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State Exam

The state final examination consists of a defence of the bachelor's thesis and a written examination.

The thesis defence consists of the following parts:

  1. An introductory brief presentation of the thesis by the graduate (2-3 minutes) - the topic of the thesis, basic objectives, theories, concepts or methods used, findings and conclusions of the thesis.
  2. Summary of the supervisor's evaluation and the opponent's opinion, the graduate's opportunity to comment on the evaluation and the opinion, i.e. to answer the comments made and questions asked.
  3. Debate on the thesis and questions from the committee members.

The written examination is divided into two thematically defined sections: Political and Media Systems and Communication Effects and Political Behavior. The content of the exam is based on the content of the compulsory courses and aims to test theoretical knowledge, knowledge of methods and techniques of analysis and the ability to think critically and apply the acquired knowledge and skills in the study of politics, media and communication. Each part of the examination is based on a list of topics and the assigned readings. The examination takes the form of a written test. Four open-ended questions will be formulated from each of the parts of the exam, and students will answer three questions in each part (they will choose one question not to answer).

Required Literature

Political and Media Systems

  1. Signs, codes, and signification process:
    • Chandler, Daniel. 1994a. “Codes.” In Semiotics for Beginners. 16 p.
    • Chandler, Daniel. 1994b. “Denotation, connotation, and myth.” In Semiotics for Beginners. 7 p.
    • Chandler, Daniel. 1994c. “Paradigms and syntagms.” In Semiotics for Beginners. 4 p.
    • Chandler, Daniel. 1994d. “Signs.” In Semiotics for Beginners. 23 p.

  2. Communication models and media audiences:
    • Deuze, Mark, & Denis McQuail. 2020a. McQuail’s Media and Mass Communication Theory. Sage. Pp. 92-201.
    • Liu, Wenlin, Anupreet Sidhu, Amanda M. Beacom, & Thomas Valente. 2017. “Social network theory.” In The international encyclopedia of media effects. DOI: 10.1002/9781118783764.wbieme0092. 13 p.
    • Deuze, Mark, & Denis McQuail. 2020b. “Audience theory and research traditions.” In Media and Mass Communication Theory. Sage. Pp. 435-461.

  3. Ideology and hegemony:
    • Freeden, Michael. 2003. Ideology: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press. Pp. 1-30.
    • Heywood, Andrew. 2019a. “Political Ideas and Ideologies.” In: Politics. 5th Red Globe Press. 29 p.

  4. Politics of modern democracy:
    • Heywood, Andrew. 2019b. “What Is Politics.” In: Politics. 5th Red Globe Press. 26 p.
    • Heywood, Andrew. 2019c. “Politics and the State.” In: Politics. 5th Red Globe Press. 24 p.
    • Heywood, Andrew. 2019d. “Democracy and Legitimacy.” In: Politics. 5th Red Globe Press. 28 p.
    • Norris, Pippa. 2011. Democratic deficit: Critical citizens revisited. Cambridge University Press. Pp. 19-37, 169-187.

  5. Comparative politics:
    • Fuchs, Dieter, & Hans-Dieter Klingemann. 2009. “David Easton: The Theory of the Political System.” In Masters of Political Science. ECOR Press. Pp. 63-84.
    • Newton, Kenneth, & Jan W. van Deth. 2021. Foundations of Comparative Politics. Cambridge University Press. Pp. 81-113.
    • Hix, Simon, & Bjørn Høyland. 2022. The political system of the European Union. Bloomsbury Publishing. Pp. 1-22.
    • Lijphart, Arend. 1999. Patterns of democracy: Government forms and performance in thirty-six countries. Yale University Press. Pp. 9-47.

  6. Media systems:
    • Karol, Jakubowicz. 2010. “Media Systems Research: An Overview.” In Comparative Media Systems. European and Global Perspectives. Central European University Press. Pp. 1-22.
    • Hallin, Daniel C., & Paolo Mancini. 2005. “Comparing Media Systems.” In Mass Media and Society. 4th Hodder Arnold. Pp. 215-233.

  7. Electoral systems:
    • Gallagher, Michael, & Paul Mitchell. The Politics of Electoral Systems. Oxford University Press. Pp. 3-19, 157-184, 491-510.
    • Shugart, Matthew Soberg, & Martin P. Wattenberg. 2003. Mixed-Member Electoral Systems: The Best of Both Worlds?. Oxford University Press. Pp. 9-24.

  8. Media and media regimes:
    • Deuze, Mark, & Denis McQuail. 2020c. “The rise of mass media: Differences between media.” In McQuail’s Media & Mass Communication Theory. Seventh Edition. Sage.
    • Deuze, Mark, & Denis McQuail. 2020d. “Theory of Media and Society.” In McQuail’s Media & Mass Communication Theory. Seventh Edition. Sage.
    • Deuze, Mark, & Denis McQuail. 2020e. “Normative Theory of Media and Society: Four theories of the press.” In McQuail’s Media & Mass Communication Theory. Seventh Edition. Sage.
    • Jakubowicz, Karol. 2001. “Rude Awakening Social and Media Change in Central and Eastern Europe.” Javnost – The Public 8 (4): 59-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/13183222.2001.11008786.

  9. Political regimes in the modern world:
    • Heywood, Andrew. 2019e. “Regimes of the Modern World.” In Politics. 5th Red Globe Press.
    • Levitsky, Steven, & Lucan A. Way. 2010. Competitive authoritarianism: Hybrid regimes after the Cold War. Cambridge University Press. Pp. 3-36.

  10. Mass media, politics, and power:
    • Street, John. 2011a. “Political bias.” In Mass Media, Politics and Democracy. Palgrave Macmillan. 25 p.
    • Street, John. 2011b. “Watchdogs or Lapdogs? The politics of Journalism.” In Mass Media, Politics and Democracy. Palgrave Macmillan. 21 p.
    • Wolfsfeld, Gadi. 2014. “Political Power and Power over the Media.” In Making sense of media and politics: Five principles in political communication. Taylor & Francis. 16 p.
    • Shoemaker, Pamela. 2017. “The Gatekeeping of Political Messages.” In The Oxford Handbook of Political Communication. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199793471.013.42. 11 p.

  11. Political communication in old and new media systems:
    • Hart, Roderick P., & Rebecca LaVally. 2017. “Not a fourth estate but a second legislature.” In The Oxford Handbook of Political Communication. Oxford University Press. 12 p.
    • Fletcher, Fred, & Mary Lynn Young. 2012. “Political Communication in a Changing Media Environment.” In The SAGE Handbook of Political Communication. SAGE Publications. Pp. 193-241.
    • Mattoni, Alice, & Diego Ceccobelli. 2018. “Comparing hybrid media systems in the digital age: A theoretical framework for analysis. European Journal of Communication 33 (5): 530-557.

Communication Effects and Political Behavior

  1. Media effects: concept, typology, history:
    • Iyengar, Shanto. 2017. “A Typology of Media Effects.” In The Oxford Handbook of Political Communication. Oxford University Press. 10 p.
    • Potter, W. James. 2012. “What Is a Media Effect?” In Media Effects. SAGE Publications. 18 p.
    • Potter, W. James. 2012. “Media Influence.” In Media Effects. SAGE Publications. 14 p.
    • Sparks, Glenn Grayson. 2015a. “A Brief History of Media Effects Research.” In Media effects research: A basic overview. 5th Wadsworth. Pp. 54-75.

  2. Media, political content, and effects on audiences:
    • Sparks, Glenn Grayson. 2015b. “The Effects of News and Political Content.” In Media effects research: A basic overview. 5th Wadsworth. Pp. 225-252.
    • McLeod, Douglas M., Gerald M. Kosicki, & Jack M. McLeod. 2009. “Political communication effects. In Media effects. Routledge. Pp. 244-267.
    • Oliver, Mary Beth. 2009. “Individual Differences in Media Effects.” In Media Effects: Advances in Theory and Research. Routledge. Pp. 507-524.

  3. Political attitudes and belief systems:
    • Converse, Philip E. 2006. “The nature of belief systems in mass publics (1964).” Critical Review 18 (1-3): 1-74. DOI: 10.1080/08913810608443650.
    • Converse, Philip E. 2000. “Assessing the Capacity of Mass Electorates.” Annual Review of Political Science 2000 (3): 331–353.

  4. Persuation, political marketing, and opinion change:
    • Lees- Young Marshment, Jennifer, Brian Conley, Edward Elder, Robin Pettitt, Vincent Raynauld, & André Turcotte. 2019. Political Marketing. Principles and Applications. 3rd Routledge. Pp. 1-52.
    • Druckman, James N. 2022. “A Framework for the Study of Persuasion.” Annual Review of Political Science 25: 65-88. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-051120-110428.

  5. Sociological and psychological perspectives of voting:
    • Hutchings, Vincent L., & Hakeem J. Jefferson. 2018. “The Sociological and Socio-Psychological Approaches.” In The Routledge Handbook of Elections, Voting Behavior and Public Opinion. Routledge. Pp. 21-29.
    • Cottam, Martha L., Elena Mastors, Thomas Preston, & Beth Dietz-Uhler. 2016. “'The Political Psychology of Mass Politics: How Do People Decide for Whom to Vote?” In Introduction to Political Psychology. Pp. 161-196.

  6. Rational choice and voting:
    • Dowding, Keith. 2018. “Rational Choice Theory and Voting.” In The Routledge Handbook of Elections, Voting Behavior and Public Opinion. Routledge. Pp. 31-40.
    • Healy, Andrew, & Neil Malhotra. 2013. “Retrospective voting reconsidered.” Annual review of political science 16: 285-306.

  7. Media, mobilization and participation:
    • Vliegenthart, Rens, & Stefaan Walgrave. 2012. “The interdependency of mass media and social movements.” In The Sage handbook of political communication. Pp. 387-398.
    • Highfield, Tim. 2016. “Personal/Political.” In Social Media and Everyday Politics. Pp. 13-39.

  8. Research designs in the study of politics and media:
    • Creswell, John W. 2009. “The use of theory.” In Research Design. Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Pp. 49-71.
    • Babbie, Earl. 2014. The Practice of Social Research. Cengage Learning. Pp. 4-30, 44-59, 60-72.

  9. Qualitative and quantitative approaches to politics and media research:
    • Ritchie, Jane, Jane Lewis, Carol McNaughton Nicholls, & Rachel Ormston. 2003. Qualitative research practice: a guide for social science students and researchers. SAGE Publications. Pp. 1-23, 27-44.
    • Silverman, David. 2022. Doing Qualitative Research. 6th SAGE Publications. Pp. 6-29, 101-141, 141-179, 314-357.
    • Experimental Approaches to Politics and Media Research. Pp.
    • Druckman, James N., James Kuklinski, Donald P. Green, & Arthur Lupia. 2011. Cambridge Handbook of Experimental Science. Cambridge University Press. Pp. 15-26, 27-40, 41-57.

  10. Media, political participation, and deliberation:
    • Andersen, Kim, Jakob Ohme, Camilla Bjarnøe, Mats Joe Bordacconi, Erik Albæk, & Claes H. de Vreese. 2021. Generational Gaps in Political Media Use and Civic Engagement. Pp. 1-10, 11-28.
    • Mutz, Diana C. 2006. “Hearing the Other Side, in Theory and in Practice.” In Hearing the other side: Deliberative versus participatory democracy. Pp. 1-19.

  11. Media and democracy in the digital age:
    • Hanitzsch, Thomas, & Tim P. Vos. 2017. “Journalistic Roles and the Struggle Over Institutional Identity: The Discursive Constitution of Journalism.” Communication Theory 27 (2): 115-135. https://doi.org/10.1111/comt.12112.
    • Waisbord, Silvio. 2018. “Truth is What Happens to News: On journalism, fake news, and post-truth.” Journalism Studies 19 (13): 1866–1878. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2018.1492881.
    • Bennett, W. Lance, & Steven Livingston. 2020. “A brief history of the disinformation age.” In The Disinformation Age. Cambridge University Press. Pp. 3-40. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108914628.001.

Required Literature

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