COM3706
ASSIGNMENT 1
DUE DATE: 24 MARCH 2026
,TABLE OF CONTENT
DECLARATION..................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................2
1.2 RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT/MAIN ISSUE..............................................3
1.3 SUBPROBLEMS.............................................................................................................. .4
1.4 LITERATURE REVIEW.....................................................................................................6
1.5 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: AGENDA-SETTING THEORY............................7
1.6 RESEARCH DESIGN......................................................................................................11
1.7 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................16
LIST OF SOURCES CONSULTED......................................................................................17
ADDENDUM: COVER PAGE OF [INSERT YOUR NEWSPAPER NAME]...............18
1
, 1.1 INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this research proposal is to present a clear research plan to
the Institute of Political Affairs. The study will investigate how The Sowetan
newspaper covers political stories in South Africa. The Sowetan has been
chosen because it is one of the largest daily newspapers in South Africa. It
mainly serves a black urban readership and plays an important role in
shaping public opinion on political issues (Du Plooy, 2001:45). As a national
newspaper with wide circulation, The Sowetan regularly reports on political
matters that affect citizens across the country. This makes it suitable for a
content analysis study.
This proposal explains the research problem, subproblems, literature
review, theoretical framework, and research design that will guide the
study. The research will use both quantitative and qualitative content
analysis to examine five consecutive issues of The Sowetan. This proposal
explains the research problem, subproblems, literature review, theoretical
framework, and research design that will guide the investigation. The
research will use both quantitative and qualitative content analysis to
examine five consecutive issues of The Sowetan. Content analysis is a
suitable method for studying newspaper content because it allows the
researcher to examine communication messages in a systematic way and
to identify important patterns and meanings (Du Plooy, 2001:128–129).
2
ASSIGNMENT 1
DUE DATE: 24 MARCH 2026
,TABLE OF CONTENT
DECLARATION..................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................2
1.2 RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT/MAIN ISSUE..............................................3
1.3 SUBPROBLEMS.............................................................................................................. .4
1.4 LITERATURE REVIEW.....................................................................................................6
1.5 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: AGENDA-SETTING THEORY............................7
1.6 RESEARCH DESIGN......................................................................................................11
1.7 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................16
LIST OF SOURCES CONSULTED......................................................................................17
ADDENDUM: COVER PAGE OF [INSERT YOUR NEWSPAPER NAME]...............18
1
, 1.1 INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this research proposal is to present a clear research plan to
the Institute of Political Affairs. The study will investigate how The Sowetan
newspaper covers political stories in South Africa. The Sowetan has been
chosen because it is one of the largest daily newspapers in South Africa. It
mainly serves a black urban readership and plays an important role in
shaping public opinion on political issues (Du Plooy, 2001:45). As a national
newspaper with wide circulation, The Sowetan regularly reports on political
matters that affect citizens across the country. This makes it suitable for a
content analysis study.
This proposal explains the research problem, subproblems, literature
review, theoretical framework, and research design that will guide the
study. The research will use both quantitative and qualitative content
analysis to examine five consecutive issues of The Sowetan. This proposal
explains the research problem, subproblems, literature review, theoretical
framework, and research design that will guide the investigation. The
research will use both quantitative and qualitative content analysis to
examine five consecutive issues of The Sowetan. Content analysis is a
suitable method for studying newspaper content because it allows the
researcher to examine communication messages in a systematic way and
to identify important patterns and meanings (Du Plooy, 2001:128–129).
2
