Media Criticism and Analysis

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:8.00

Study Course Accepted:05.08.2024 08:32:59

Study Course Information
Course Code:		KSK_159		LQF level:		Level 6
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Communication Sciences; Communication Theory		Target Audience:		Information and Communication Science; Communication Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Sergejs Kruks
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		6	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		12
Classes (count)		4	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		8
Total Contact Hours								20
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		5	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		10
Classes (count)		3	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		6
Total Contact Hours								16
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Study course Introduction to Communication Theories.
Objective:
Teaching quantitative media content analysis methodology; enhancing the empirical analysis of journalism and public relations texts; developing skills that enable formulation of hypotheses and research questions, definition of sample and coding procedures, collection of data, data processing in SPSS, interpretation and presentation of research results.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	The meaning of media content analysis. Importance of data in the evaluation of media work. Formulation of research problems. Research questions and hypotheses.			Lectures		1.00	E-Studies platform
2	Units to be measured. Data operationalisation. Categories and subcategories of content analysis. Types of measurement scales.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		2.00	auditorium
3	The concept of sampling. Types of samples, selection thereof for research. Synchronous and diachronic research.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
4	Data processing in SPSS.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		2.00	auditorium
5	Coding instruction. Data collection protocol. Coding process. Pilot study. Calculation of the error. Clarification of categories.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
6	Theoretical basis of content analysis. Paradigms and theories. Principles of objective data collection.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	The meaning of media content analysis. Importance of data in the evaluation of media work. Formulation of research problems. Research questions and hypotheses.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
2	Units to be measured. Data operationalisation. Categories and subcategories of content analysis. Types of measurement scales.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		2.00	auditorium
3	The concept of sampling. Types of samples, selection thereof for research. Synchronous and diachronic research.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
4	Data processing in SPSS.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
5	Coding instruction. Data collection protocol. Coding process. Pilot study. Calculation of the error. Clarification of categories.			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
6	Theoretical basis of content analysis. Paradigms and theories. Principles of objective data collection.			Lectures		0.50	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Group work: Development of a quantitative research methodology for analysis of a chosen topic; gathering the data, statistical processing of the data. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
Group project: quantitative research methodology (a description of the coding system and procedures), data collection (an excel table), and processing the data in SPSS programme (tables and indicators of statistical significance). Participation in seminars. Exam (test in e-studijas: 10 multiple choice and open questions.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):		Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		Students understand the theory and methodology of quantitative content analysis.
Skills:		Students are able to define research problem, formulate research questions, prepare research design, collect data, process it in SPSS software, interpret results, write a research report.
Competencies:		Students carry out quantitative analysis of media messages and interpret data.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Wimmer, R., J. Dominick (2014) Mass Media Research: An Introduction. 3rd edition. Boston, MA: Wadsworth.
2	Riffe, D., S. Lacy, F. Fico (2019) Analyzing Media Messages. Using Quantitative Content Analysisin Research. 4th edition. Mahwah, NJ and London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
3	Kruks, S. (2022) Satura kvantitatīvā analīze. Kopsavilkums.
Additional Reading
1	Kruks, S., J. Juzefovičs (2007) Ziņas Latvijas televīzijās. LTV1, LTV7, TV3, LNT, TV5 un PBK ziņu raidījumu satura analīze. Rīga: NRTP.
2	Kruks, S., I. Šulmane (2006) Neiecietības izpausmes un iecietības veicināšana Latvijas presē 2004. gadā. Rīga: ĪUMSIL.