Many very intelligent people don't like dealing with numbers. Similarly, many gifted scientists are not especially interested in studying people and their cultural behaviour. In this book, we argue that being interested in people and their cultures, and helping students and others to use numbers to pursue these interests, are not mutually exclusive. Research methods are becoming an increasingly important requirement for students of all kinds. But many students, particularly those in the humanities, struggle with concepts drawn from the social sciences and find quantitative and statistical information inaccessible and daunting. Nonetheless, such concepts are found in nearly all areas of society, from market research and opinion polls to psychological studies of human behaviour. This book aims to provide a simple guide to the process of conducting research in the humanities, with special reference to media and culture, from the planning stage, through the data gathering, to the analysis and interpretation of results: 'planning it', 'doing it' and 'understanding it'. The book aims to show how students' own choice of research topic can be refined into a manageable research question and how the most appropriate methodologies can be applied. Each section draws on actual examples from research that the authors and their students have conducted. Topics covered include: choosing a research question and method; instrument design and pilot data; practical procedures; research with children; looking at statistics; and interpretation of results. Features: *Based on the authors' practical experience as researchers and teachers and is thus accessible, practical and 'how to'. *Includes students' own work as examples. *Bridges the 'divide' between social science and humanities research methods and will therefore appeal to a broad range of students and teachers.
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A simple guide to the process of conducting research in the humanities, with special reference to media and culture.
SECTION ONE: DESIGN: 'PLANNING IT'; 1. Introduction; 2. What do you want to know? The research question; 3. Choosing a method; SECTION TWO: EXECUTION: 'DOING IT'; 4. Sampling; 5. The practicalities: 'the six Ps'; 6. Instrument design: the questionnaire; 7. Content analysis; 8. Piloting; 9. Special audiences: work with children; SECTION THREE: ANALYSIS: 'UNDERSTANDING IT; 10. Data analysis; 11. Presenting results; 12. Information for teachers; 13. Conclusion; BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES; APPENDICES.
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780748621859
Publisert
2006-07-18
Utgiver
Vendor
Edinburgh University Press
Vekt
266 gr
Høyde
216 mm
Bredde
138 mm
Aldersnivå
U, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
208

Om bidragsyterne

Marie Messenger Davies is Professor of Media Studies and Director of the Centre for Media Research, University of Ulster. Nick Mosdell is a Lecturer at the School of Journalism in the Media & Cultural Studies Department, Cardiff University.