downloading the first article which comes up when you google your topic). The safest
way to find them is through the library website,
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/library/ ; search by inserting keywords into “catalogue
plus”. Alternatively, you can go e.g. to http://online.sagepub.com, and search (using
keywords) there.
Unit of analysis: you should give information about what is it you are going to
analyse (articles, headlines, photos, videos, online comments, participant turns or
actions) and how are you going to select your sample. The information about the
number of cases is supposed to be just an estimate – that is, what will be the
expected size of your sample (= how many articles, photos, paragraphs, online
comments, participant turns or actions, or whatever else you choose to make your
unit of analysis). There is no recommended length of this section; one paragraph
should suffice, given that it is mostly just technical information.
Construction of themes (for thematic analysis): this is not supposed to be a table,
but rather a brief narrative explanation of how you will arrive at your themes.
The Bibliography is not included in the total word count. There is no tolerance on the
maximum word count.
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