The course aims to introduce students to the fundamentals of academic research in communication. Conceived as an introductory course, it provides the foundations for understanding how scientific knowledge is generated in fields such as audiovisual communication, advertising, public relations, journalism, and media studies. Throughout the course, students will learn how to identify and consult academic sources, read and interpret scholarly articles, become familiar with fundamental concepts such as the state of the art, the theoretical framework, and research methodologies, and develop a critical approach to scholarly research. The course provides the methodological foundation required to undertake the research-oriented modules of the degree successfully and to prepare future academic work.