Components of a research proposal

By Garland-Waide Bradford

Research in communications is a rigorous discipline. This means that there are clear steps that have to be followed in order for any such project to be viable (Wagner, Kawulich & Garner 2012:12). The scientific method requires that all findings should be able to be replicated (Wagner, Kawulich & Garner 2012:12). It’s for this reason that there are particular steps that have to be followed in any communications research project.

This blog will look at these steps. Due to the nature of research, it could become a blog that would take days to read. It’s for that reason that the steps will be explained over two blog entries, and it will be a brief version of an actual research project.

The identity of people of colour in the media

Problem statement

The problem statement allows the researcher to describe what will be the subject of the research. It also helps create a framework for the type of study that will take place (Wagner, Kawulich & Garner 2012:15). A researcher might find a starting point by looking into a phenomenon that is of interests, a problem in society, or something with requires evaluation (Wagner, Kawulich & Garner 2012:15).

Does the portrayal of people of colour in the media, especially in the case of Coloured South Africans, perpetuate racial stereotypes?

Explore and describe the portrayal of people of colour in the media, in this case that of Coloured South African through content analysis of 5 media items to determine if the media perpetuates racial stereotypes.

Background

The background allows the researcher to explain how the subject of research became something worth investigating (Wagner, Kawulich & Garner 2012:19).

There is an assumption that the racial grouping labelled Coloured in South Africa is a homogenous group. There is very little shown in the media that as a group there are family members who could look white and have passed for white under Apartheid laws and those who might look like the traditional portrayal of a Coloured person. Very little is discussed about the members of the community who closer resemble the black genetic influence in the community.

There is very little known about the history of Coloured people, which creates a gap in the understanding of who this group is as well as the diversity within the racial grouping.

The media often portrays Coloured people as being of origin in either one of the Cape provinces, or as being attracted to crime and often having a similar look and feel.

Examples

The two big movies over the past 10 years that have received wider acclaim has been Four Corners and Noem my Skollie (Call me a Thug). The latter has been submitted as the South African entry to the foreign language category for the Oscars  (Noem my skollie…2016).

Wayde van Niekerk’s gold medal win at the Rio Olympics created a storm when the  #ColouredExcellence was seen by many non-Coloured people as the group hi-jacking a South African victory to score political points  (Pather 2016).

Purpose

Discussing the purpose of the study gives the researcher as well as the reader of the research an idea of what the project will attempt to accomplish (Wagner, Kawulich & Garner 2012:19).

The purpose of the research is to evaluate the portrayal of people of colour, in this case, Coloured South Africans, in the media and how these portrayals either support or deconstruct the stereotypes of this group.

Significance

Research projects take up a lot of time. This creates an opportunity cost  to the individual(s) undertaking the investigation. Therefore, it is important to justify and understand why this research is important (Wagner, Kawulich & Garner 2012:19).

Stereotypes have negative consequences for groups of people. These fixed ways of describing people strips them of their humanity. It also creates social problems with creating a socially diverse population. It also prevents discussions about individuality in a group.

The research is important to both South Africans and non-South Africans who do not understand the concept of being Coloured. The word carries with historical baggage. Creating an explanation of a diverse group of people who have been racially grouped under the label will contribute to the discussion of mixed raced people from around the world. Wherever slavery had taken place racial mixing had taken place (Professor Gates, HL).

The stereotypes of Coloured people in the media ignores the rich history and contributions to that the community has made to South Africa. It also creates an image of a homogenous group. This negatively impacts the discussion about racial diversity in a post-Apartheid South Africa.

Sources Consulted

Noem My Skollie SA’s official Oscars selection. 2016. http://www.bdlive.co.za/life/entertainment/2016/09/28/noem-my-skollie-sas-official-oscars-selection (Accessed 30 September 2015)

Pather, R. 2016. #ColouredExcellence: How Wayde van Niekerk’s victory challenges stereotypes. http://mg.co.za/article/2016-08-15-colouredexcellence-how-wayde-van-niekerks-victory-challenges-stereotypes (Accessed 30 September 2016)

Professor Gates, HL. 2011. Mexico & Peru: The Black Grandma in the Closet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIzHIRCBtdE (Accessed 30 September 2016)

University of South Africa. Department of Communication Science. 2016.  CMNHONE

University of South Africa. Department of Communication Science. 2016. Media research: Tutorial letter101/0/2016 for COM4802.

Wagner, C, Kawulich, B,  & Garner, M. 2012. Doing Social Research: A global context. McGraw-Hill Higher  Education.