TGMRM: Research Methods in Typography and Graphic Communication

Module code: TGMRM

Module provider: Typography; School of Arts and Comm Design

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Professor Gerry Leonidas, email: g.leonidas@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor Fiona Ross, email: f.g.e.ross@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

To provide students with the basic practical research skills needed to do research for, and write, an MA dissertation; to enable them to read published research critically; to give them an awareness of the range of research methods used in typography and graphic communication (including practice as a method), and an understanding of the underlying principles; to enable them to select and apply appropriate research methods in their own work. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify research methods appropriate to particular kinds of problem in typography and graphic communication or typeface design
2. Search effectively and read critically and review the literature on a chosen topic
3. Describe and analyse primary archival material and digital artefacts
4. Identify appropriate research questions for their dissertation
5. Identify appropriate methodologies for their research questions

Module content

Students will be introduced to a range of research methods whose practical application to typography and graphic communication issues will be demonstrated through case studies. Such methods include descriptive studies, ethnographic research, surveys, and performance tests. Students are also introduced to methodologies for approaching primary archival material and digital artefacts. Emphasis will also be placed on the student developing skills and techniques for using printed and electronic resources in libraries and archives, critical reading and effective note-taking, reviewing the literature, and bibliographical referencing. Issues relating to the preparation of a written dissertation proposal and the writing and presentation of the dissertation itself will also be addressed. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students take part in a series of weekly staff-led sessions, to examine and discuss resources from the Department’s own collections and the University’s Special Collections. These sessions provide contextual material, and underpin students’ engagement with issues across typographic theory, history, and practice and the material aspects of Communication Design.  

The sessions also make explicit reference to collections-based academic research conducted in the Department.Within the teaching sessions and in researching their own topics for the written assignment, Students are encouraged to develop an awareness of current issues in design discourse, the interaction of technological developments and social conditions globally, and issues of inclusion and diversity in the field. 

Study hours

At least 48 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Tutors provide feedback on interim work by commenting on drafts and/or through discussion in mutually arranged tutorials leading up to the submission of the final work. 

Reassessment

Additional costs