Scientific research in journalism and media, 2015 edition, by Dr. Amer Ibrahim Qandilji

Scientific research in journalism and media Professor Dr. Amer Ibrahim Qandilji Starting, and what is worth reminding and emphasizing, that scientific research has been, and still is, a clear and important feature of contemporary progress and development. And such progress and advancement may be at the level of any institution concerned with it, or a country from the countries of the world that sponsor it. And this is a tangible and palpable fact. As the number of qualified and successful researchers increases, in various specializations, and as research centers in any country are concerned with it, and provide it with material and moral support, this is reflected on the progress and development of that society and that country, and the growth of its capabilities and potentials, in all fields covered by research and development. The media and its researchers play an important role in development and prosperity. Based on this, the book in the hands of interested readers on this topic includes nine chapters. In the first chapter, the author focused on the stance towards scientific research, its challenges, and its requirements, including more than one definition of scientific research, and the common points among these definitions. Also, the motivations for conducting research. Then, the researcher addressed the relationship of scientific research to development and its close connection to it, and the global interest in research and development, through the financial allocations allocated to this activity. Moreover, the researcher paid attention to the problems and challenges facing scientific research, especially those related to Arab countries. On the other hand, a significant part of this chapter was dedicated to the topic of the requirements of scientific research and the qualities of a good researcher. Additionally, a comparison was made between media research and research in other sciences and disciplines. This chapter was supported by three explanatory terms that provided a brief and clear picture of the problems and challenges of scientific research in the Arab world. Then, the researcher provided a brief overview of the requirements of good journalistic and media scientific research, and then an overview of the qualities required in a successful media researcher. After that, this chapter was reinforced at the end with a good and appropriate number of sources, Arabic and foreign, which the researcher reviewed and used. The second chapter was dedicated to the steps of building media research and determining its required plan. This is usually done through preliminary exploratory readings, reviewing previous research, then building an appropriate research plan, and identifying its main elements. After that, the author discussed the topic of selecting and defining an appropriate research problem, and formulating comprehensive and suitable hypotheses for the research. It is also required for the researcher to design the structure and contents of the research, then collect the largest possible amount of suitable data and analyze it, so that the researcher can complete and prepare the final form required for the research. The author also enhanced this chapter with a number of Arabic and foreign information sources, some of which he contributed to writing and publishing. Then, the author moved to the third chapter, to discuss the research methods required and suitable for media research. The author referred to classifications by several writers and authors of different research methods. Then, he explained the nature of the survey method, the documentary or historical research method, the case study method, the experimental research method, the comparative research method, and finally, the action research method. The topic of media research samples, which are usually required to be identified and used by writers and researchers, was addressed in the fourth chapter of the book. Starting with a definition of the sample, and identifying the steps for selecting and using it. Then clarifying the nature of stratified sampling, proportional stratified sampling, or quota sampling, random sampling, and convenience sampling, as well as simple random sampling, systematic random sampling, and convenience sampling. The chapter also covered other types of samples, which the author described, such as purposive and non-random samples, maximum difference samples, network or snowball samples, special or unique case samples, extreme case samples, typical case samples, negative or atypical case samples. Finally, the author clarified the topic of the required sample size in media research. The fifth chapter was dedicated to data collection methods in scientific media research, starting from the method of sources and documents as a means of collecting data, and ending with observation, passing through questionnaires of various types, features, and limitations, then interviews, with their types, steps, advantages, and limitations, and finally observation. The sixth chapter was dedicated to analyzing the collected data in research and how to present it. Such as comprehensive data analysis after completing their collection, as well as possibilities for analyzing data during collection. It also discussed statistical analysis of data, in its various types. Then, problems and proposed solutions in analysis, data presentation, and evaluation in research. The rules and methods for documenting sources of information and citations in media research appeared in the seventh chapter of the book, including general rules for documenting sources, reference citation, quoting, and dealing with citations. Additional controls and notes on documenting sources of information were also included. The author also considered the preparation of the final report of the media research, its discussion requirements, general notes on writing the research report, language, style, use of references, abbreviations, and appropriate terminology, as well as organizing and classifying main and secondary sections of the research. Determining main titles, sub-titles, and final presentation of the research’s physical and artistic form, as well as discussing and defending the research. These topics were discussed in the eighth chapter. The ninth and final chapter was titled "Credibility of Media Research, Objectivity, and the Role of the Researcher," including the researcher’s orientations and roles, guidelines for fieldwork, and general ethical and legal considerations that the researcher should pay attention to. It also covered honesty and credibility in media research, methods of verifying data and information credibility, objectivity, and disciplined subjectivity in media research. The author also did not forget to mention proposed titles for theses and university dissertations at the end of the chapter and the end of the book.