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Research Approaches & Processes - MUS00097M

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  • Department: Music
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Amandine Pras
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

Music producers and sound engineers continually intermediate between artists (composers, arrangers, performers, film directors), technologies, and infrastructures (studios, labels, venues, institutions, charts). They are expected both to innovate and meet quality standards within aesthetic, human, and budget constraints. This module empowers you with the skills and social awareness that you require to combine different bodies of knowledge effectively in order to achieve your project goals in music production.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

In this module, you will be introduced to the process of developing research questions and objectives based on previous academic studies. You will be exposed to qualitative, quantitative, and practice-based approaches to solve a given problem, test hypotheses, and contribute to knowledge in respect to the cultural specificities of the study context. Also, ethical principles and review processes that are essential to mitigate risks when conducting research with human participants and non-academic communities will be discussed.

Empirical methods of data collection and analysis will be detailed including (among others) questionnaire and survey design, semi-directed interviews, focus groups, ethnographic approaches, and listening tests. Furthermore, you will have opportunities to take part in project-based learning environments to meet specific research objectives that will be established by an experienced scholar with industry practitioners and/or community participants. Assessment will include a pre-recorded oral presentation of module achievements and a proposal for the ISM’s theoretical framework and methodology.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module you should be able to:

  • draw upon previous academic studies to develop research questions and objectives

  • recognise the role and value of theoretical frameworks to conduct research projects in music production

  • design an empirical procedure to assess recording technologies, techniques, and creative processes

  • contribute to and present outcomes of a group project led by an experienced scholar

  • identify ethical requirements to carry out research with human participants

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Proposal : ISM proposal		 N/A 50
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Presentation : Oral presentation		 N/A 50

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

The assessment for this module is in two parts:

Oral presentation 50%: Students will participate in the pre-recorded presentation of a group project’s background, processes and outcomes. This presentation will feature quotes from previous academic studies and high-quality audiovisual content. It will demonstrate the student’s critical thinking and practical contributions to the project.

ISM proposal 50%: Students will fill out a template that prompts (among others) their ISM’s tentative title and main objective(s), a list of academic references to define their theoretical framework, a detailed research plan and calendar with methods and/or art-based approaches, and whether or not the project requires ethics review approval.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Proposal : ISM proposal		 N/A 50
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Presentation : Oral presentation		 N/A 50

Module feedback

You will receive written feedback in line with standard University turnaround times.

Indicative reading

TBA


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.