CC 295-02 – COMMUNICATION STUDIES RESEARCH
T/R 10:50-12:05 in RCC R110
508-531-2170 Hours: M & W 11-12 & by
appointment
This
course provides an introduction to research in the field of Communication
Studies. As a result of this course and
your active involvement in the work we will do, you will have both a
theoretical understanding and a practical knowledge of communication
research. The end result of the course
will be that successful completion of a communication research project.
In
this course, you will specifically:
Reading assignments are from the Reinard text,
handouts, and other assignments. Past
papers and resources will be on reserve at the Maxwell Library’s Circulation
Desk and in the Communication Library.
You are responsible for completing these readings prior to class
and are expected to be conversant in the material during classroom
discussions. If for any reason you
must miss a class, you are responsible for knowing the material missed.
Attendance
You are required to attend all class sessions and
individual meetings. More than two
absences will adversely affect your grade, as will habitual lateness, leaving
early, and leaving during class for non-health reasons (e.g., feeding the
meter). Merely informing me of your
absence or intended absence does not constitute an excused absence. You cannot learn if you are not here.
I respond promptly to e-mail and find it a very useful way to communicate with students. However, DO NOT use e-mail for urgent messages such as a request for permission to miss an assignment or quiz. We will use the CourseInfo site listed above, and the book’s website:
http://www.mhhe.com/reinard
You will write a
series of short papers, each of which is a stage in the creation of a final
research paper. Papers are due at the
beginning of the class period for which they are assigned. Any papers handed in after that time are
considered late and will automatically receive a full grade deduction. An additional grade will be deducted for
every day the paper is late.
All papers
must be typed, double-spaced, and follow MLA format; they should meet
college-level writing standards, so edit carefully. Do not rely solely on spell and grammar check programs – they
often offer poor advice. The Pocket
Style Manual will be helpful, as will the A Guide to Writing and Usage,
located on the book website. Excessive
grammatical and orthographical errors will result in a failing grade on the paper. Note: Differences exist between spoken
English and professional written English.
Although you will need to get the full book, an
excellent resource for MLA documentation: http://cctc.commnet.edu/mla.htm
You may be given the opportunity to rewrite some
papers. Rewrites are due one week from
the day the papers are returned. You
cannot rewrite the final paper.
You must complete and pass in all assignments to
receive a passing grade for the course.
Failure to turn in a final paper will result in a failing grade for this
course.
Academic research is based on the sharing of findings
among scholars. To that end, each
student will give an oral presentation of his/her findings at the end of the
semester. This is a formal speech and
should be approached as such, including visuals.
A
first instance of plagiarism will result in a 0 for the assignment. Repeated incidents will result in an F for
the course and possible administrative intervention. For more information, follow the Academic Integrity link Undergraduate
Academic Policies at:
http://www.bridgew.edu/Catalog/ugpol.htm
Evaluation
Your grade will be calculated on the following basis:
Attendance and participation-------------------------------------10%
Papers, outlines, abstracts, quizzes (5 points
each)------------45%
All quizzes
Topic paper
Research question, problem
statement, hypothesis
Annotated bibliography for
IV
Annotated bibliography for
DV
Annotated bibliography for H
Outline #1 – 3 main points
for each
Abstract of communication
scholarly journal
Complete literature review
outline------------------------------10%
Final
paper---------------------------------------------------------- 30%
Oral presentation of final
research--------------------------------5%
Schedule of Discussion Topics,
Readings, and Assignments
Bold means either a quiz or that something must be passed in.
The syllabus is subject to slight changes.
DATE SUBJECT ASSIGNMENT
T
1/23 Selecting a topic and variables Reinard 2
R
1/25 Library Research – meet in the
library Reinard 4
Topic
due to me on Course Info
you believe it is appropriate this course. Paper
should include some background information
(not just general knowledge or opinion).
R
2/1 Measurement Reinard
8
Research
question, problem statement and
hypothesis due
to me by 2/3 on Course Info)
DATE SUBJECT ASSIGNMENT
T
2/6 Composing the argument Reinard
5
Annotated bibliography Quiz on
Reinard 3, 5, 8
R
2/8 Abstracting; conceptualizing
research;
research arguments
Annotated bibliography of 3 resources on
Independent
Variable due: 1 Internet,
1 scholarly communication
journal, 1 book;
extra credit
for additional valid resources
T
2/13 Analysis Reinard 6
Annotated
bibliography of 3 resources on
Dependent
Variable due: 1 Internet,
1 scholarly communication
journal, 1 book;
extra credit
for additional valid resources
R
2/15 Participant Observation Research Reinard
7
Annotated
bibliography of 3 resources on Quiz on Reinard 6, 7
Hypothesis
due: 1 Internet, 1 scholarly
communication journal, 1 book;
extra credit
for additional valid resources
R 2/22 Individual Meetings Bring an abstract of a scholarly communication
journal article
R
3/1 TBA
SPRING
BREAK
T
3/20 Descriptive Research Reinard
9
R
3/22 Experimental Research Reinard 10
Preliminary
outlines due to with at least
four
main points
for each variable and hypothesis
and at
least three supporting points for each
of those main
points
T
3/27 Individual meetings
CC 295-02 – COMMUNICATION
STUDIES RESEARCH – SPRING 2001
DATE SUBJECT ASSIGNMENT
R
3/29 Individual meetings
T
4/3 Sampling Reinard
11
R
4/5 Changing research from historical
critical to Quiz
Reinard 9, 10, 11
descriptive or experimental
T
4/10 Research Challenges Full
literature review outline due
R
4/12 Individual meetings
T
4/17 Individual meetings
R
4/19 Individual meetings
T
4/24 Individual meetings
R
4/26 Final Paper Presentations
T
5/1 Final Paper Presentations
T
5/3 Final Paper Presentations Final
paper due
T 5/8 FINAL EXAM DAY 11:00-1:00 Final Paper Presentations