This document outlines the requirements and aims of researching and planning for a media production coursework project. It discusses the importance of thorough pre-production research and planning, using both primary and secondary sources. A range of research methods and planning tools are described, including audience feedback collection and utilization of production schedules. The document emphasizes organizing research findings through blogging and digital tools. It suggests students' research and planning skills should improve between lower and upper sixth form levels of the course.

1. Session Aims
• The aim of this session is to introduce you to the
requirements of the research and planning topic
area of Question 1a), Section A – Theoretical
Evaluation of Production, which is part of Unit G325:
Critical Perspectives In Media.

2. Pete Fraser (2002)
• Suggested that creativity is brilliant but that the key to
a strong media coursework project was
“professionalism and organisation”.

3. • The two key areas of ‘research and planning’
therefore ask you to assess the rigour of your
planning and organisational skills and your
attitude towards your coursework.

4. Bennett, Jones,
McDougall(2002)
• All students should identify a “clear audience” and
“plan how the artefact will be tested” during the
planning process.

5. What You Did: Pre-
Production
Research
•Given brief.
•Research
•Analysis of existing media texts.
•Issues surrounding Regulation. (Press Complains
Commission, ABC, NRS, OFCOM.)
•Came up with draft ideas.
•Audience Profiling.
•Media Pitch – audience feedback, health and safety
•Re-drafting – audience feedback.

6. What You Did: Pre-
Production
Planning
•Treatment.
•Storyboards and final flat-plans.
•Organisation of personnel in group.
•Production schedules .
•Call Sheets.

7. • In this essay you will be required to evaluate as part
of the specified write up the outcomes of the
research and planning process. PTEE
• E.g. (P) The planning of my storyboard enabled me to
think about the order of my shots.( add theory) (E) For
example there was a sequence in my music video which
required cross cut of insert shots to gig and back again.
(E) As this sequence did appear in my final product,
although with some SPFX enhancement at post
production, I clearly felt the benefit of storyboarding,
more so than flat-planning at AS where I hadn’t drawn
with colours so I feel my skills did indeed improve in this
area across the two years.

8. Bennett, Slater & Wall (2006)
• All media production “takes place
in the light of other media
production”.

9. Types of Research
• Secondary research – second
hand information – work on
codes and conventions of texts,
use of theory.
• Primary research – first hand –
textual analysis, audience
feedback: questionnaires, vox
pops.

10. Secondary research sources
– Subject blogs,
– Google,
– Wikipedia,
– Class handouts,
– Text books,
– Newspapers,
– Journals/magazines,
– Industry websites – viewing figures, ABC figures for
magazines etc.

11. Primary research sources
– Internet – covers, contents pages, double
pages spreads, shot types etc.
– Magazines – what magazines did you
textually analyse?
– Posters.
– DigiPaks.
– Websites.
– Radio Trailers.
– Listings Magazine DPSs.
– Newspapers.

12. Advantages/Disadvantages of
Sources
• Accuracy – were the facts and figures correct? Did your audience
feedback results provide a fair sample of overall opinions?
• Bias – textual analysis can be biasd as it is subjective – did you complete
enough research to overcome this? Were any secondary sources biased? Think
about documentary and mediation?
• Validity – was there a link between the particular research and final
product? Was there a strong indication that this research effected the outcome
of your work?
• Usefulness – how relevant was this to your project (see validity). OR
did any of your research methods prove to be completely useless and why?
Could you have used BOOLEAN searches on the internet for example?

13. • This links to use of real media conventions option for
Q1a):
• What did you find out about the conventions of AS music
magazines and A2 main project and conventions of all
ancillaries?
• What theories did you apply?
• What organisations did you visit and why?
• Software research – or too lazy, relying on teachers and
Steve.
• Where did you go to research all the above? – YOU
MUST STATE EXPLICITLY.

14. Organisation Of Research
• You used your (Posterous) blog to organise ALL of your research.
• What skills did you learn about organising, presenting, and
referencing materials?
• (Remember if your research isn’t referenced correctly then you will
not get full marks – e.g. every magazine or image from the internet
has to be referenced).

15. Organisation Of Research
• How did your skills of organisation develop from
AS to A2?

16. Planning – Pre-Production
• Adequate research – link this to DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGY – where did you find the research? Link to use of
real media conventions. Was it VALID? USEFUL? RELIABLE?
• Drafting – flat plans for magazines and storyboards/ancillary
drafts for A2 - link to DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY and CREATIVITY –
how did you construct these?
• Audience Feedback – Again link to DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGY and USE OR REAL MEDIA CONVENTIONS if
possible. How did you make sure you collated this. How did you
ensure that you collated this? What was the development between
AS and A2?
• Remember the key words: Qualitative, Quantitative, Validity.

17. Clark et al (2007)
• State that in media industries it is important to carry out
“regular audience research” using methods such as
ratings collection, questionnaires, surveys, screen tests
etc.

18. Scheduling
• Did your knowledge of call sheets/production schedules
grow across AS and A2?
• Working as a team and organising equipment? What did
you learn about planning roles – who was designer,
journalist, director? Was booking equipment smoothly
done?

19. S. Sonderling
(in P.J. Fourie (2004))
• suggests that “to make any media product equipment
and people are needed”.
• For video – a clear location and organisation of correct
personnel are vital.

20. Organisation of
time/resources
• Did you meet deadlines?
• What are the pros and cons of organising personnel?
• What have you learned about communication between
personnel?
• Did your knowledge of call sheets/production schedules grow?
• What could you have done better?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Did you utilise digital technology to aid your organisation (call
sheets and production schedules on blog)?

21. Working individually or in groups
• What did you learn about working individually or in
groups?
• What are the pro and cons of individual/team work?
• What main things have you learned about group work
at AS and A2 in terms of planning your product?

22. • Presentation of Research
and Planning
• How did you present your primary and secondary research on
your blogs? We are talking about enhancing CREATIVITY and
USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
• Did your presentation of audience feedback for example
become more creative through your increased use of digital
technology available for embedding on the blogs
(onlinecharttool, bubl.us, WMM etc.)?
• Again, did your knowledge of referencing grow? Did this allow
you to become more knowledgeable of presentation skills? i.e
did your present research findings in slideshow format?

23. • Organisation of Research
and Planning Materials
• How did you organise your research and planning
materials? (Link to digital technology).
• Did you utilise the blog more at A2 than at AS level?
• How did you follow your flat plans/storyboards? What
did you understand about the changes that were
made?
• Did all group members have copies of production
schedules, call sheets, storyboards etc.

24. Homework Assignment due
2.3.15
• Please think of all the above questions as part of your 1000
write up.
• There is a choice of two questions:
1. Detail how your understanding of the importance of good
research and planning skills developed throughout the pre-
production of your AS and A2 coursework.
2. How did your knowledge of digital technology aid your research
and planning skills throughout the pre-production of your AS
and A2 coursework?
• Refer to specific and detailed examples from your coursework.
• Use as much media theory and terminology as possible.