Creative Media Production BTEC Level 3

Unit 3: Research Techniques for the Creative Media Industries

Credit Value: 5

HAND OUT DATE: 07/09/2012 FINAL DEADLINE: 15/12/2012

LO1: Understand the nature and purposes of research in the creative media industries. LO2: Be able to apply a range of research methods and techniques. LO3: Be able to present results of research.

UNIT TUTOR: MR. LAWES ASSIGNMENT WRITTEN BY: MR. LAWES COURSE CO-ORDINATOR: MR. LAWES

Context Research for the release of a new music artist You are required to present the research for the release of a new musical artist. You are not required to come up with a pitch of any sort; you are required only to conduct and present appropriate research which you have carried out. This unit is designed to give you the skills required to conduct research in the Media. The research you conduct for this unit will not be the research you conduct for your music video pitch. The research for your individual pitch will be completed afterwards, once you have developed your skill in this unit.

LO1: Understand the nature and purposes of research in the creative media industries. TASK 1: Prepare 2 3 slides of your presentation which summarises the pros and cons of different research methods and techniques. You should consider: Types of research (quantitative / qualitative) Methods of research (primary / secondary) Purposes of research (audience / market / production)

To achieve a pass You will explain why research is carried out in the media industries. You will outline the types, methods, and purposes of research. All descriptions will be accurate. You will include a list of sources. To achieve a merit You will understand and explain in detail different reasons for carrying out research in the media industries. You will outline the types, methods, and purposes of research, and show that you understand the advantages and disadvantages of each. You will use relevant examples to support your descriptions. You will include a list of sources. To achieve a distinction You will explain in depth the different reasons for carrying out research, and how these reasons might impact the research decisions you make. You will outline the types, methods, and purposes of research, and show that you understand the advantages and disadvantages of each. You will use relevant examples to support your descriptions. You will develop ideas critically i.e. you will compare, assess, and discriminate between different types, methods, and purposes of research). You will include citations and a bibliography, correctly formatted.

LO2: Be able to apply a range of research methods and techniques. TASK 2: Propose a strategy for the researching the launch of a new female singer-songwriter (see tender below). You must research a potential audience, and present your findings.

You will need to:

Determine what you want to research; Determine the best methods for research; Present your strategy to the class.

Your presentation will need to include your suggestions for how to represent that artist in question. These suggestions should be clearly based on the findings of your research.

Submissions are invited for research in preparation for the launch of a new female singer-songwriter. The successful submission will form the basis of the development of a multimedia release package for the artist. Submissions will be judged on the quality of research undertaken with a view to a mainstream multimedia release.

Laura McCulloch Laura McCulloch is a 27 year-old female singer-songwriter from Essex. Her music mostly just voice and an acoustic guitar is a modern take on English folk music. She has been highly critically acclaimed, playing at a number of prestigious folk festivals to excellent reviews the Guardian considered her to be one of the brightest young folk talents around. Having just completed the recording of her first album, we are looking to broaden Lauras appeal beyond the folk music scene without losing her uniquely English folk appeal. Before we release any material to the press, we are keen to ensure that Laura is correctly positioned in the marketplace. Therefore, we are inviting submissions of appropriate research before any media release.

LO3: Be able to present results of research. You need to conduct a variety of research appropriate to the brief, and present your findings to a small group. This will include you suggestions for how to represent the artist, based on the findings of your research.

You will need to: Conduct some appropriate secondary research; Develop some initial ideas for branding the artist; Conduct some primary research based on your initial ideas; Develop your proposal for how to brand the artist; Present your findings.

To achieve a pass You will present basic research, but may not present the work confidently. You will use a basic presentation, and your findings will be basic and lack evidence. You will have a suggestion for how to represent the artist, but it may not be supported by research. To achieve a merit Your presentation will be careful and detailed. Your will have conducted a range of appropriate research, which will be presented clearly. Your research will be used as a basis for your suggestions about how to represent the artist. To achieve a distinction You will present your research fluently and confidently. Your visual aids and graphics will look professional. You will have conducted good research, and it will be made very clear what your findings were. There findings will be clearly derived from evidence, and will be used to create a sound representation of the artist.