COURSE SYLLABUS FOR COMM432-Research Methods

Instructor: L. David Schuelke, MA, Ph.D, Adjunct Professor of Communication Studies, Bethel University,
Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota. E-mail address: [email protected]
Cell: 651-485-3521.

Course Description: Introduction to quantitative and qualitative methods used in communication

research, explored through the use of quantitative methods (surveys, interactive analysis,
and experimentation) and qualitative methods(focus groups, textual analysis, case studies,
interviews, and ethnography). Data analyzed using statistical methods. Emphasis is on
understanding research approaches and data interpretation. The course is NOT online.

Performance Expectations: Learners will be expected to demonstrate their mastery of the terminology
and major concepts presented in the textbook and presented in open-book study guides
each week. In this course, you will complete eight study guide assessments, based upon
your knowledge of the key terms and concepts presented in the textbook and online. You
must complete ALL study guide assessments to pass the course. In addition, you
will be expected to respond to Forum Discussions that focus upon the ability to interpret
data and apply validity and reliability assessments to weekly examples and cases. Each
student must post a timely and cogent response for each online Forum presented. Finally,
each student must develop a communication research proposal that provides all of the
following: 1. Research questions, 2. Hypotheses, 3. A Summary and Discussion of prior
published research on the proposed topic, 4. A description of the quantitative and/or
qualitative methods that might be used in obtaining data, 5. A discussion of the possible
outcomes of the proposed research, and 6. A list of pertinent references. The Research
Proposal will be presented in a Poster Session Format using a tri-fold poster board or
equivalent during the final class session.

Grading Plan:
Completion of Open Book Study Guides: 70 points. (each 10 points)
Posting Responses to Six Forum Discussions: 70 points (each 10 points)
Development and Presentation of Research Proposal: 60 points (each section
10 points)

Grading Rationales:
180-200 points= A-/A
160-179 points= B-/B
140-159 points=C-/C
Below 140=D

Required Textbook: Merrigan, G, and Huston, C. L. ( 2009) Communication research methods, 2nd ed.
New York: Oxford University Press. Isbn: 978-0-19-531482-3. Each student must have
a textbook in class. The use of a laptop computer for course assignments
during class is acceptable.

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© L. David Schuelke
Core Abilities: The delivery format for this course has changed to basically face-to-face. However,
accessing Moodle and using Internet sources are necessary core abilities. A secondary
core capability is to be physically present in class for participation in open book study
guides, and discussion of Forum sessions, and application of cases pertaining to qualitative
and quantitative analysis. The ability to focus on the textbook materials during the face-to
face sessions is critical. If you must be absent (or late) to class or leave early it is YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY to find out what occurred in class while you were not in attendance. You
can do this by contacting a fellow student who was present during your absence. The
instructor cannot provide individualized instruction for students who are absent from
class. A third core ability is to read all of the assigned readings before class and bring your
notes, questions, and content issues with you to class. Show up on time, awake and ready
to contribute to the assigned content in class. The ability to participate with other students
in collaborative discussion and learning is a central core ability for this course as well
as any course in the field of communication.

Schedule:

Week 1: Introduction to Communication Research. Looking at some communication research paper

titles. Read textbook, Chapters 1, 2, &3. Respond to Discussion Question #2, page 19 of textbook
(FORUM 1). (10 points). Face-to-Face.

Week 2: Read textbook, Chs. 4 & 5. Read the Communication Education article, “Undergraduate
Instruction in Empirical Research Methods in Communication: Assessment and Recommendations,” by
Parks, Faw, and Goldsmith. Available on the Course Site on Moodle. Three paragraph Forum Response.
(FORUM 2)(10 points). In-class open –book Study Guide #1 (10 points). Face-to-Face.

Week 3: Read textbook, Chapter 6. Read online “Why Research?” article. Available on the Course Site
on Moodle. Two paragraph Forum Response ( FORUM 3) (10 points). In-class open-book Study Guide #2
(10 points), Face-to-Face.

Week 4: Read textbook, Chapter 7. Google “online surveys.” Examine three online survey services such
as – but not limited to: digivey, SurveyMonkey, questionpro, FluidSurveys, KwikSurveys, eSurveysPro,
zoomerang,. Compare three providers on criteria you believe to be important. Post your findings in a
two-hundred word report to be posted on this week’s Forum,( FORUM 4). After the original posting no
later than 5:59 PM on Tuesday, May 28, read and comment on a fellow classmates posting no later than
5:59 PM, Friday, May 31. ( 10 points) In-class open-book Study Guide # 3 (10 points). Face-to-Face.

Week 5: Read textbook, Chapter 8. Read the Hovland Article. Available on the Course Site on Moodle.
Evaluate the research reported on the relationship between attitudes, belief, and behavior. Prepare and
post to this week’s Forum, no more than three paragraphs explaining the data supporting a claim that
there is a relationship between attitudes and behavior. Post before 5:59 PM, Tuesday, June 4. (FORUM 5)
(10 Points) Read the University of Iowa article on the” Plausible Threats to Internal and External
Validity”. After reading this paper, prepare and compose a 300 word paper exploring the threats to
validity in each experiment (FORUM 6). (10 points) Your paper should be saved on Google Docs and
made available to the instructor no later than 11:59 PM, Tuesday, June 4. Class will be online.

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Week 6: Read textbook, Chapter 9. Before coming to class, record four MTV or VH1 music videos. Pick
different types, e.g. those with few performers versus many, fantasy versus reality-based, etc. Bring to
class. During class two-person teams will meet to develop a list of characteristics that all videos have in
common. Then teams will identify the unique features of each video. After each team reports on their
findings, class will work together to develop content categories in a coding scheme appropriate to
content analysis. (10 points). A team open-book Study Guide #4 will be provided on the assigned
reading (10 points). The class will meet face-to-face.

Week 7: Read textbook, Chapter 10. Two person teams will complete “Try It Activity” #4 on page 181 in
the textbook. (10 points). A team open-book Study Guide #5 will be completed in class. (10 points). The
class will meet face-to-face.

Week 8: Read textbook, Chapter 11. Two-person teams will solve Chi-Square activity in class. (10 points).
A team open-book Study Guide #6 will be completed in class. (10 points) Class will meet face-to-face.

Week 9: Read textbook, Chs. 12, 13, & 14. Read the Tracy and Mirivel article (2009) “The Practice and
Practical Value of Taping, Transcribing, and Analyzing Talk”, Discourse Analysis. Explain the different
situations and settings for possible discourse research as described in the article. Forum posting (10
points) FORUM 7). An open-book Study Guide #7 will be completed in class. (10 points). Class will meet
face-to-face.

Week 10: Each student will present a research proposal in the following detail: 1. Research questions, 2.
Hypotheses, 3. A Summary and Discussion of prior published research on the proposed topic, 4. A
description of the quantitative and/or qualitative methods that might be used in obtaining data, 5. A
discussion of the possible outcomes of the proposed research, and 6. A list of pertinent references. The
Research Proposal will be presented in a Poster Session Format using a tri-fold poster board or
equivalent. (10 points). Class will meet face-to-face.

Additional Resources:

Carey, S. S. (2004) A beginner’s guide to scientific method, 3rd ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co.

Davis, C. S., Powell, H, and Lachlan, K. A.,(2013) Straight talk about communication research methods. 2nd
ed. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall Hunt Publishing Co.

Keyton, J. (2006) Communication research: asking questions, finding answers. 2nd ed, New York: McGraw-
Hill.

Wench, J. S., Thomas-Maddox, C., Richmond, V. P. and McCroskey, J. C,.( 2008) Quantitative research
methods for communication. New York: Oxford University Press.

WIDS, (2006) Learning design system: quick start guide, Version 7.5 Waunakee, WI: Worldwide
Instructional Design System.

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