- Home
-
Study
Study
Interested in studying at Northumbria? With 31,500 students, Northumbria is one of the largest universities in the country, offering courses on either a full-time, part-time or distance learning basis.
Discover more-
Undergraduate
- Undergraduate Study
- Undergraduate Events
- Application Guides
- Northumbria University UCAS Exhibitions
- Foundation Years
- Undergraduate Fees & Funding
- School & College Outreach
- Continuing Professional Development
-
Postgraduate
- Postgraduate Study
- Postgraduate Research Degrees
- Postgraduate Open Days and Events
- Postgraduate Fees & Funding
- Flexible Learning
- Thinking about a Masters?
- Continuing Professional Development
- Change Direction
-
Student Life
- The Hub - Student Blog
- Accommodation
- Life in Newcastle
- Support for Students
- Careers
- Information for Parents
- Students' Union
- Northumbria Sport
-
-
International
International
Students from all over the world choose Northumbria University for many reasons; our academic excellence, and that they will benefit from a fantastic student experience.
Discover more-
Applying to Northumbria
- European Union
- Our London Campus
- Our Amsterdam Campus
- Northumbria Pathway
- International Events
- Northumbria and your Country
- Entry Requirements
- Agent Information
-
Northumbria Language Centre
- Faculty Requirements
- Acceptable English Requirements
- Pre-Sessional English and Study Skills
- Academic Language Skills Programmes (ALS)
-
International & EU Fees, Funding & Scholarships
- EU/International Undergraduate Fees
- EU/International Undergraduate Funding
- EU/International Masters Fees
- EU/International Masters Funding
- EU/International Postgraduate Research Fees
- EU/International Postgraduate Research Funding
- International Money Matters
-
Life at Northumbria
- International student support
- The Hub - Student Blog
- Careers
-
Study Abroad Erasmus and Exchange
- Study Abroad, Exchange and Erasmus
- Incoming Students
- Europe (Erasmus +) - including staff mobility
-
-
Business
Business
The world is changing faster than ever before. The future is there to be won by organisations who find ways to turn today's possibilities into tomorrows competitive edge. In a connected world, collaboration can be the key to success.
Discover more -
Research
Research
Northumbria is a research-rich, business-focused, professional university with a global reputation for academic quality. We conduct ground-breaking research that is responsive to the science & technology, health & well being, economic and social and arts & cultural needs for the communities
Discover more -
About Us
About Us
Northumbria University is based in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, which is regularly voted the best place in the UK for students who are attracted by our excellent academic reputation, our top 10 graduate employment record and our outstanding campus and sports facilities.
Discover more-
About Northumbria
- Our Vision
- Our Staff
- Our Partners
- Student Profiles
- Alumni Profiles
- Leadership & Governance
- Academic Departments
- University Services
- History of Northumbria
- Contact us
- Online Shop
-
-
Alumni
Alumni
Northumbria University Alumni Association ensures our graduates stay in touch with news from the University and fellow alumni. With membership of over 222,000 graduates in 176 countries worldwide; it doesn’t matter where you are located or what you are doing, YOU are our global alumni family. It's free to join for graduates of Northumbria University and our constituent colleges.
Discover more - Work For Us
What will I learn on this module?
This module will introduce you to several things. First, it will give you a grounding in some of the main recent traditions for thinking about and researching media audiences, and the historical contexts of these; the rise of the European cultural studies approach to audiences, the mainly American mass communications approaches, the reception studies tradition, and the growing interdisciplinary field of fan studies. What links all of these approaches is an emphasis on the contexts which shape how audiences engage with and respond to different media and cultural products.
The module will also ensure you are experienced at reading and evaluating original audience and reception research. In other words, that rather than just reading second-hand summaries or excerpts, you read in detail actual empirical work in order to think about and understand the processes undertaken, and assess what distinguishes good/strong from poor/weak research.
Finally, alongside tackling the intellectual issues of audience research, the module aims to do something quite unusual – to give you experience of the processes involved, and the challenges encountered, by giving you a chance to carry out your own small piece of audience research. This necessarily has to be small-scale and preliminary, in order to fit it within the confines of one module over one semester. But working in a small group you will design, conduct and compare some different ways of learning about audience responses.
How will I learn on this module?
You will learn through lectures, seminars/workshops, and group and independent research. The lectures will explore the main recent traditions and approaches within the field of this module, while the seminars and workshops will examine in more detail particular concepts and theories from these traditions, as well as providing you with the methodological/practical skills to be able to conduct your own piece of audience research. There will be a number of workshop sessions where you will be able to work in your small group on your audience study with support from the module tutor.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
Support will include feedback from your tutor during seminars, workshops and tutorials. Your tutor will also respond to questions you may have regarding your group’s audience study via the module’s discussion board at the University’s eLearning Portal so that the whole class can benefit.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
• KU1: You will develop detailed knowledge regarding recent traditions of researching media audiences and demonstrate your understanding of the historical context, theoretical foundations and underlying assumptions of these approaches
• KU2: You develop the detailed knowledge required to critically reflect on the processes and challenges involved in designing and carrying out audience research by conducting a small-scale group study
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• IPSA1: You will develop your skills in independently comparing and evaluating different research traditions and approaches
• IPSA2: You will develop skills in designing and conducting empirical research in groups, as well as reflecting on the strengths and weaknesses of those processes and how these valuable skills enhance employability in a range of applicable careers
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• PVA1: You will develop your ethical principles and standards within a practical research context
How will I be assessed?
For the assessment you will write up a 3,000 word evaluation of the research exercise that you will have carried out with a small group of other students (100%).
You will receive formative feedback on your ability to conduct analysis of events and cultural objects during the seminars. Class discussion will test your ability to critically engage with advanced mass communication theory in an academic fashion and allow you to demonstrate your understanding of the theoretical concepts raised in the lectures. You will also have the opportunity to discuss your ideas with your peers, working together to find solutions to theoretical dilemmas and so forth.
Under normal circumstances, you will receive written feedback on your summative submissions within 20 working days. The feedback will normally be supplied electronically as part of the ESAF process. This feedback will provide a detailed account of your research/methodological skills, critical engagement and communicative ability, as well as supporting future learning by indicating areas for development. You can also request additional verbal feedback on your submissions by arranging a meeting with the module tutor.
Pre-requisite(s)
NONE
Co-requisite(s)
NONE
Module abstract
This module might well be something a bit different from your other modules. Its aim is to give you three, linked opportunities…
First, it will introduce you to some of the main recent traditions for thinking about and researching media audiences; traditions which explore how audiences encounter, engage with, and respond to all kinds of different media and cultural products: film, television, books, newspapers, music, theatre, video games, etc.
The second thing the module will do is to offer you the experience of reading and evaluating actual audience and reception studies, rather than just reading second-hand summaries or excerpts in textbooks.
Finally, and most excitingly, the module aims to do something quite unusual – to give you experience of the processes involved, and the challenges encountered, by giving you a chance to carry out your own small piece of audience research in a small group with other students on the module.
Course info
UCAS Code P3N5
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 3 years full-time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
Department Arts
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2022 or September 2023
Our Campus based courses starting in 2022 and 2023 will be delivered on-campus with supporting online learning content. We continue to monitor government and local authority guidance in relation to Covid-19 and we are ready and able to adjust the delivery of our education accordingly to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.
On-campus contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with any additional restrictions, which may be imposed by the Government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors. This could potentially mean increased or fully online delivery, should such restrictions on in-person contact time be required.
Current, Relevant and Inspiring
We continuously review and improve course content in consultation with our students and employers. To make sure we can inform you of any changes to your course register for updates on the course page.
Your Learning Experience find out about our distinctive approach at
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp
Admissions Terms and Conditions - northumbria.ac.uk/terms
Fees and Funding - northumbria.ac.uk/fees
Admissions Policy - northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy
Admissions Complaints Policy - northumbria.ac.uk/complaints