Communication Research Skills
PostgraduateGRF-COM1902025
Maximise your effectiveness as a researcher by adding new skills and strategies to your toolkit. Utilise information resources. Learn how to structure effective study plans. Draw on research methodologies including semiotic and content analysis.
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 3 Mar 2025
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Communication Research Skills
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- use library and other information resources effectively
- work efficiently and confidently in the postgraduate communications program
- read, comprehend and write in key academic and other writing formats
- conduct semiotic analyses of how texts signify meanings and how users interpret them
- choose and use appropriate techniques of content analysis for specific research tasks
- understand and use quantitative and qualitative methods to research communications texts, formats, practices, and users/audiences.
- Introducing Communication Research Skills
- Library and other research resources
- Academic writing formats, skills and strategies (I)
- Academic writing formats, skills and strategies (II)
- The contexts and ethics of communication research
- Semiotics
- Content analysis
- Quantitative research
- Qualitative research
- Mixed methods
Communication Research Skills equips you with foundational knowledge and skills needed to research a range of communication forms, practices, audiences, and institutions. It is comprised of two modules. Foundations (Weeks 1-5) deals with the following topics: using the university library and other information resources; academic writing formats, skills and strategies; effective study practices and habits; and the work contexts and ethics of communication research. Methods (Weeks 6-10) introduces key methodologies used in researching communication texts, practices and users/audiences: semiotic analysis, content analysis, quantitative techniques, and qualitative techniques.
- Literature Review (30%)
- Research Report (45%)
- Seminar and Discuss Board (25%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.
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- 21
Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- GRF-MCM-GCE-2025 - Graduate Certificate in Communication
Elective
- OUA-PSU-GCE-2025 - Postgraduate Single Subjects
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
PostgraduateOUA-PSU-GCE