Students will investigate a media-based research project. Typical forms may include: textual analysis, ethnography, secondary research or audience research.The project is expected to be of a high standard, ideally working toward public presentation (conference) or publication.

This paper is designed to allow students to plan and develop a research project that adequately addresses a topic of their choice. In so doing, students will apply existing media studies knowledge and further develop skills that will be useful for further media-related study and employment. Students are encouraged to use this paper to develop disciplinary specific analytical and research design skills, as well as those of necessary for fluency of written expression and public communication.

Students are initially asked to fill out a research proposal, which will be made available on Moodle. The 'light' proposal will be used as a basis for organising appropriate supervision. Drawing on the skills learned in your undergraduate studies as well as MEDIA501 (Critical and Creative Approaches to Research), outline a project that interests you. This needn't be the same as your project for dissertation or thesis, but it may be a pilot project that trials a particular methodological approach or develops a contextual foundation from which to scaffold a larger research project.

From your proposal, the Graduate Advisor will match students with a potential supervisor during the early stages of the paper. Once you have been assigned a supervisor you will meet them regularly to plan and discuss the progress of the project. It is likely that a more developed research plan will be devised between the supervisor and students to structure the project.

A typical structure for research projects is the following:

-Topic of interest (media-related)

-Choice of method and research questions for investigating your topic

-Research design for the project

-Implementing the project (this could be a pilot project, or analysis)

-Completion and evaluation