COM3706
ASSIGNMENT 2 2026
DUE: 24 MARCH 2026 (MEMO)
,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).
The next sections explain in detail how the research will be conducted. This will help the
Institute of Political Affairs understand the research process and have confidence in the
validity of the findings.
2
ASSIGNMENT 2 2026
DUE: 24 MARCH 2026 (MEMO)
,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).
The next sections explain in detail how the research will be conducted. This will help the
Institute of Political Affairs understand the research process and have confidence in the
validity of the findings.
2
