ND Media Production Y1

Semester 1 – 2018-2019
U3: Research Techniques for the Creative Media Industries

Assignment Details Contents

Title: Research Techniques for the Creative Media This assignment brief covers the
Industries first Outcome, in both of which
Assessors: Faustina Starrett you must achieve a Pass. The brief
School: Media, Multimedia & Performing Arts outlines what you must do to
Programme Assignment number: 1 achieve a Pass, Merit, or
level: 3 Distinction. Read the Scenario and
Issue date: Interim hand-in (if applicable): N/A Tasks and follow them closely
04.10.2018 using the notes and guidelines
Feedback: Due: 06.12.2018 covered in class and resources
provided.
IV: IV dates: Brief 01/09/2018

Outcomes:
1 Understand the nature and purposes of research in the creative media industries
Overview:
The aim of this assignment is for the student to demonstrate an understanding of and
skills in research relevant to creative media production. Learners will present their
findings in a formal written report and cite and reference their sources

1 Understand the nature and purposes of research in the creative media industries
including:

Types of research: quantitative research, e.g. programme ratings, readership

circulation figures, hits on a website, box office figures, sales of CDs and DVDs;
qualitative research, e.g. film reviews, game reviews, fanzine websites, attitudes to
media products, responses to news coverage, responses to advertising campaigns,
discussion

Methods and sources of research: secondary research (books, journals, reference-

based books and periodicals, newspapers, film archives, photo libraries, worldwide
web, searching internet
forums, CD Rom databases, audio material, ratings, circulation figures, government
statistics); primary research (interview techniques, observations, questionnaires,
surveys, types of questions, focus groups, data gathering agencies, Broadcasters’
Audience Research Board (BARB), Radio Joint Audience Research Ltd (RAJAR); self-
generated e.g., own video, audio or photographic records of events
Purposes of research: audience research (audience data, audience profiling,
demographics, geodemographic, consumer behaviour, consumer attitudes, audience
awareness); examples of market research; production sources
ND Media Production Y1
Semester 1 – 2018-2019
U3: Research Techniques for the Creative Media Industries

Write a report in 3 parts based on a Favourite Genre

Film or Television Series To achieve each outcome a
learner must demonstrate the
Part 1 ability to:
Choose a Favourite Genre Film or Television Series to
research and illustrate the nature and purposes of
research in the creative media industries with some
appropriate use of subject terminology.
P1 describe the nature and
purposes of research in the
Part 2 creative media industries
Discuss the Types of Research ( Quantitative and with some appropriate use of
Qualitative) used in Media Industries by producers and subject terminology
audiences to find out more about your special subject in
the creative media industries

Part 2
Methods and sources of research with illustrative
examples from Industry sources and any primary
evidence you have done yourself on this subject.
You can also reference other evidence of research from
your e-portfolio)

Part 3
Purposes of Research
Discuss with examples from Industry sources how
research is used in the creative media industries. ( and
Examples from
your e-portfolio)
ND Media Production Y1
Semester 1 – 2018-2019
U3: Research Techniques for the Creative Media Industries

Merit Criteria Distinction Criteria

Merit: - Pass criteria plus following Distinction: - Merit criteria plus following

M1 explain the nature and
purposes of research in the
creative media industries with
detailed illustrative examples
and with generally correct
use of subject terminology
D1 comprehensively explain
the nature and purposes
of research in the creative
media industries with
elucidated examples and
consistently using subject
terminology correctly

Delivery of personal, learning and thinking skills

The table below identifies the opportunities for personal, learning and thinking skills
The table below identifies the opportunities for personal, learning and thinking skills
(PLTS) that have been
Included within the pass assessment criteria of this unit.
Skill when learners are …
Independent enquirers applying research methods and techniques to creative media
production and
Creative media products.
Although PLTS are identified within this unit as an inherent part of the assessment
criteria, there are further
Opportunities to develop a range of PLTS through various approaches to teaching
and learning.
Skill when learners are …
Creative thinkers developing a proposal from the research they have undertaken
Reflective learners assessing their individual contribution to a group research project
Team workers working in teams to undertake primary and secondary research and
make a
Useful Sources -
ND Media Production Y1
Semester 1 – 2018-2019
U3: Research Techniques for the Creative Media Industries

Websites
http://www.barb.co.uk/
http://www.rajar.co.uk/
www.archive.org – an internet archive site
www.bbcfootage.com – BBC film archives
www.britmovieco.uk – British movie archive
www.businessballs.comn – a great business site with lots of information on
research techniques, Demographics, etc.
www.gamasutra.com – a sister publication to the print magazine Game Developer
www.guardian.co.uk – The Guardian and The Observer
www.imdb.com – internet movie database
www.monitor.bbc.co.uk – BBC Worldwide News Monitoring
www.rcuk.ac.uk – Research Councils UK site
www.research.scea.com– Sony game research
www.research-live.com – Research Magazine website
Www.skillset.org/careers .

Primary Sources - (from original sources for project based work)

Emails from client; crew; contacts list; journalism mentors where relevant; telephone
logs; diary records; minutes; photo files; cutaway footage/screen grabs; scripts;
production logs; production templates; appraisal & peer review records. Source
websites. Quantitative & Qualitative Research findings where possible.

Secondary Sources
Textbooks
Baylis P, Freedman A, Procter N et al – BTEC Level 3 National Creative Media
Production, Student Book – 2017-2018
(Pearson, 2010) ISBN 978-1846906725
Abercrombie N, Long Hurst B – The Penguin Dictionary of Media Studies (Penguin,
2007)ISBN 978-0141014272
Branson G, Stafford R – The Media Students Book (Rutledge, 2016), ISBN 978-
0415371438
Briggs A, Cobley P – The Media: An Introduction (Longman, 2012) ISBN 978-
0582423466
O’Sullivan T Dutton B, Rayner P – Studying the Media: An Introduction (Hodder Arnold,
2003)