Communication Theory & ResearchDr. Janet Yedes

Thursdays 11:00-1:50pm VE 113Office: CAS 425

Fall 2004 Section 01Email:

Office Hours: M & W 11:30-12:30Phone: 908-737-0469

T 2:00-4:00, TH 2:00-3:00 & by Appt

Course Description

  • This course examines the nature of inquiry and research in communication. Based on theoretical approaches and concepts from readings, specific applied analyses, and discussions, we explore understanding and appreciating the strengths and critiques of various theories and research methods in communication.
  • Required Text: Wood, Julia. T. (2004). (3rd Ed.) Communication Theories in Action. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
  • Recommended: Rubin, R.B., Rubin, A.M., and Piele, L.J. (4th Ed.) Communication Research: Strategies and Sources. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Locate research within explanatory, interpretive, and critical traditions.
  • Formulate research questions and select appropriate methods to answer research questions.
  • Find and retrieve bibliographic information in libraries and from online sources.
  • Interpret and evaluate communication research by presenting a critical analysis of the research rationale, methodology, results, and implications.
  • Create a thorough and focused literature review.
  • Write a rationale for a research project.
  • Discuss ethical and political considerations in doing research.
  • Formulate interview questions for a specific research project.
  • Discuss a variety of communication theories and research.
  • Articulate features in exemplar studies in a variety of discourse studies.
  • Competently report a research project in both oral and written formats.

Evaluation Policy

Grading Scale

Comm Journal Article Analysis (DUE Sept 16) 10

Library Exercise (DUE Sept 23 ) 10 187-200 A

Class Discussion Assignments (10 points each) 50180-186 A-

Ethnographic (DUE Sept 23)174-179 B+

Ethnography of Communication (DUE Oct 7)167-173 B

Discourse Analysis (DUE Oct 28)160-166 B-

Conversation Analysis (DUE Nov 4)157-159 C+

Multicultural Research (Post Online DUE Nov 11)150-156 C

Discourse Feature Analysis (DUE Nov 4) 10140-149 D

Comprehensive EXAMS (Oct 21 & Dec 2) 50 Below 140 F

Research Project (Dec 9, Dec 16 as scheduled) 50

Participation: Online Discussions/Presentations 20

Individual Consults (Week 5)

Critical Text Analysis (Nov 18)

Research Progress & Fieldnotes I, II, III

Course Policies and Procedures

Participation

  • Your presence, preparations, active participation, and substantive contributions to class discussions are essential for successful completion for this course. Students not present for presentations or student led Discussions on articles will receive 0 points for each activity that is missed. Students not present for class activities will receive point deductions from your final grade. Online discussion postings and online presentations are due by scheduled date.
  • All written assignments, analyses, papers for the course must be typed or word processed. Written assignments are due on the announced date. Your Final Project Paper is due on the day you present your work to the class.
  • You are responsible for reading the text assignments and other assigned readings on reserve prior to the class for which they are assigned. All assignments are DUE on designated dates. Late assignments will receive point deductions. No prior assignment will be accepted after the next assignment is due. You are responsible for getting class notes, handouts, and announcements made in class in the rare event that you miss a class.
  • All Research Projects must be approved by me well in advance of when the project is due. (See Consult dates in Week 6.)
  • Be sure to keep your own copies of all written work. Keep all handouts, notes, and written work for the course until you have received your final grade from KU.

To ensure my receiving messages and your written work not given to me in person, please place all materials for this course in my mail box in Vaughn Eames Room 409, the 4th floor main office for the Communication Department.

Course Schedule (Subject to Changes)

Week 1THSept 2Introductions. You as Researcher

Explanatory, Interpretive, & Critical Communication Research

Goals of Theory. Asking Questions

Choosing Research Topics

Read: Wood Chapters 1 & 2

Week 2THSept 9Explanatory Research

Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Social Exchange Theory. Developmental Theories

Read: Wood Chapter 9

Research Ethics

Read: Babbie (On Reserve)

Week 3THSept 16Finding and Using Research. Library Research

Building & Testing Theory

Read: Wood Chapter 3

Class Discussion on Articles you Analyzed

DUE: Comm Journal Article Analysis

Week 4 THSept 23Symbolic Interactionism

Read: Wood Chapter 5 & 6

DUE: Library Exercise

Ethnography. Ethnographic Research

Student Led Discussions on Ethnography Questions DUE

Read: Goffman, Conquergood, Wieder

(On Reserve)

Week 5TH Sept 30Consults on Projects

DUE: Topic, Research Question, Rationale & Working Bibliography

Week 6THOct 7Ethnography of Communication

Student Led Discussions on E of Comm. Questions DUE

Read: Katriel, Basso (On Reserve)

Week 7THOct 14Meaning Making. Communication Dynamics

Read: Wood Chapter 7 & 8

Issues of Validity and Reliability

DUE: Field Notes I

Week 8THOct 21Comprehensive EXAM I

Week 9THOct 28Discourse Analysis

Student Led Discussions on Discourse articles Key Points DUE

Read: Van Dijk, O’Donnell (On Reserve)

DUE: Fieldnotes II

Week 10 THNov 4Conversation Analysis

Student Led Discussions on CA articles Questions DUE

Read: Pomerantz (On Reserve)

Ethnomethodology

Read: Harvey Sacks Lectures (On Reserve)

Theories about Communication and Culture

Read: Wood Chapter 10

DUE: Discourse Feature Analysis

Week 11THNov 11NCA Conference

Focus on Multicultural Research POST ONLINE

Student Led Discussions on Multicultural articles. Key Points DUE

Read: Orbe, Houston, T. Labov, van Dijk (On Reserve)

Read: Valdivia, Torres (On Reserve)

Week 12 THNov 18Critical Communication Theories

Read: Wood Chapter 12

Critical Research. Feminist Critical Research

Student Led Discussions on Critical articles.

Key Points DUE

Read: Gonzalez & Peterson, Conquergood, Lather, hooks (On Reserve)

DUE: Fieldnotes III

Week 13THNov 25Thanksgiving Day

Week 14 THDec 2Comprehensive EXAM II

Week 15 THDec 9Research Presentations

DUE: Final Project Papers

Week 16THDec 16Research Presentations

DUE: Final Project Papers

Concluding Research. What have we learned?

Read: Pearce & Narula (On Reserve)