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Digital Methods - TFT00116M

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  • Department: Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

This module offers an insight into qualitative methods, techniques, and processes for carrying out research on digital content and data, such as: social media content; digital texts and content; online data repositories. Besides learning about, deploying and evaluating digital research techniques, students will also develop the capacity for ethically and reflexively working with digital data, and an understanding of how digital methods create knowledge, including issues around the politics of information, the social life of methods, questions of web epistemology, and the critique of devices. This module will support the development of the student’s independent project module, as well as enable students to become reflective practitioners in emerging areas of digital work.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

This module aims to:

  • Provide an understanding of different qualitative methodological approaches to investigating and articulating digital content and data.
  • Explore the conduct and applicability of different methods and frameworks to appropriate areas of analysis.
  • Understand the reflexive, ethical, and contextual dimensions behind the development, deployment, and evaluation of digital methods.

Module learning outcomes

Through completion of this module, you are expected to be able to:

  • Acquire advanced qualitative methodologies towards investigating the phenomena of the digital era and their interpretations.
  • Independently apply conceptual and methodological frameworks that can yield original and sound interpretative analyses.
  • Develop and demonstrate independent interpretative analysis through applied methodologies.
  • Develop an understanding of how digital methods are used to create knowledge.

Module content

Some of the topics this module may explore over its duration include:

  • Analysing Digital Text and Imagery
  • Evaluating Platforms and Software
  • Contexts of Research
  • Explaining Data
  • Ethics and Reflexivity

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

You will receive formative feedback on your presentation and participation skills over the course of the module during seminars. You will receive written feedback in line with standard University turnaround times.

Indicative reading

A typical illustration of the texts this module may engage over its duration include:

  • Benzon, N. et al. (eds) (2021) Creative Methods for Human Geographers. Sage.
  • Huhtamo, E., and Parikka, J. (2011) Media Archaeology: Approaches, Applications, and Implications. UCP.
  • Lury, C. (2018) Routledge Handbook of Interdisciplinary Research Methods. Routledge.
  • Rogers, R. (2019) Doing Digital Methods. Sage.
  • Vásquez, C. (2022) Research Methods for Digital Discourse Analysis. Bloomsbury.
  • Venturini, T. and Munk, A. (2021) Controversy Mapping: A Field Guide. Polity.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.