Course guide

DM2572, 7.5 credits

Course contact

Stefan Hrastinski, stefanhr@kth.se

All questions that could be of interest to other students should be posted at KTH social: https://www.kth.se/social/course/DM2572.

Aim of the course

The aim of the course is to provide a deeper understanding of scientific theories and methods relevant for media technology research. After completed course, the student should be able to:

• identify and critically examine media technology research
• outline and analyze scientific theories relevant for media  technology research
• outline and analyze scientific methods relevant for media technology research
• identify methodological problems in a research study
• analyze the relationship between results that have been obtained in a study and the conclusions that legitimately can be drawn on the basis of the results.

Course content

The course consists of five themes and one group project. The themes and group work are mainly addressed as applied in media technology research. The themes are:

1. Research publications and Theory of science (week 44)
2. Theory (week 45)
3. Qualitative methods (week 46)
4. Quantitative methods (week 47)
5. Design research (week 48)
   Group project (week 49)

Learning management systems

You will find the most recent version of the schedule and recent information regarding the course at KTH social. You will use Bilda to register your blog and to access blog posts of course peers (see below) and to hand in your group work assignment.

• KTH social: https://www.kth.se/social/course/DM2572
• Bilda: https://bilda.kth.se/courseId/8844/launchCourse.do

Assessment

The course is assessed on the basis of 1) an individual learning portfolio (blog) and 2) a group project. The individual learning portfolio will be awarded the usual grades: A-F. The group project will be graded Fail, Pass, Good or High quality. The individual portfolio is the most important part of grading, but the group project also influences your final grade, as illustrated in the following examples:

• If you receive the grade C on your individual portfolio and the grade High quality on your group work, your final grade will be B.
• If you receive the grade C on your individual portfolio and the grade Good on your group work, your final grade will be C.
• If you receive the grade C on your individual portfolio and the grade Pass on your group work, your final grade will be D.
• If you receive the grade C on your individual portfolio and the grade Fail on your group work, your final grade will be E.
• A student that fails the course will be asked to improve their individual learning portfolio in order to meet the requirements of the grade E.

Individual learning portfolio (blog)

Each student is expected to maintain an individual learning portfolio. It is strongly suggested that you use www.blogger.com to create an open (non password protected) blog and then add it in Bilda. This will give us an overview of all blogs in Bilda. If you do not want to create an open blog, please contact Stefan in order to decide on an alternative way of maintaining an individual learning portfolio.

You are expected to write a blog posting prior to each theme. In this posting you will address questions/assignments/texts assigned for each theme. The deadline for a posting on no more than 600 words is Fridays at 17.00 of the previous week. For example, for the first theme conducted during week 44, your deadline is Friday, Oct 26.

You are also expected to write a blog posting after each theme. In this posting, which should not encompass more than 400 words, you are expected to reflect on what you learnt during the week. The deadline is Thursdays at 17.00. For example, for the first theme conducted during week 44, your deadline is Thursday, Nov 1.

Your individual learning portfolio will be graded as follows:

• Grade E: A posting has been submitted prior to and after each theme. A reasonable attempt has been made to prepare for each theme and to reflect on what was learned during the week. The quality of the postings is reasonable, but could be significantly improved.
• Grade D: A posting has been submitted prior to and after each theme, on time. The student has prepared for each theme and has reflected on what he/she learnt during the week. The quality of the postings is reasonable, but could be improved.
• Grade C: A posting has been submitted prior to and after each theme, on time. The student has prepared for each theme and has reflected on what he/she learnt during the week. The quality of the postings is good. The student has commented on at least two other blog postings during the week.
• Grade B: A posting has been submitted prior to and after each theme, on time. The student has prepared for each theme and has reflected on what he/she learnt during the week. The postings are of high quality. The students have read and analyzed literature beyond what is required during class. The student has provided comments of high quality on at least four other blog postings during the week.
• Grade A: A posting has been submitted prior to and after each theme, on time. The student has prepared for each theme and has reflected on what he/she learnt during the week. The postings are of excellent quality. The student have read and analyzed literature far beyond what is required during class. The student has provided comments of high quality on at least six other blog postings during the week.

Students that aim for the grades A-C should compile all their comments to other blog postings throughout the course in a final blog post (deadline: Thursday, Nov 29, 17.00).

Group project (deadline: Friday, Nov 30, 17.00)

The group project is to be conducted in groups of 3-5 students. All students should belong to the same seminar group. In this project, you will have the possibility to focus on a topic that you find interesting, which is clearly relevant for the course. Examples of topics include the following:

• Interviews as a method in media technology research.
• The use of social network analysis in media technology research.
• Social media in organizations: a literature review.
• Using actor-network theory in media technology research.

The group should write a report on no more than 2000 words (excluding reference list). (A group of three students can write slighlty fewer words if they prefer and a group of five students are allowed to write 2500 words.) You will also be expected to discuss your report in a seminar, and will be expected to read and give feedback on the reports written by the other groups in your seminar group.

The following are examples of criteria that will be used to determine the quality of the assignment. A report that has met these criteria in a satisfactory way will be awarded the grade “Good”. A report that is not delivered on time will not be graded and will receive the grade Fail.

Choice of topic and aim

The group has focused on a topic with relevance to theory and/or method in media technology.

The group has formulated a specific aim with potential relevance to the media technology research community.

Literature review

The group has independently searched for relevant literature, especially research papers in high quality journals.

The group has gained a thorough understanding of the topic after extensive reading.

The group has demonstrated that they can identify and analyze literature in a critical way.

The group use references to support their claims.

Analytical ability

The group has analyzed their findings and contributed with new knowledge.

The group has been self-critical and has reflected on the presented findings, for example, on limitations of their report.

Report and presentation

The text and structure of the report is of high quality.

All group members have presented and taken part in a critical discussion of their report.

All group members have provided feedback and taken part in a critical discussion of the other reports in the seminar group.

Schedule

Week 43 (Thu): Introductory lecture
Week 44 (Mon+Tue+Wed): Research publications/Theory of science (Theme 1)
Week 45 (Tue/Wed): Theory (Theme 2)
Week 46 (Mon + Wed): Quantitative methods (Theme 3)
Week 47 (Mon + Wed): Qualitative methods (Theme 4)
Week 48 (Mon + Wed): Design research (Theme 5)
Week 49 (Tue + Thu): Discussions of group work

For a more detailed schedule, see https://www.kth.se/social/course/DM2572/calendar/.