With a specific focus upon critical media research, this course offers an introduction to the study of the scientific method as applied to sociological research. It is an overview to the methodological approaches commonly utilized in media studies, such as content and narrative analysis, discourse analysis, frame analysis, network analysis, interviews, media surveys, and ethnographic approaches. General methodological topics to address include the relationship between theory and hypothesis development, data collection and analysis, and concept formation and generalization. Practical examples and assignments will draw upon the urban mediascape.