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Introduction to Research

Code: 42437 ECTS Credits: 9
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
4313256 Audiovisual Communication and Advertising Contents OT 0

Contact

Name:
Matilde Delgado Reina
Email:
matilde.delgado@uab.cat

Teachers

Ana Belen Monclus Blanco

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

...


Objectives and Contextualisation

This module attends to provide the particular tools for the approach of a scientific research project, to define its aims, to identify the appropriate methods and resources to cover them and to establish a work plan.

The general objective is to know, learn and practice the concepts and necessary procedures for the design of a scientific investigation.


Competences

  • Analyse research results to obtain new products or processes, assessing their industrial and commercial viability with a view to transferring them to society.
  • Choose, design and apply methodological strategies for scientific research in audiovisual communication and product development.
  • Conceive, plan, and lead academic and/or professional research projects in audiovisual and advertising communication, applying criteria of quality, equality and ethical and social responsibility.
  • Demonstrate an attitude awake, innovative and analytical in relation to the research questions
  • Develop the ability to assess sex and gender inequalities in order to design solutions.
  • Integrate knowledge and use it to make judgements in complex situations, with incomplete information, while keeping in mind social and ethical responsibilities.
  • Plan tasks in accordance with the human resources, tools and time available so as to optimise performance.
  • Seek out information in the scientific and technological context and learn practical ICT skills.
  • Solve problems in new or little-known situations within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to the field of study.
  • Take decisions and accept responsibility for their consequences.
  • Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse research results to obtain new products or processes, assessing their industrial and commercial viability with a view to transferring them to society.
  2. Define and mark out the limits of an object of study.
  3. Demonstrate an attitude awake, innovative and analytical in relation to the research questions
  4. Design model research projects.
  5. Integrate knowledge and use it to make judgements in complex situations, with incomplete information, while keeping in mind social and ethical responsibilities.
  6. Keep the phases of the research project within the set time limits.
  7. Know how to compile, systematise, conserve and disseminate information on women, works written by women, documents referring to equality policies and laws and those generated by research in gender studies, assessing the gender biases that may be included in existing search engines and descriptors.
  8. Learn to make visible the contributions made by women in all areas of society and to consider their experience as a documentary source of primary importance.
  9. Plan tasks in accordance with the human resources, tools and time available so as to optimise performance.
  10. Present and defend the projects created.
  11. Produce, collect and interpret empirical data in a gender-sensitive way.
  12. Seek out information in the scientific and technological context and learn practical ICT skills.
  13. Select the appropriate methodological techniques to a standard project
  14. Set the methodological stages of a research project.
  15. Take decisions and accept responsibility for their consequences.
  16. Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.

Content

In this module, we examine the key factors involved in developing a scientific research project, along with the research process itself.

Topics covered include the purpose of research, types of research, epistemological approaches, methodology, phases of the research process (conceptualization, planning, research, and dissemination), project feasibility, funding, and ethical considerations.

These elements are explored both theoretically and in relation to students' own Master's Thesis projects. Additionally, the module's faculty introduces various approaches to enrich debate and knowledge acquisition, inspired by proposals for new study projects and corresponding new methodological approaches.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Seminars 44 1.76 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16
Theoric Sessions 12 0.48 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 16
Type: Supervised      
Development of projects and presentation and debating them 55 2.2 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16
Type: Autonomous      
Readings, development of projects, preparation of the presentations 110 4.4 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

The curriculum of this module (9 ECTS credits) involves a total of 225 hours of work for the students, distributed as follows: 113 hours of autonomous work, 56 directed hours and 56 supervised hours. The teaching methodologies include master classes, case studies, seminars, readings of bibliography material, tutorships, executing and presenting written and oral papers, and the student's active work of analysis and debate.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Attendance and participation 10% 0 0 1, 5, 16
Development of the project 50 % 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
Oral presentation of a project 20% 4 0.16 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15
Reading and assessment of another student's paper 20% 0 0 1, 3, 5, 12, 15

The evaluation system comprises the completion of a module project, its oral defense, the review and assessment of another student's work, and active attendance and participation in classes.

The project topic is flexible, within the confines of the master's syllabus, and will align with the theme selected for the Master's Thesis.

CONTINUOUS EVALUATION This method mandates attendance at theoretical sessions and the completion of the following assessment activities:

1.     Preparation of a research project and gradual incorporation of improvement suggestions from analysis sessions (50%)

2.     Review and assessment of another student's project (20%)

3.     Oral defense of the project (20%)

4.     Active participation in sessions (10%)

SINGLE EVALUATION Students can choose the single evaluation option. This method requires attendance at the first two sessions and the completion of the following assessment activities:

1.     Preparation of a research project (30%)

2.     Critical and reasoned evaluation of the research options of the project itself (20%)

3.     Review and assessment of another student's project (30%)

4.     Oral defense of the project (20%)

Activities 1, 2, and 3 must be submitted on the same day as activity 4, which will be conducted in person. The date for this evaluation will be announced at the beginning of the module.


Bibliography

    • Denscombe, Martyn (2010) Ground Rules for Social Research. Guidelines for good practice. New York: McGraw Hill,
    • Hackley, Chris (2003) Doing Research Projects in Marketing, Management and Consumer Research. London: Routledge.
    • Lynch, Patrick (2004), "Choosing the Appropriate Methodology: Understanting Research Philosophy", The Marketing Review, 4. pp. 397-409.
    • Murray, Neil & Hughes, Geraldine (2008) Writing up your University Assignments and Research Projects. New York: McGraw Hill.
    • Treadwell, Donald (2013) Introducing Communication Research: Paths of Inquiry . Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE.

Software

None.


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(TEm) Theory (master) 10 Spanish second semester morning-mixed