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The Methodological Intricacies of Researching Strategies, Modes, and Styles of Media Use and Reception

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Abstract

Research into strategies, modes, and modalities of media use and reception is characterized by a remarkable methodological diversity—in this volume but also in general. This chapter therefore aims at mapping and discussing some of the methodological approaches in this book but also in relevant research to date. These approaches are discussed in the context of some key methodological challenges posed by both the field’s particular object and perspective of research. Extending the discussion in Krämer and Frey (2019), this chapter elaborates on three interconnected methodological challenges that pose themselves to a particular degree when approaching strategies or modalities of media use and reception empirically: (1) Developing appropriate strategies of data collection to capture inaccessible elements of strategies, modes or modalities; (2) accommodating empirically the comprehensiveness and richness of theoretical concepts like strategies, modes and modalities; and (3) observing or experimentally manipulating the reception process without adulterating it.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Communication and Media Studies, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany

    Felix Frey

  2. Department of Media and Communication, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany

    Benjamin Krämer

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  1. Felix Frey
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  2. Benjamin Krämer
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Correspondence to Felix Frey .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Media and Communication, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany

    Benjamin Krämer

  2. Institute of Communication and Media Studies, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany

    Felix Frey

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Frey, F., Krämer, B. (2020). The Methodological Intricacies of Researching Strategies, Modes, and Styles of Media Use and Reception. In: Krämer, B., Frey, F. (eds) How We Use the Media . Transforming Communications – Studies in Cross-Media Research. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41313-2_10

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