Doing Media Research

Book excerpt: Comprehensive and comprehensible, Doing Media Research is an accessible introduction to both qualitative and quantitative methods in media communication. Written in a straightforward and engaging style, this text takes the student through media research step-by-step. In order to provide students with a thorough understanding of the purpose and theories behind the various methodological approaches, the text is divided into four distinct sections: Part One lays out the foundations to each approach, Part Two describes the types of research questions and data collection required, Part Three details a range of quantitative approaches, and Part Four examines qualitative methods. Author Susanna Priest concludes with a discussion of special considerations for current media research including the feminist contribution, international and intercultural perspectives and new media technology. She also invites the reader to tackle issues such as ethics, objectivity, and the interpretation of data. Useful exercises are provided at the end of each chapter and there is a glossary which defines key terms and concepts.