Samhällsvetenskap: Digital medieforskning

The course is based on qualitative multi-methods within digital media research. It offers an introduction to digital media research methods, emphasising the significance of reliable, valid and situated research in a critical study of digital media in society and culture. Digital media is understood to include business, public service and non commercial digital spaces.

The course focuses on combining empirical research with critical social and cultural theories in order to emphasise how the digital media researcher uses, adapts and critically reflects on methods and concepts to research problems or questions.

The course examines three methods:

• production studies, specifically the method of production interviews. This method is useful for institutional analysis of professionals, amateurs and practitioners where one to one interviews are necessary for understanding inside a digital production culture.
• aesthetics and communicative form of digital media content, specifically text, sound and image analysis. This method is useful for studying selected samples of digital texts and representations in a range of content, for example pod casts, blogs, or You Tube videos.
• digital ethnography, specifically looking at routines, mobilities and socialities. This method is useful for in depth, focused research of digital media events, or social movements.

These three methods are connected to key concepts of media industries and professional practices, systemic and symbolic power within digital media environments, and everyday routines of digital ethnography practices.