LFU:online

Prerequisites for registration: none

Learning Outcome: Students have knowledge of selected theories and approaches from media and communication studies in the three subject areas "Emerging Media", "Media Dynamics and Sustainability" and "Digital Democracy and Society". They can differentiate and critically assess these. They are able to work independently and theory-guided on exemplary scientific texts from the three subject areas. The students can analyse media and communication technologies, digital cultures as well as processes of media change on this basis and identify social and political consequences and challenges of digital networking, reflect on them and discuss them constructively and critically with both experts and laypersons.

Prerequisites for registration: none

Learning Outcome: The students grasp the strengths and weaknesses of theories and approaches of research in media and communication studies. They have a deeper understanding of the limited performance of different research designs as well as of questions of the appropriateness of the subject matter, generalisability and quality criteria in empirical social research. They can handle qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods and the so-called digital methods and test their practical applications in exercises. Students are able to select and plan appropriate research designs for different types of research projects in media and communication studies. They grasp the strengths and weaknesses of different methodological approaches and can use them to answer questions, critically reflect on them and draw conclusions for their use. They can use analyses to support their arguments when communicating with experts and laypersons. Students recognise research ethics issues (dealing with interviewees, handling data, principles of good scientific practice, etc.) and can reflect on them.

Prerequisites for registration: none

Learning Outcome: Students are able to assess and critically reflect on processes of digitisation and datafication and the associated opportunities and challenges for social life. They have the competence to independently formulate interdisciplinary and context-related questions and conclusions in the areas of ethics, law and governance. They have an advanced understanding of social, cultural, political and economic aspects of processes of digitisation and measurement of society. The students are able to grasp digital methods and data in an ethically justified manner, to critically reflect on them and to discuss them with both experts and laypersons.

Prerequisites for registration: none

Learning Outcome: Students are able to develop specific research questions in the field of media and communication studies, taking into account methodological aspects and current scientific developments. They can evaluate their own and other people's research results and can explain research questions and controversial perspectives from their discipline and reflect critically on sources. They thus have competences for active participation in scientific discourse as well as for communicating and presenting scientific results. The students can organise and carry out projects independently. They have also advanced their communicative and social skills through the combination of teamwork and independent work in the context of seminars. Having completed this module, the students are able to independently carry out their own research project for their Master's Thesis.