Doing Media Research

Michael Stevenson - University of Amsterdam
Misha Kavka - University of Amsterdam
Doing Media Research
January 2025 | 312 pages | Sage UK
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Description

What is media research and how is it done? This book offers detailed introductions and practical guidance for all aspects of media research, from developing a research question and choosing sources to interpreting media texts, applying qualitative and quantitative methods, conducting interviews, and much more.

You will encounter:

  • A 'Fundamentals' section covering eight big topics like 'what is method?'
  • A global perspective reflected in case studies of media research in Asia, Africa and South America
  • Practical examples on topics from crafting a thesis statement to conducting an analysis and presenting the outcomes
  • Integrated discussion of contemporary issues like the ethics of social media research

This essential companion will empower any media student to tackle their research with confidence and skill. 

Contents

Section I: Fundamentals

  • Chapter 1. What is research?
  • Chapter 2. What is an idea?
  • Chapter 3. What is a media research topic?
  • Chapter 4. What is a research question?
  • Chapter 5. What is a theoretical framework?
  • Chapter 6. What is method?
  • Chapter 7. What is analysis?
  • Chapter 8. What is ethical research?

Section II. The research process

  • Chapter 9. Choosing sources and collecting data
  • Chapter 10. Picking apart and piecing together: interpreting media texts
  • Chapter 11. Sorting and counting: structured analysis of media content
  • Chapter 12. Asking and listening: researching with producers, audiences and users
  • Chapter 13. Mapping and visualizing: illustrating ideas and exploring data

Section III. The writing process

  • Chapter 14. Genres of research writing
  • Chapter 15. Argumentation
  • Chapter 16. Responsible citation
  • Chapter 17. Giving and receiving feedback

Description

What is media research and how is it done? This book offers detailed introductions and practical guidance for all aspects of media research, from developing a research question and choosing sources to interpreting media texts, applying qualitative and quantitative methods, conducting interviews, and much more.

You will encounter:

  • A 'Fundamentals' section covering eight big topics like 'what is method?'
  • A global perspective reflected in case studies of media research in Asia, Africa and South America
  • Practical examples on topics from crafting a thesis statement to conducting an analysis and presenting the outcomes
  • Integrated discussion of contemporary issues like the ethics of social media research

This essential companion will empower any media student to tackle their research with confidence and skill. 

Contents

Section I: Fundamentals

  • Chapter 1. What is research?
  • Chapter 2. What is an idea?
  • Chapter 3. What is a media research topic?
  • Chapter 4. What is a research question?
  • Chapter 5. What is a theoretical framework?
  • Chapter 6. What is method?
  • Chapter 7. What is analysis?
  • Chapter 8. What is ethical research?

Section II. The research process

  • Chapter 9. Choosing sources and collecting data
  • Chapter 10. Picking apart and piecing together: interpreting media texts
  • Chapter 11. Sorting and counting: structured analysis of media content
  • Chapter 12. Asking and listening: researching with producers, audiences and users
  • Chapter 13. Mapping and visualizing: illustrating ideas and exploring data

Section III. The writing process

  • Chapter 14. Genres of research writing
  • Chapter 15. Argumentation
  • Chapter 16. Responsible citation
  • Chapter 17. Giving and receiving feedback
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Doing Media Research

Michael Stevenson , Misha Kavka
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January 2025 | 312 pages | Sage UK

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What is media research and how is it done? This book offers detailed introductions and practical guidance for all aspects of media research, from developing a research question and choosing sources to interpreting media texts, applying qualitative and quantitative methods, conducting interviews, and much more.

You will encounter:

  • A 'Fundamentals' section covering eight big topics like 'what is method?'
  • A global perspective reflected in case studies of media research in Asia, Africa and South America
  • Practical examples on topics from crafting a thesis statement to conducting an analysis and presenting the outcomes
  • Integrated discussion of contemporary issues like the ethics of social media research

This essential companion will empower any media student to tackle their research with confidence and skill. 


Table Of Contents:

  • Section I: Fundamentals
  • Chapter 1. What is research?
  • Chapter 2. What is an idea?
  • Chapter 3. What is a media research topic?
  • Chapter 4. What is a research question?
  • Chapter 5. What is a theoretical framework?
  • Chapter 6. What is method?
  • Chapter 7. What is analysis?
  • Chapter 8. What is ethical research?
  • Section II. The research process
  • Chapter 9. Choosing sources and collecting data
  • Chapter 10. Picking apart and piecing together: interpreting media texts
  • Chapter 11. Sorting and counting: structured analysis of media content
  • Chapter 12. Asking and listening: researching with producers, audiences and users
  • Chapter 13. Mapping and visualizing: illustrating ideas and exploring data
  • Section III. The writing process
  • Chapter 14. Genres of research writing
  • Chapter 15. Argumentation
  • Chapter 16. Responsible citation
  • Chapter 17. Giving and receiving feedback

Recent Product Reviews:

Doing Media Research offers an essential helping hand to guide us down the rabbit hole of our media, at each step reminding us how much fun it is to study and learn about what shapes our lives the most.
Professor Mark Deuze, University of Amsterdam
I strongly recommend Doing Media Research to all students, not just in Media studies. It provides a thorough guide for students who want to dig deeper and think harder. In an age when the media landscape changes at lightning speed, Stevenson and Kavka steer beginning scholars to follow their curiosity and learn the ropes by doing research.
José van Dijck,, University Professor of Media and Digital Society, Utrecht University
An essential and engaging textbook for students studying media. Refusing the usual isolation of quantitative from qualitative methods and moving students from research questions to research problems, it both opens students to the wonderful possibilities of media research and takes students—step-by-step—through the process of conceiving, doing, and writing their research.
Wendy Hui Kyong Chun, Research Chair in New Media, Simon Fraser University
At a moment when thoughtful media research is urgently needed, Stevenson and Kavka offer us an indispensable guidebook. Doing Media Research stands out as a comprehensive “one-stop-shop” that demystifies the research process while encouraging curiosity and creativity.
Brooke Erin Duffy, Cornell University

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