Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Culture, Politica e Società

The integrated course provides practical skills in order to study the communications field, to design a research project and to improve practical skills in academic and private sector research.

The general aim of the course is to offer advanced skills for analysis in the old and new media sectors. The goal is to develop critical skills to design innovative approaches of communication and research based on an original subject.

The specific aims are as follows:
a) To apply competencies and empirical tools to design a communication research project;
b) To improve planning research skills;
c) To encourage active participation of students during the lesson
d) To work in groups to solve problems.
e) To improve skills for public presentation

Knowledge and understanding
All students should achieve the goals to employ theoretical and empirical knowledge in communication research studies, to apply and discuss them from a critical point of view.

Personal judgement
The goals of the course are to give all students the basic theoretical and practical skills to use in their professional or academic career.

Through the design research project attending students will learn:
a) to plan and manage all phases of research projects;
b) to apply skills achieved and to use them in a collaborative way to solve research problems.

Communication skills
All students must demonstrate:
a) their ability to present clearly the contents learned.
b) their ability to link the contents learned
c) their ability to use an appropriate specific language in communication studies.

Frontal lessons, discussion about topics and work in grpups

All students will do a written test.
The aim is to check the competencies, to verify the abilities to integrate theoretical and practical skills and to improve critical perspective in communication research studies.

The written test is based on open questions.

The attending students, in addition, will be evaluated on research project to present at the end of course, following indications given during the lessons.

The final evaluation will take into account:
a) regular and active attendance (attending students only);
b) knowledge of the course contents (verified by a written test).
c) the research project and his presentation (attending students only)
Attending students can upgrade the final evaluation studying Caliandro A. e Gardini A., I metodi digitali nella ricerca sociale, Roma Carocci, 2019


Non attending students will do a written test. Is possible do an oral exam, only if their written exam score is at least 24/30.
The modalities may be changed in case the Covid emergency situation persists.

A tutorship is provided for students with special needs.

The aim of the integrated course is to present some introductory theories and methods in Communication Research. The course is divided into four modules.
1. Introduction to Media Communication research field at the beginning of the course: the module defines the field of Communication Research from a general to a specific point of view.
2. Design of research: the module introduces the steps of communication research.
3. Methods: the aim is to present qualitative and quantitative approaches and methods for Communication Research. Special attention is paid to the new media environment.
4. Quantitative data analysis: after a brief introduction on data and variables, several techniques widely employed in media analysis will be presented: such as digital trace data download, automatic and manual text analysis and experiments.
5. Practical modules on a specific topic proposed in the first lessons, where students can apply knowledge and tools to Communication research.
The course also gives the opportunity 1) to meet national and international experts and researchers in media analysis; 2) to visit a local media center.

Programme for attending students
The final evaluation will be based on:
1. reading guide provided for the class
2. lecture notes
3. A group research project following the indications given.
4. Public presentation of the project

Programme for non-attending students
1. Caliandro A. e Gardini A., I metodi digitali nella ricerca sociale, Roma Carocci, 2019
2. R. Rogers, (2013), Metodi digitali, Bologna Il Mulino, capitoli 1,5,9
3. A choice between the following reports:
a)
Programme for incoming students
Incoming students can take the exam in English or French following this programme
1. Couldry N., 2012, Media, Society, World. Theory and Digital Meida Practice, Cambridge, Polity Press.
2. Research report https://knightfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/KF-Twitter-Report-Part1-v6.pdf
Programme for foreign students
1. Couldry N., 2012, Media, Society, World. Theory and Digital Media Practice, Cambridge, Polity Press.
2. Il report di ricerca: https://knightfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/KF-Twitter-Report-Part1-v6.pdf

The course is 54 hours long.
The final evaluation is recorded in the oral exams only.
This programme is confirmed for this Academic year only.
Every change must be approved.
Students with special needs can get in contact with the lecturers to discuss their situation and to arrange an ad hoc programme and alternative approach.

Attendance is recommended although it is not compulsory. Attending students must be present for 75% of the hours.