Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LC Researching Everyday Communication
School	Eng, Drama, & Creative Studies
Department	Eng Lang and Linguistics
Module Code	09 38658
Module Lead	Martine van Driel
Level	Certificate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Seminar-10 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module trains students in key research methods in media and communication, helping to transition students to undergraduate study and preparing them for deeper study of communication theory and practice in later years of the programme. It introduces the ways in which we can investigate everyday communication, from apparently simple face-to-face conversations to the intense visual and aural landscape of a city street. Students will study a range of practical examples of everyday written and spoken language, exploring theoretical approaches to topics ranging from social media to sign language, as well as developing an understanding of the legal, ethical and practical parameters of academic research in these areas. Students will encounter a range of different approaches to these topics – linguistics, semiotics and cultural theory – through which they will develop a keener selective sense in applying theory to real-world situations. Students on the module will also develop a sense of their own embeddedness as researchers by engaging with the history of analytical work on communication, and learn the precepts of academic writing, through a range of formative and summative exercises.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Demonstrate an understanding of competing definitions of everyday communication  Use research tools to collect and manage data on everyday communication  Demonstrate an understanding of some of the legal and ethical dimensions of data research Demonstrate an awareness of the affordances of different approaches to the analysis of everyday communication
Assessment	38658-01 : Assignment : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment Research proposal of 1,000 words (40%) Presentation of data set + 1,500 word commentary. (60%) Method of Reassessment Failed component only Research proposal of 1,000 words (40%) Presentation of data set + 1,500 word commentary. (60%)
Other
Reading List