Research methods in creative industries

Core course

This course introduces students to the various research methods adopted by scholars in different disciplines, and ethical issues in arising from their study of the creative industries. It starts with a clarification of the differences between methods and methodologies, before going on to examine the different methods used to conduct research in the creative industries by scholars working in cultural policy, management studies, economic. geography, economics, and anthropology, among others. It is then followed by introducing students various surveys of different research methods, including library and archival research, in-depth interviews and focus group research, statistical surveys, fieldwork participant observation, and goal-oriented policy research. This course ends with two lectures that, one of which discusses the importance of ethical issues in research, as well as, more practically, the other one teaches students how to apply for ethnical approval in their research projects.