Researching with Digital Methods

DIGI20082 Researching with Digital Methods 20 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 2 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Middle part of Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 As a continuation of ‘Researching in the Digital Age’ I and II, this course will equip students with practical skills of how to use digital media and tools for academic research. Building on the foundational knowledge acquired through these prior corresponding units, students will further explore how digital technologies have fundamentally changed how academic research is done, and how all academic research – regardless of approach, method, or software – has been shaped by digital culture. More specifically, the course unit will offer students the opportunity to explore a range of ‘digitally-native’ methods like computational methods, web tracking, social network analysis, sensing methods, and app ecologies. Key digital developments like increases in the volume of data analysable or the automation of data collection techniques, have had profound effects not only on academic research but on what qualifies as knowledge and understanding. These changes have been so profound that some – wrongly! – have claimed the end of theory altogether. This course will allow students to interrogate such questionable claims, and to consider the consequences of research in the digital age, through practical application.   As a continuation of ‘Researching in the Digital Age’ I and II, this course will equip students with practical skills of how to use digital media and tools for academic research. Building on the foundational knowledge acquired through these prior corresponding units, students will further explore how digital technologies have fundamentally changed how academic research is done, and how all academic research – regardless of approach, method, or software – has been shaped by digital culture. More specifically, the course unit will offer students the opportunity to explore a range of ‘digitally-native’ methods like computational methods, web tracking, social network analysis, sensing methods, and app ecologies. Key digital developments like increases in the volume of data analysable or the automation of data collection techniques, have had profound effects not only on academic research but on what qualifies as knowledge and understanding. These changes have been so profound that some – wrongly! – have claimed the end of theory altogether. This course will allow students to interrogate such questionable claims, and to consider the consequences of research in the digital age, through practical application.   The unit aims to:- introduce students to a diversity of digital research methods and methodological approaches - offer students practical opportunities to employ a range of digital methods, tools, and software - provide students with possibilities to apply newly learnt digital skills to relevant media topics and case studies - provide students with critical, ethical use and interpretation of digital methods and methodologies <ul><li>Recognise and reflect on the history and development of digital methods and methodologies [A2]</li><li>Analyse and critique how digital methods and methodologies are used to cultivate knowledge [A2]</li><li>Articulate and contextualize the differences between digitally-native and non-digitally native methods [A2]</li></ul> <ul><li>Compare and contrast different digitally native research methods [B2]</li><li>Devise original and innovative research questions that can be studied using digital methods [B2]</li><li>Critically analyse the ethical implications of using particular digital tools and software [B2]  </li></ul> <ul><li>Develop a wide variety of foundational digital research method skills [C2.1]</li><li>Experiment with using specific digital tools and software [C2.1]</li><li>Effectively convey the value of specific digital research methods to different audiences [C2.2]  </li></ul> <ul><li>Evaluate a variety of sources on digital methods to study a real-world issue or phenomenon [D2.1]</li><li>Devise a feasible digital methodological project based on prior work or knowledge [D2.1]</li><li>Integrate critical methodological reflection into an independent project report [D2.2]  </li></ul> Analytical skills Students will acquire a range of specific digital research skills, including knowledge of how to critically use and analyse digital methods, tools, and software commonplace in various industry settings. Research Students will experience designing, executing, and reporting on a method-based research project, learning to apply a specific digital method or approach to a chosen topic or phenomenon, and evaluating the efficacy of the method in question. Other Students will acquire a range of specific digital research skills, including knowledge of how to critically use and analyse digital methods, tools, and software commonplace in various industry settings. The course unit will offer an introduction to digital methods and practical experience of how to use specific digital tools, techniques, and software to study media and cultural phenomena. Students will explore how digital methods and methodologies have shifted and changed over time, and the effect of various technological transformations – computation, the internet, miniaturization, free software, apps and platforms – on what digital methods are and do. Students will also be introduced to both specific ‘digitally-native’ software and approaches used to study cultural phenomena (e.g. computational methods, social network analysis, data visualization, app walkthroughs/ecologies) as well as advanced introduction to interviews (video, mobile), ethnographies (digital, online) and video/image analysis.       The unit consists of 1-hour lectures and 2-hour seminars per week, delivered synchronously and in-person.Lectures will be delivered through a presentation format with short individual/group tasks. Lectures will primarily be used to introduce different digital methods and methodological approaches, aiming to provide historical context to their development (who conceived them, where, when, why), as well as understanding of how they might be used, what kinds of insights/knowledges they produce, and the epistemological, ontological, ethical, and political consequences of their use.Seminars will primarily involve practical workshop-style activities. Each seminar will be involve hands-on use of different digital methods, in order to provide students with practical experience of using specific digital tools and software. Students will ordinarily be provided with a task/worksheet (or multiple) to complete within the seminar (either individually or in groups), and alongside use of such tools/software, will be asked to critically analyse their use and value in academic research. 0 Other 100% <figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Assessment task</td><td>Formative or Summative</td><td>Length</td><td>Weighting within unit (if relevant)</td></tr><tr><td>Digital method project outline (individual) [a written outline of a digital method-based project to be conducted]  </td><td>Formative</td><td>500 words</td><td>0%</td></tr><tr><td>Digital tool/software analysis (individual) [a written analysis of a chosen digital tool or software]</td><td>Summative</td><td>1000 words</td><td>25%</td></tr><tr><td>Digital method project report (individual) [a written project report critically employing and justifying the use of a specific digital method or approach to the study of a chosen topic/research question]</td><td>Summative</td><td>3000 words</td><td>75%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> Written, via Blackboard, within 15 working days   N Bruns, A. 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