Media Research Techniques, Second Edition is designed to provide introductory techniques that allow students to engage immediately in their own research projects, and in learning by doing, they come to know a variety of ways in which communication research is conducted, in both theory and practice.

In this book, Barrie Gunter provides a broad overview of the methodological perspectives adopted by media researchers in their attempt to derive a better understanding of the nature, role and impact of media in society. By tracing the epistemological and theoretical roots of the major methodological perspectives, Gunter identifies the various schools of social scientific research that have determined the major perspectives in the area. Drawing a distinction between quantitative and qualitative methods, he discusses the relative advantages and disadvantages of each approach, and examines recent trends that signal a convergence of approaches and their associated forms of research. The unique strength of this

Drawing together the new techniques available to the market researcher into a single reference, The Handbook of Online and Social Media Research explores how these innovations are being used by the leaders in the field. This groundbreaking reference examines why traditional research is broken, both in theory and practice, and includes chapters on online research communities, community panels, blog mining, social networks, mobile research, e-ethnography, predictive markets, and DIY research. "This handbook fills a significant learning gap for the market research profession and Ray Poynter has once again proven that he is a guiding light. The practical and pragmatic advice contained within these pages will be relevant to new students of research, young researchers and experienced researchers that want to understand the basics of online and social media research. Ray’s views on 'how to be better with people' and ‘how to maximise response rates’ are vital clues that are likely to shape the future of market and social research." —Peter Harris, National President, Australian Market and Social Research Society (AMSRS) "It's hard to imagine anyone better suited to covering the rapidly changing world of online research than Ray Poynter. In this book he shows us why. Whether you are new to online or a veteran interested in broadening your understanding of the full range of techniques—quant and qual—this book is for you." —Reg Baker, President and Chief Operating Officer, Market Strategies International "Finally, a comprehensive handbook for practitioners, clients, suppliers and students that includes best practices, clear explanations, advice and cautionary warnings. This should be the research benchmark for online research for some time. Poynter proves he is the online market research guru." —Cam Davis, Ph.D., former Dean and current instructor of the online market research course for the Canadian Marketing Research and Intelligence Association "Ray Poynter's comprehensive, authoritative, easy to read, and knowledgeable handbook has come to our rescue ... it is a must read for anyone who needs to engage with customers or stakeholders in a creative, immediate and flexible way that makes maximum use of all the exciting, new technology now open to us. Market researchers need to know this stuff now. I can guarantee that anyone who buys the book will find it a compelling read: they will be constantly turning to the next page in order to find yet another nugget of insight from Ray’s tour de force." —Dr David Smith, Director, DVL Smith Ltd; Professor, University of Hertfordshire, Business School

Communication research is evolving and changing in a world of online journals, open-access, and new ways of obtaining data and conducting experiments via the Internet. Although there are generic encyclopedias describing basic social science research methodologies in general, until now there has been no comprehensive A-to-Z reference work exploring methods specific to communication and media studies. Our entries, authored by key figures in the field, focus on special considerations when applied specifically to communication research, accompanied by engaging examples from the literature of communication, journalism, and media studies. Entries cover every step of the research process, from the creative development of research topics and questions to literature reviews, selection of best methods (whether quantitative, qualitative, or mixed) for analyzing research results and publishing research findings, whether in traditional media or via new media outlets. In addition to expected entries covering the basics of theories and methods traditionally used in communication research, other entries discuss important trends influencing the future of that research, including contemporary practical issues students will face in communication professions, the influences of globalization on research, use of new recording technologies in fieldwork, and the challenges and opportunities related to studying online multi-media environments. Email, texting, cellphone video, and blogging are shown not only as topics of research but also as means of collecting and analyzing data. Still other entries delve into considerations of accountability, copyright, confidentiality, data ownership and security, privacy, and other aspects of conducting an ethical research program. Features: 652 signed entries are contained in an authoritative work spanning four volumes available in choice of electronic or print formats. Although organized A-to-Z, front matter includes a Reader’s Guide grouping entries thematically to help students interested in a specific aspect of communication research to more easily locate directly related entries. Back matter includes a Chronology of the development of the field of communication research; a Resource Guide to classic books, journals, and associations; a Glossary introducing the terminology of the field; and a detailed Index. Entries conclude with References/Further Readings and Cross-References to related entries to guide students further in their research journeys. The Index, Reader’s Guide themes, and Cross-References combine to provide robust search-and-browse in the e-version.

This Second Edition remains the only book to discuss both theory and application of qualitative research techniques to inspire great advertising and build strong brands. Using a step-by-step approach created for students considering advertising careers and for those currently working in the advertising industry, this book explains what qualitative research techniques are designed to do. The text describes how these techniques aid in uncovering insights useful for advertising strategy development, creative development, and post-campaign evaluation. Practical information and discussions on interviewing, projective techniques, focus groups, and online/social media applications positioned within a theoretical context illustrate the value of qualitative research in the real world.

Approaches to conducting advertising, mass-media audiences, and mass-media efficiency research in organizational and development contexts are detailed in this reference. Among the topics covered are qualitative and quantitative approaches to research methodology, the steps involved in the research process, data collection, and the procedures used in applying a research design and interpreting research data. Designed to accommodate a variety of learning styles, this book imparts the framework in which to acquire and develop research, problem solving, and communication skills, and basic individual, moral, and ethical values.

The authors in this volume present a new point of view related to research methods and techniques in public relations and advertising. The book seeks to provide a research guide that covers topics including selecting and writing a research subject, data collection, and analysis selection for beginner researchers. The articles focus on various methods such as netnographical analysis, experimental study, case analysis, discourse analysis, Delphi method, survey, etc.

The Second Edition of this best-selling textbook continues to offer immensely practical advice and technical expertise that will aid researchers in analyzing and interpreting their collected data, and ultimately build theory from it. The authors provide a step-by-step guide to the research act. Full of definitions and illustrative examples, the book presents criteria for evaluating a study as well as responses to common questions posed by students of qualitative research.

Media Research Techniques, Second Edition is designed to provide introductory techniques that allow students to engage immediately in their own research projects, and in learning by doing, they come to know a variety of ways in which communication research is conducted, in both theory and practice.

The development of business intelligence has enhanced the visualization of data to inform and facilitate business management and strategizing. By implementing effective data-driven techniques, this allows for advance reporting tools to cater to company-specific issues and challenges. The Handbook of Research on Advanced Data Mining Techniques and Applications for Business Intelligence is a key resource on the latest advancements in business applications and the use of mining software solutions to achieve optimal decision-making and risk management results. Highlighting innovative studies on data warehousing, business activity monitoring, and text mining, this publication is an ideal reference source for research scholars, management faculty, and practitioners.