By Izzud Deen Redzuan
MARANG, 13 November 2015: A total of 84 communication students, together with seven academic staff of Communication Department, arrived at Marangs fishing villages in Terengganu today to carry out research on development of social mobility and media usage.
The research to be conducted for three days from 13 to 15 November will be carried out by a combined Communication Theory and Public Opinion undergraduate classes, led by Prof. Dr. Syed Arabi Idid and Mazni Buyong.
The main objective of the research is to examine the development and progress of social mobility and media usage conducted in the fishing villages of Marang over a period of 40 years.
This research is managed by IIUM’s Communication and Media Centre (COMET).
The students were divided into groups to collect data from three Marangs fishing villages – Kg. Rhu Muda, Kg. Baru Rhu Muda and Kg. Seberang Marang.
The research is expected to collect response from some 600 respondents, where each student has been assigned seven respondents. Two COMETs research assistants have been assigned six respondents each.
Meanwhile, the lecturers will be conducting an in-depth face-to-face interview with the villagers in Marang.
The lecturers participating in the research are Assoc. Prof. Dr. Che Mahzan Ahmad, Dr. Zeti Azreen Ahmad, Dr. Aini Maznina A. Manaf, Dr. Tengku Siti Aisha Tengku Azzman and Dr. Shafizan Mohamed.
This research is an excellent opportunity for the students to gain experience and exposure that would benefit them both academically and professionally.
This on-the-ground training would help improve their learning and critical thinking. It would also be very helpful to those who are interested to pursue their studies at a higher level.
This is the third media research carried out by Communication Department this year following two other researches, one conducted in Ulu Kenderong in Perak and the other in Perupoks fishing villages in Kelantan.***