Critical Research StudyCritical Research Study

Assess the candidate’s ability to Assess the candidate’s ability to independently research, investigate independently research, investigate and analyse a media topic and to and analyse a media topic and to present findings.present findings.

Research in depth one of the nine Research in depth one of the nine topics in the area of audience and topics in the area of audience and institution and to develop an institution and to develop an independent critical response. independent critical response.

The ExamThe Exam

There will be two questions for each There will be two questions for each topic you must answer both.topic you must answer both.

Question 1 = researchQuestion 1 = research Question 2= Analysis and Question 2= Analysis and

preparationpreparation You are allowed to take in 4 pages of You are allowed to take in 4 pages of

notesnotes

QUANTATIVEQUANTATIVE

A TYPE OF RESEARCH BASED ON A TYPE OF RESEARCH BASED ON NUMBERS, STATISTICS AND OFTEN NUMBERS, STATISTICS AND OFTEN INVOLVES TABLES. IT MEASURES INVOLVES TABLES. IT MEASURES SOMETHING, SUCH AS VIEWING SOMETHING, SUCH AS VIEWING RATES, TIMEWATCHING TV ETC. IT RATES, TIMEWATCHING TV ETC. IT USUALLY INVOLVES LARGE AMOUNTS USUALLY INVOLVES LARGE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLEOF PEOPLE

QUALITATIVEQUALITATIVE

EXPLAINS SOMETHING AND MY EXPLAINS SOMETHING AND MY INCLUDE DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS INCLUDE DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES. A OF OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES. A MORE FOCUSSED GROUP OF PEOPLE MORE FOCUSSED GROUP OF PEOPLE IS USED.IS USED.

METHODOLOGYMETHODOLOGY

QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYSQUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS

(THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT QUESTIONS (THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT QUESTIONS AND THINK ABOUT WHO, WHAT , AND THINK ABOUT WHO, WHAT , WHERE, WHEN, HOW)WHERE, WHEN, HOW)

INTERVIEWSINTERVIEWS FOCUS GROUPSFOCUS GROUPS

CONTENT ANALYSISCONTENT ANALYSIS

What are you looking for?What are you looking for? What texts will you use?What texts will you use? Will you use all of the text?Will you use all of the text? Categories or aspects of researchCategories or aspects of research Logging researchLogging research AnalysisAnalysis ReflectionReflection

PRIMARYPRIMARY

YOUR OWN ORIGINAL RESEARCHYOUR OWN ORIGINAL RESEARCH

SECONDARYSECONDARY

USING OTHER PEOPLE’S RESEARCHUSING OTHER PEOPLE’S RESEARCH

Using Secondary DataUsing Secondary Data

Use books, internet and contact firmsUse books, internet and contact firms Accurately reference everything you useAccurately reference everything you use For books: author, date, title, publisherFor books: author, date, title, publisher For Internet: URL and date you accessed For Internet: URL and date you accessed

itit Non-print based: director, title, Non-print based: director, title,

broadcasting channel, date or broadcastbroadcasting channel, date or broadcast

The Content of the ExamThe Content of the Exam

Question One:Question One:

This will be about the This will be about the methods of methods of research that you research that you have used to have used to investigate the investigate the topictopic

Question TwoQuestion Two

A more general A more general question based on question based on an area of the topican area of the topic

You must show:You must show:

Proficiency is using range Proficiency is using range primary/secondaryprimary/secondary

Selecting appropriate researchSelecting appropriate research Referencing of resources- accurateReferencing of resources- accurate Relevant resourcesRelevant resources Findings are comprehensive Findings are comprehensive IndependenceIndependence Sophisticated analysis with personal Sophisticated analysis with personal

responseresponse Skilful comparisons of textsSkilful comparisons of texts Specific examples to support argumentsSpecific examples to support arguments

RepresentationRepresentation

Way in which the world is interpreted Way in which the world is interpreted and presented by the media.and presented by the media.

They do this through a series of signsThey do this through a series of signs It is important to remember that it is It is important to remember that it is

never the truth or objective but a re-never the truth or objective but a re-presentationpresentation

Remember that it is selective and Remember that it is selective and editededited

StereotypingStereotyping

IdeologyIdeology

Part of representationPart of representation Belief systemsBelief systems The media is a powerful way of The media is a powerful way of

emphasising these and creating emphasising these and creating themthem

HegemonyHegemony

The theory that people are influenced into The theory that people are influenced into accepting the ideology of a powerful elite accepting the ideology of a powerful elite who impose there ideology on the who impose there ideology on the population. population.

It argues that the reason these people rule It argues that the reason these people rule is because the population allows them tois because the population allows them to

In other words the media has to persuade In other words the media has to persuade us that it has our best interests at heart us that it has our best interests at heart for us to accept them as dominant.for us to accept them as dominant.

This is a theory by Marxist critic Antonio This is a theory by Marxist critic Antonio GramsciGramsci

Hypodermic Needle TheoryHypodermic Needle Theory

The media injects ideas into a The media injects ideas into a passive audience, like giving them a passive audience, like giving them a drug.drug.

Question 1Question 1

Accounts of the kinds of research Accounts of the kinds of research undertaken,undertaken,

to include the following:to include the following: The producers, institution or industry The producers, institution or industry

concernedconcerned Academic criticismAcademic criticism Popular criticismPopular criticism Audience reception, including the Audience reception, including the

candidate her/himselfcandidate her/himself

How to structure essay Q1:How to structure essay Q1:

Introduction: Introduction:

Briefly outline the types of research Briefly outline the types of research that youthat you

have done. have done.

Use words such as primary/secondary, Use words such as primary/secondary, academic/popular, academic/popular, qualitative/quantitative qualitative/quantitative

Main sectionMain section

Have sections on:Have sections on: The institutionThe institution Academic criticismAcademic criticism Popular criticismPopular criticism Audience receptionAudience receptionYou must: Discuss primary and You must: Discuss primary and

secondary resources, relevant secondary resources, relevant resources, detailed examples of your resources, detailed examples of your findings, accurate references.findings, accurate references.

ConclusionConclusion

Sum up your research and tell the Sum up your research and tell the examiner what you found particularly examiner what you found particularly useful and what you do not.useful and what you do not.

Question 2Question 2

Analysis and presentation of the Analysis and presentation of the researchresearch

undertaken, to include the following:undertaken, to include the following: The investigative process and the The investigative process and the

findings of the researchfindings of the research The presentation and development of The presentation and development of

an argument or thesis, with reference an argument or thesis, with reference to research and textual evidenceto research and textual evidence

Where appropriate, conclusionsWhere appropriate, conclusions

Structuring a responseStructuring a response Introduction- give a basic response to the Introduction- give a basic response to the

question that you will extend on in the essayquestion that you will extend on in the essay Main section- decide on three/four main areas Main section- decide on three/four main areas

that you are going to discuss your findings of that you are going to discuss your findings of (related to question). With each one discuss the (related to question). With each one discuss the opinions of other (references), your own research opinions of other (references), your own research with findings and give specific (referenced) with findings and give specific (referenced) examples of case studies etc that prove your examples of case studies etc that prove your findings- comparing examples in each section. findings- comparing examples in each section. PEE still appliesPEE still applies

Conclusion- Sum up your findings with reference Conclusion- Sum up your findings with reference to the questionto the question

Have you got…?Have you got…?

Primary research with conclusionsPrimary research with conclusions Case study notes and your own Case study notes and your own

conclusions and opinionsconclusions and opinions Content analysis notesContent analysis notes Academic criticism- with notes/own Academic criticism- with notes/own

conclusionsconclusions Popular criticism with notes/own Popular criticism with notes/own

conclusionsconclusions Hypotheses with conclusionsHypotheses with conclusions

Examiner’s reportExaminer’s reportDo’s:Do’s: Have brief notes to jog Have brief notes to jog

your memoryyour memory Use personal research- Use personal research-

especially primaryespecially primary Reference everythingReference everything Develop a series of Develop a series of

hypotheses based around hypotheses based around what you have studied what you have studied with notes on your with notes on your conclusions and referencesconclusions and references

Discuss one or two of Discuss one or two of these hypotheses in Q2 to these hypotheses in Q2 to focus your answerfocus your answer

Use evidence to back up Use evidence to back up your ideas- compare your ideas- compare different pieces of different pieces of evidenceevidence

Don’t:Don’t: Have long, prosaic notesHave long, prosaic notes Use sources without Use sources without

referencingreferencing Use only one exampleUse only one example Just write down Just write down

everything that you everything that you know.know.

Guidance on Candidates’ Notes•Candidates are able to take 4 sides of A4 research notes into the examination; these must be submitted with the candidate’s examination script.•The purpose of these notes is to serve as an aide memoire for the candidate, for detailed information, as below.•The notes, which must be hand-written by the candidate him/herself, should cover primary and • They should not contain essay plans or continuous prose.•On no account should additional sheets or materials be brought into the examination room, nor should the research notes be word-processed, printed, photocopied or typewritten.It is recommended that candidates collect their research findings carefully during the course of their Critical Research Study, which should then be selected and edited carefully at a reasonable period before the examination and presented as the final four sides of research notes.

HypothesesHypotheses

Now you have done research make Now you have done research make up 3 hypotheses based on your up 3 hypotheses based on your researchresearch

Give references and citations for Give references and citations for evidenceevidence

Your conclusionsYour conclusions