Research Techniques for the creative Media Industries:
Aim and Purpose
The aim of this unit is to develop understanding of and skills in research relevant to creative media production. Learners will present their findings in both written and oral forms and will learn how to cite and reference their sources.
Unit Introduction
Research is fundamental to all aspects of creative media production and is the essential starting point for productions of any scale. It can be used to determine the financial viability of a future production, to gather a range of information relevant to the content of the production , or to assist with the planning of technical and logistical requirements. There are also media companies which conduct extensive research using a range of sophisticated methods to gather data about audience consumption of media products and services. This has become increasingly necessary in the highly mixed and competitive environment media industries operate in. Learners who are looking for a job which required research skills might consider employment in a research agency, or in a pre-production for radio, television or film, whilst a knowledge and understanding of research techniques is vital in a number of roles in advertising and marketing. They are also, of course, important in journalism. However, some ability to undertake research is essential for anyone working in the media industries.