Researching Theatre and Performance
Module title | Researching Theatre and Performance |
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Module code | DRAM150 |
Academic year | 2024/5 |
Credits | 30 |
Module staff | Professor Heike Roms (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
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Module description
This module will assist you in developing, critically reflecting on and evaluating a research topic of your own design. You will explore key methodologies in theatre and performance studies (including ‘practice-based’ and action research), develop advanced research and writing skills and work towards identifying an area of independent research in consultation with your tutor and peers. The module aims to prepare you for your MA dissertation project in either theatre practice or applied theatre, and to equip you with key skills in research, analysis, writing and academic practice. By the end of the module, you will be familiar with academic resources, have an advanced understanding of research processes, practices and methodologies, and be able to confidently research and present your ideas and place them within the broader research landscape of drama, theatre and performance studies.
Module aims - intentions of the module
- to introduce you to drama, theatre and performance studies as a diverse field of research practices and traditions
- to familiarize you with key methodologies in the field, including practice-based research, action research and reflective practitioner methods.
- to equip you with essential research skills in drama, theatre and performance studies and skills in planning a research project at Masters level
- to provide you with the opportunity to define an individual research project in theatre practice or applied theatre and prepare a full proposal for it; and to undertake work toward an associated literature review
- to develop your presentation and academic writing skills
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate advanced reading, writing and research skills; and advanced bibliographical techniques
- 2. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the different methodologies for researching into drama, theatre and performance and evaluate critically their respective strengths and weaknesses
- 3. Identify a research field within the discipline, define a specific research enquiry, formulate an appropriately framed research question and identify suitable theories and methodologies
- 4. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of different theories or paradigms of knowledge in your area of research interest
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of different theories or paradigms of knowledge in your area of research interest
- 6. Display an advanced understanding of the relationship between theatre scholarship and theatre practice in the areas of contemporary theatre or applied theatre
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Work in an independent and self-reliant manner, set goals and manage your own workloads and timetable
- 8. Develop a sophisticated appreciation of the research work of yourself and others in practical, theoretical, and methodological terms
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics::
- Introduction: why and how do we perform research?
- Theatre and Performance Research: fields, topics, questions
- Research fields, topics, questions: how to design a research enquiry
- Tracking debates in theatre and performance studies
- What are methods in theatre and performance research?
- Methods 1 : Encountering the live – performance analysis
- Methods 2 : Practice-as-Research
- Research Ethics
- Conducting Interviews for Research
- Forms of Evaluation and Feedback
- Modes of writing on and as performance
- The reflective practitioners – autoethnographies
- Documenting Practice
- Annotated Bibliography and literature review
- Research Proposal development: questions, methodologies, literature, plan
- Proposal Workshop
- Next steps: from proposal to dissertation
- Mini-conference
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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33 | 267 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled learning and teaching | 33 | Seminars of 1.5 hrs/ week delivered thinly over two terms |
Guided independent study | 267 | Includes: reading and preparation for seminars; writing tasks (formative assessments); attendance at departmental research seminars; theatre visits; independent study on research projects; work on assessments |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Writing tasks | Between 50 to 500 words | 1-3, 5-8 | Written or oral |
Draft Annotated Bibliography presentation | 5 minutes | 1-7 | Oral |
Proposal-in-progress workshop presentation | 5 minutes | 1-8 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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60 | 0 | 40 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Annotated bibliography | 30 | 2,500 words | 1-7 | Written |
Reflective journal of research skills and methods | 30 | 2,500 words | 1-2, 4- 8 | Written |
Presentation of research proposal for individual project, including outline of research question, methodology, literature review, timetable and structure | 40 | 30 minutes | 1-8 | Written |
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0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
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Annotated bibliography | Annotated bibliography (2500 words) | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
Reflective journal of research skills and methods | Reflective journal of research skills and methods (2500 words) | 1-2, 4- 8 | Referral/Deferral period |
Presentation of research proposal for individual project, including outline of research question, methodology, literature review, timetable and structure | Written presentation of a research proposal for individual project, including outline of research question, methodology, literature review, timetable and structure (3000 words) | 1-8 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
BASIC/ ESSENTIAL
- Kershaw, Baz and Helen Nicholson (eds) (2011) Research Methods in Theatre and Performance, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
- Mills, Jane and Melanie Birks (eds) (2014) Qualitative Methodology: A Practical Guide, Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage Publications.
- Nelson, Robin (2013) Practice as Research in the Arts: Principles, Protocols, Pedagogies, Resistance, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Soyini Madison, D. (2019) Critical Ethnography: Method, Ethics, and Performance, 3rd edition, Thousand Oaks: Sage.
RECOMMENDED
On Applied Theatre
- Alrutz, Megan (ed.) (2010 Playing with Theory in Theatre Practice, Basingstoke: Palgrave.
- Dawson, Kathryn and Daniel A. Kelin (eds) (2014) The Reflexive Teaching Artist: Collected Wisdom from the Drama/Theatre Field (Theatre in Education), Bristol: Intellect.
- Shaughnessy, Nicki (2012) Applying Performance: Live Art, Socially Engaged Theatre and Affective Practice, Basingstoke: Palgrave.
On Practice as Research:
- Leavy, Patricia (2020) Method Meets Art: Arts-Based Research Practice. 3rd ed. New York: Guilford Press.
- On Writing Skills:
- Biggam, John (2015) Succeeding with your Masters Dissertation, Buckingham: Open University Press.
- Elbow, Peter (1998), Writing with Power, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
On various methods:
- Bauer, Martin and George Gaskell (2000) Qualitative Researching with Text, Image and Sound – A Practical Handbook. London: Sage.
- Cochrane, Claire and Jo Robinson (eds) (2016) Theatre History and Historiography: Ethics, Evidence and Truth, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Cochrane, Claire and Jo Robinson (eds) (2019) The Methuen Drama Handbook of Theatre History and Historiography, London: Methuen Drama.
- Counsell, Colin and Laurie Wolf (eds) (2001) Performance Analysis: An introductory coursebook, London: Routledge.
- Fielding, Nigel and Raymond M. Lee, Grant Blank, G. (eds) (2017) The Sage Handbook of Online Research Methods. London: Sage.
- Patriarche, Geoffrey et al.(eds) (2014) Audience Research Methodologies. Between Innovation and Consolidations. Abingdon: Routledge, 2014.
- Rose, Gillian (2016) Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to Researching with Visual Materials. 4th ed. London: Sage, 2016
- Yin, Robert (2018) Case Study Research: Design and Methods. 6th ed. Los Angeles: Sage.
On Theatre and Performance Studies as a Field:
- Fischer-Lichte, Erika et al (2014) The Routledge Introduction to Theatre and Performance Studies, London: Routledge
- Fortier, Mark (2016) Theory/Theatre: An Introduction, London: Routledge.
- Schechner, Richard (2020) Performance Studies: An Introduction, 4th edition, London: Routledge.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- Exeter Digital Archives http://spa.exeter.ac.uk/drama/exeter/media/mediahome.php
- Digital Theatre Plus https://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/
- Drama Onlinehttps://www.dramaonlinelibrary.com/
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=13302
Credit value | 30 |
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Module ECTS | 15 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 7 |
Available as distance learning? | Yes |
Origin date | 19/02/2021 |
Last revision date | 02/05/2023 |