The aim of this module is to introduce students to key social psychological and philosophical frameworks, theories and models, and how these explain how and why people communicate with each other in the ways that they do. This module therefore explores how social, situational and structural factors affect communication of various kinds. Issues concerned with attitudinal, motivational cognitive, social identity and communication aspects of accommodation as well as cross-cultural communication will be explored.
This module aims at introducing first year students to the basics of research. It will introduce students to the basic techniques and methods for collecting, processing and presenting various types of information in 'academic' research and in 'journalism' practice. The focus will be on 3 main areas:
a) Academic writing skills
b) Scientific research skills
c) News and information gathering techniques