"Within media and cultural studies, the study of media texts is dominated by an exclusive focus on representation. This book adds long overdue attention to social interaction. The book is divided into two sections. The first outlines key theoretical issues and concepts, including informalisation, ge
...
nre hybridisation, positioning, dialogism and discourse. The second is a sustained interrogation of social interaction in and around media. Re-examining issues of representation and interaction, it critically assesses work on the para-social and broadcast sociability, then explores distinct sites of interaction: production communities, audience communities and 'interactivity' with audiences." (Publisher description)
more
"Featuring a wide range of exercises, examples, and images, this textbook provides a practical way of analyzing the discourses of the global media industries. Building on a comprehensive introduction to the history and theory of global media communication, specific case studies of lifestyle and ente
...
rtainment media are explored with examples from films, global women's magazines, Vietnamese news reporting and computer war games. Finally, this book investigates how global media communication is produced, looking at the formats, languages and images used in creating media materials, both globally and in localized forms." (Publisher description)
more
"This is a short, practically oriented and easy to understand guide through the different methods of audience research. It explains how and why audience research can contribute to the programming of local radio stations, and introduces the basics of quantitative research (ie, sampling, writing a que
...
stionnaire, etc.) and qualitative research (ie, in-depth interviews, consensus groups and others) with a focus on practical implementation for local radio stations in developing countries. Furthermore, it contains several check lists for those who want to examine their audiences, but are unsure which method is most suitable, or if they are able to carry out the research themselves or should commission an external researcher. On a whole, this is a good manual for beginners to learn more about the use, need, methods and impact that audience research can offer." (commbox)
more
"Participatory research design appears as an attractive option in the study of community media organisations. It puts the generation of the research question, the design of data collection methods, and the analysis of the results in the hands of the researched. This approach can demystify the resear
...
ch process and can be an empowering experience. But, as I found out with my doctoral research, the researcher needs to carefully assess an organisation’s capacity to undertake do-it-yourself research, because, when things go wrong, this approach can also reveal conflicts within an organisation, as well as give rise to tension resulting from the divergent needs of the researcher and those of the researched. This paper describes the troubles that arose during fieldwork conducted at a community radio station, how these unexpected events forced a reformulation of the research question, and how this eventually led to an improved theoretical insight." (Abstract)
more
"The primary advantage of in-depth interviews is that they provide much more detailed information than what is available through other data collection methods, such as surveys. They also may provide a more relaxed atmosphere in which to collect information—people may feel more comfortable having a
...
conversation with you about their program asopposed to filling out a survey. However, there are a few limitations and pitfalls, each ofwhich is described below. Prone to bias: Because program or clinic staff might want to “prove” that a program is working, their interview responses might be biased. Responses from community members and program participants could also be biased due to their stake in the program or for a number of other reasons. Every effort should be made to design a data collection effort, create instruments, and conduct interviews to allow for minimal bias. Can be time-intensive: Interviews can be a time-intensive evaluation activity because of the time it takes to conduct interviews, transcribe them, and analyze the results. In planning your data collection effort, care must be taken to include time for transcription and analysis of this detailed data. Interviewer must be appropriately trained in interviewing techniques: To provide the most detailed and rich data from an interviewee, the interviewer must make that person comfortable and appear interested in what they are saying. They must also be sure to use effective interview techniques, such as avoiding yes/no and leading questions, using appropriate body language, and keeping their personal opinions in check. Not generalizable: When in-depth interviews are conducted, generalizations about the results are usually not able to be made because small samples are chosen and random sampling methods are not used. In-depth interviews however, provide valuable information for programs, particularly when supplementing other methods of data collection. It should be noted that the general rule on sample size for interviews is that when the same stories, themes, issues, and topics are emerging from the interviewees, then a sufficient sample size has been reached." (Pages 3-4)
more
"Der Band ist eine systematische und grundlegende Einführung in die Medieninhaltsforschung in Deutschland. Der erste Teil beschäftigt sich mit der quantitativen Inhaltsanalyse als Methode und gibt dem Leser Kriterien an die Hand, die ihm die Beurteilung der Qualität und die Interpretation von inh
...
altsanalytischen Befunden erleichtern sollen. Der zweite Teil stellt die wichtigsten Ergebnisse inhaltsanalytischer Studien in den Bereichen aktuelle Berichterstattung (z.B. Politikdarstellung, Gewaltanteil, Darstellung von Risiken), unterhaltende Medieninhalte sowie Werbung zusammen. Ziel des Lehrbuchs ist ein systematischer Überblick über die Medieninhalte in Deutschland." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
more
"Designed as an alternative stand-alone text or supplement to conventional research methods texts, Communication Impact introduces methods through engaging narrative descriptions of actual research projects driven by contemporary real-world questions. Each chapter addresses a different method, inclu
...
ding community-based research, research on organizations and institutions, problem-focused research, cross-cultural research, and research on new technologies." (Publisher description)
more
"This field guide is based on an approach to doing team-based, collaborative qualitative research that has repeatedly proven successful in research projects sponsored by Family Health International (FHI) throughout the developing world. With its straightforward delivery of information on the main qu
...
alitative methods being used in public health research today, the guide speaks to the need for simple yet effective instruction on how to do systematic and ethically sound qualitative research. The aim of the guide is thus practical. In bypassing extensive discussion on the theoretical underpinnings of qualitative research, it distinguishes itself as a how-to guide to be used in the field. We have designed the guide as a tool for training the data collection staff members of multisite and team-based public health projects, but it easily has application for smaller-scale or multidisciplinary projects as well. It is also applicable to researchers spanning a wide range of expertise, from beginners to the more practiced – i.e., anyone wishing to learn or review the basics of qualitative data collection and management. We should point out, also, that even as our style of presenting the methods makes them accessible to people without an extensive background in qualitative research, we do not neglect important methodological nuances and details that can affect the quality of a project." (About this filed guide, page vi)
more
"Virtual Methods offers a detailed exploration of the problems and opportunities surrounding Internet-based research. Can offline and online observations be combined? Are online interviews able to produce high quality data? How does a researcher sort through the vast mass of material available? From
...
hyperlink analysis to the sex industry online, case studies sensitively highlight the difficulties researchers face, point out the opportunities to be seized, and offer practical solutions. Virtual Methods provides concrete advice for all stages of the research process." (Publisher description)
more
"Griffith University researchers in 2002 presented the final results of a national survey of community radio stations. The final report ‘Culture Commitment Community – The Australian Community Radio Sector’ contained a wealth of information on the sector and covered many ‘station–based’
...
perspectives on issues such as localism, funding and sponsorship, Indigenous and ethnic programming and training. A key criticism of this report was the lack of data on community radio audiences. Two years later, an expanded research team received funding from the Australian Research Council along with financial and in-kind support from Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA), the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) and the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) to investigate community radio and television audiences. This project is the first comprehensive qualitative audience study of the community media sector in Australia and responds to a need within the sector, from policy bodies and the broader Australian community, to better understand community broadcasters and their diverse audiences. Internationally, this project, in both scale and approach, is unprecedented. Thus, it heralds an exciting and pioneering stage in community broadcasting research. This paper outlines the aims and objectives of the project and our methodology for accessing Australian community media audiences. A qualitative engagement with the diversity of audiences characteristic of the community media sector has demanded new ways of doing audience research. This paper discusses some of the methodological hurdles we have crossed in our attempts to negotiate the research terrain and we raise some of the questions associated with the qualitative method and assert its validity and portability as a tool for better understanding and knowing the nature and composition of community media audiences in Australia." (Abstract)
more
"This toolkit is divided into three modules. Module A: Absolute Beginners’ Guide to Audience Research - is for individuals and organisations with little or no prior experience in conducting audience research. Module B: Basics of Audience Research - is for those who have successfully worked their w
...
ay through Module A or for individuals or organisations who have some familiarity or experience with audience research. The ‘Audit of Market Intelligence’ in Section 1 of Module B will help you decide how to use the module. Module C: Conducting your own audience research: using the 'Do-It-Yourself' Audience Research Questionnaire." (About the modules, page iv-v)
more
"Ethnography is a form of research that can give grant makers — and, often, grantees — a close, nuanced, and evolving look at an organization, a culture, or a process of change. Trained as participant observers, ethnographers work from a vantage point that is both inside and outside the object o
...
f their study. As outside observers, ethnographers bring a fresh eye, professional skills of documentation and analysis, and an understanding of the unfolding work. In the words of a researcher who employs the technique, they “can explore what the people inside are taking for granted.” As inside participants, they involve themselves deeply in that work, so as to experience its detail and broad themes. This dual perspective allows a sensitive ethnographer to distill knowledge from practice in a way that’s rarely possible for full insiders or more distanced outsiders." (Page 2)
more