Student Analysis of Social Issues

Student Research, Community Impact, & Experiential Learning

This open-access book is the outcome of an assignment in COMM 3P15: Media Analysis In the Department of Communication, Popular Culture, and Film at Brock University in Niagara, Canada, during the Winter 2024 semester. The course involved 100 undergraduate Communications students and a collaboration with United Way Niagara. United Way Niagara supports vulnerable individuals by investing in programs that address poverty-related issues, including homelessness, food insecurity, isolation, mental health, and addiction. Their work inspired the research and fueled students’ desire to explore the impact of media representations on key social issues in the Niagara region.

The Process

First, students selected a particular social issue to focus on; homelessness, food insecurity, or mental health. Then, over the winter months, students explored media analysis research methods and learned how research approaches like content analysis can reveal hidden meanings in media messages. Working in teams, they refined their chosen social issue into a specific research question. Through weekly prompts and assignments, they prepared to conduct their own research and write a final report and article.

The students were new to research and approaching social issues in this manner, but they dedicated themselves to the task with enthusiasm and a desire to contribute meaningfully. We invite you to consider this research as a foundation for deeper exploration into how the media influences our understanding of social issues.