MA Digital Media, Culture and Society / Course details

This course unit supports students on the dissertation component of the MA Digital Media, Culture and Society programme. Writing a 12,000-word dissertation on a research topic of your choice is a key part of the programme, and will ordinarily involve carrying out original primary research. Students will be assigned a dissertation supervisor who is responsible for agreeing to a dissertation topic, as well as scheduling supervision meetings to discuss progress, offer support and advice concerning dissertation planning and time-management, and provide feedback on a dissertation plan as well as a draft dissertation chapter. The unit consists of four workshops introducing students to the dissertation, as well as relevant introductions regarding research, design, research conduct, ethics/plagiarism, and dissertation writing. Students will be expected to spend the summer months independently writing their dissertation, before submission in September.

To take DIGI60000, you need to be enrolled onto DIGI60011 and DIGI61331

To provide students with support for writing a substantial, original piece of academic work

To equip students with the ability to carry out primary research on a research topic

To provide students with support for planning and managing a dissertation project

The course unit is divided into two parts. The first part will mainly be delivered during the second semester (with one introductory lecture in semester one) and consist of four workshops delivered on key aspects of the dissertation. These will include workshops introducing what a dissertation is and the work it requires, how to design an original research project, how to conduct an ethical research project, and how to write and structure an MA dissertation. This part of the course unit will also include 1-on-1 and group meetings with a dissertation supervisor, who will agree to chosen dissertation topics, and offer research ethics advice, as well as provide support and feedback on a dissertation plan, and a chapter of the dissertation.

The second part of the course unit will consist of students carrying out their research project, and writing up their dissertation. This part will principally take place after the teaching period of the second semester, ordinarily from June to September. This part of the course unit is carried out independently by students and does not include any further teaching elements or meetings with dissertation supervisors. 

The course unit will consist of 2-hour workshops and 0.5-hour supervisory meetings. Lectures will be dedicated to delivering foundational knowledge required for students to conduct an original research project and write a 12,000-word dissertation. Supervisory meetings will be offered on both a 1-to-1 and group basis between students and dissertation supervisors. Verbal and written feedback on dissertation topics, dissertation plans and a draft chapter will be provided in the supervisory meetings.

• Explain how to plan and conduct a dissertation project
• Describe how to design, structure, and write a dissertation
• Apply research methods to an original research topic
• Apply the use of argumentative reasoning to research findings
• Demonstrate a deeper understanding of a chosen research topic 

• Apply key theoretical concepts to an original research topic
• Critically evaluate the applicability and relevance of particular methods and methodologies to a chosen research topic
• Employ critical analytical skills to generate insights and conclusions regarding a research topic
• Use secondary academic literature to support arguments and research findings

• Draw on new knowledge to propose an original dissertation project topic
• Use library and online sources to find secondary literature to support the planning and writing of the dissertation
• Use relevant research methods, tools, services, or platforms to conduct and analyse original research
• Use appropriate software, tools, and techniques to plan and write a dissertation

• Independently devise an original research project
• Independently plan and manage an original research project
• Independently write a substantial piece of academic work
• Critically reflect on and respond to verbal and written feedback

Feedback method	Formative and/or Summative
Verbal (supervisory meetings)	Formative
Written (Blackboard)	Formative
Turnitin	Summative

Association of Internet Researchers (2020) Internet Research: Ethical Guidelines 3.0.  

Clark, T., Foster, L. and Bryman, A. (2019) How to do your Social Research Project or Dissertation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.  

Ess, C. M., Locatelli, E. and Franzke, A. S. (2023) (eds.) Internet research ethics in the platform society: Theoretical reflections, research experiences, and open questions. Comunicazioni Sociali.  

Hart, C. (2004) Doing Your Masters Dissertation. London: Sage.

Lupton, D. and Watson, A. A. (2021) Towards more-than-human digital data studies: Developing research creation methods. Qualitative Research 21 (4): 463-480. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794120939235  

Ruddock, A. (2017) Exploring Media Research: Theories, Practice, and Purpose. London: Sage.

Seale, C. (2017) (4th ed.) Researching Society and Culture. London: Sage.  

Silverman, D. (2020) (6th ed.) Interpreting Qualitative Data. London: Sage.

Stokes, J. (2021) (3rd ed.) How to Do Media and Cultural Studies. London: Sage.  

Wershler, D., Emerson, L. and Parikka, J. (2021) The Lab Book: Situated Practices in Media Studies. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press. https://manifold.umn.edu/projects/the-lab-book