Media and Communication Research Methods: An Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches

Berger has written a good textbook that touches most of the bases for a communication research methods (qualitative AND quantitative) course. The assignments are well thought out and easy to adapt for particular class needs. My co-instructor and I added supplemental readings to flesh out Berger's sometimes bare bones approach--that is NOT a criticism, by the way: The skeletal approach lends itself to customizing the course with supplemental readings, and students appreciate not plunking down a hundred bucks for a book with much irrelevant information.There were a few topics that I would like included, such as Actor-Network Theory, Community Discourse Analysis, and software for quantitative analysis (MiniTab, SPSS)--but if every reviewer persuaded Berger to do this, we'd soon be at a 500-page, $100 text, wouldn't we?Berger's clear writing style and well-defined organizational layout made the book easy for students to read and navigate. I wasn't nearly amused as they were by the Grand Inquisitor leit motif, but that just reflects my lack of humor and I won't argue with anything that interests and motivates students.Bottom line: students used this class to develop graduate (MS) research proposals and projects. They incorporated methods and ideas from the Berger text in ways that demonstrated the usefulness of this book. Faculty advisors then worked with the grad candidates to layer (deepen) their understanding and use of the methods Berger surveyed. Compared with the various texts we have used in previous years, Berger earned an "A".

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This book by a major authority in media study and research is tremendously informative. Because of the author's wide expertise in textual and critical study of media it gives a wide swath of coverage in these methods, ranging from Semiotics, Political, Psychoanalytic , etc. The coverage of numerical techniques seemed less in depth mostly covering basic statistics. One area of media research currently in vogue that was not covered is neuromarketing and psychophysical studies of media response.

Dr. Berger's text has quickly become the Ferrari of comm research method textbooks. Now in it's fifth edition, this work comprehensively examines all issues relating to both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The bonus is Dr. Berger's inimitable style which is a joy to read. Highly recommended!

Good quality, and useful textbook

Easy to read and understand for those who have a bit of knowledge in qualitative and quantitative methods. It is concise, and does not offer too much detail where you feel lost reading it, but you can easily supplement the book with additional readings in areas where you need more knowledge. I am not a media major, but found the information could easily cross into the psychology arena, for those interested in how media affects psychology.

I used this book (along with others, thank goodness) in a graduate class I had to teach at the last minute. It was a disaster. The students knew more about psychoanalysis, Marxist ideological analysis, feminist critique, etc., than the author, who covered these and other topics in, literally and figuratively, a cartoon way. Most of the sections give an erroneous, woefully incomplete, extremely out of date, and therefore somewhat offensive rendition of the methods and theoretical/analytical approaches covered. Each session began with critique of this book, corrections, and me scrambling to find them more serious, up to date, sophisticated and accurate readings on the topics covered in this book. I would not recommend this for undergraduate or graduate courses!

If you are a communications or research major, this book is a must have. This 5th Edition of Media and Communication Research Methods is the newest version available. The book includes a new chapter on discourse analysis; expanded discussion of social media, including discussion of the ethics of Facebook experiments; and expanded coverage of the research process with new discussion of search strategies and best practices for analyzing research articles.

Though the delivery was delayed, product was good and very useful.