COMMUNICATION 288: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS

Santa Barbara City College
Communication Department

Communication 288:
Communication Research Methods

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the theoretical and practical concerns underlying procedures most commonly used in communication research. Students will evaluate findings of communication research and better understand research methods. The course serves as preparation for advanced courses in communication.

Course Objectives

Understand the implications of methodological choices in studying communication.
Critically evaluate the fundamental methods used to study and make knowledge claims about communication behavior.
Understand research concepts such as reliability and validity.
Design original survey instruments and experimental projects.
Understand the nature of and be able to pose research questions and hypotheses about the relationships among variables.
Execute library-based research and write an original review of communication literature.
Be able to apply a variety of basic statistical procedures using Microsoft Excel.

Required Texts
Reinard, J. C. (2001). Introduction to communication research (3rd ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Bourhis, J., Adams, C., Titsworth, S., & Harter, L. (2003). Style manual for communication studies. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Course Assignments

Attendance/participation: Given that attendance and participation are critical for your academic success, you will earn points for full class period attendance this semester. Full class period attendance means that you arrive on time, and you stay for the entire period.
Exams: You will complete a midterm and a final exam in this class. The exams will cover textbook material and class lectures/discussions.
Research problem paper: You will complete a short 700-900 word paper (about 3 pages), which explains your research problem and the hypotheses, or research questions you will investigate.
Review of literature/methodology paper: You will complete a review of relevant research which explains/justifies your research problem. This paper will also defend your method and demonstrate how you might measure/test your research hypotheses/questions, and how you might actually conduct your research study. This paper will be longer in length (3500-4500 words; about 12-15 pages) and will include a minimum of 8 sources.
Research Presentation: You will present your hypothetical research project to the class.
Quizzes: We will have 11 quizzes (drop 1), mostly on the textbook material.
Exercises: You will complete various exercises that apply your knowledge of research methods. On occasion, I will give you points for completing the exercises.

Course Calendar

Week 1 Introduction to the Course
Introduction to the research culture Chapters 1 & 2

Week 2 Nature of Communication
Asking questions: definitions and variables Chapter 3

Week 3 Asking questions: research questions & hypotheses
Finding, reading & using research Chapters 4 & 5

Week 4 Observing and measuring variables

Week 5 Review for Exam #1
Exam #1: Chapters 1-5 Chapter 6

Week 6 Designing valid communication research
Abstracts due Chapter 7

Week 7 Research ethics
Experimental research Chapter 8

Week 8 Experimental research
Survey Research
Research Problem due Chapter 9

Week 9 Survey research
Review for Exam #2

Week 10 Exam #2: Chapters 6-9
Textual Analysis Chapters 10 & 11

Week 11 Ethnography
Theory of statistics Chapter 12

Week 12 Theory of statistics
Analyzing differences between groups
Review of Literature Due Chapter 13

Week 13 Analyzing differences between groups
Analyzing relationships between variables Chapter 14

Week 14 Analyzing relationships between variables
Methodology due Chapter 15

Week 15 Concluding research
Proposal presentations

Week 16 Proposal presentations

Week 17 Review for Exam #3 (Final Exam)

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Last update 03/2004