ComSt 404: Senior Seminar Fall 2016
Dr. Mark V. Redmond Phone: 294-0183
Office: 350 Carver Hall Email:
Office Hours: MW 2-3, TTh 11-12 & by appointmentHomepage: mredmond.public.iastate.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students will engage the process of identifying an original question related to human communication and developing their own unique data-driven research projects to answer the question. The intent of this course is to apply the skills and understanding of communication that you have acquired in the Communication Studies program to exploration and discovery of knowledge. While not intuitively obvious, the skills developed and practiced in this course really do apply to a variety of professional activities that you are likely to perform throughout your careers.
The course is taught as a collective independent study and as such you will be exploring in-depth a communication studies issue with specific interest and appeal to you. As with an independent study, you are responsible for meeting deadlines and balancing your workload throughout the term. Waiting until due dates to accomplish tasks usually results in poor and unsatisfactory performance (bad grades). The course is conducted in a seminar format - - each student is expected to actively participate as a speaker and listener. Students have the responsibility of presenting information to each other, and in actively exploring the information presented by others.
Course Objectives: The overall objective of this course is to act as a capstone course which utilizes and assesses the sum and substance of what you have learned in the communication studies program. Specifically you will be expected to:
1. Generate inventive and provocative questions concerning communication.
2. Apply divergent, convergent and evaluative cognitive skills.
3. Synthesize and evaluate a divergent body of research and theory literature.
4. Develop a literature-based research proposal.
5. Develop, conduct, analyze, evaluate and report on a research project designed to test your hypotheses or research questions.
6. Publically present your study results in a clear, concise and informative manner.
Communication Research Paper: Each student or pair of students will submit a final communication research paper which includes the following elements: introduction-- rational and definitions; literature review and synthesis in support of a proposed hypothesis or research question; a description of the research design/methodology, data results and analysis, concluding discussion (including implications, weaknesses, and future directions). The following assignments are designed to guide you in an orderly fashion through each of the steps needed to successfully developyour final research paper (those in italics are graded):
A. List of possible research questions.
B. List of five possible sources/references.
C. Bibliography of 10 likely research articles (include a brief statement of each article’s relevance).
D. Two page paper discussing one concept supported by two (2)relevant research articles.
E. Theory building/research article review and hypothesis/research question section of the paper.
G. Student-instructor meetings to discuss research proposal.
H. Research design proposal/methodology (instruments and proposed data collection).
I. Student-instructor meetings to perform statistical analysis of data.
J. Student-instructor meetings to discussthe meaning of the statistical analysis of data.
Bring one-page write up of research results relative to a RQ or Hypothesis
Each final research paper is to include at least 10separate (15 for teams), fully referenced research articlesas sources incorporated in the paper (they are not to simply be filler, but to be a substantive part of your paper). The successful papers that fulfill the requirements generally average between 20 and 25 pages. You are to double space, use 1-inch margins and follow APA style. You should include an abstract and a reference section. Copies of the all cited sources or links to those sources must be submitted in addition to the final paper. You are also to attach the graded theory building paper, hypothesis/RQ paper, and research design proposal/methodology.
Research Papers Are Graded Against the Following Criteria:
1. The degree to which the research paper format was successfully and fully followed.
2. Quality of your literature review and synthesis. (Quality of the theory development).
3. Adequate review of relevant literature. Sufficient support. Appropriateness of the material used.
4. Strength of the arguments and logic supporting the hypothesis or research question.
5. Explanation of results and quality of discussion including weaknesses.
6. Explanation, detail, and completeness of thoughts.
7. Organization, clarity of writing, APA style, clarity of ideas, correct grammar, etc.
Poster Presentation: Each student or team is to create a poster presentation on their research project which will placed on display in a public forum open to all majors and faculty the week before finals. You are to provide oral summaries and answer questions as people visit your poster.
Attendance & Research Meetings
In lieu of some class days, throughout the semester you will have one-on-one meetings with your instructor or TA to discuss your project. You are expected to make and keep your scheduled meeting time. When you come to our offices for your scheduled meeting, you are expected to show us evidence that you have been working on your project. If you come unprepared for our meeting you may be excused without an opportunity to reschedule. Examples of coming unprepared include but are not limited to: (1) arriving late, (2) showing up without completed tasks, or (3) not taking notes or having questions prepared in advance. We strongly advise each of you to take full advantage of these scheduled meetings as they are designed to ensure you get the maximum amount of help from us with respect to shaping your research project.
Course Methodology and Policies
Dyadic Teams or Individual: You have an option to work on the research project with one other student as a dyadic team. Here are the following guidelines for those choosing to work in a dyad:
1. One research paper will be presented.
2. Both members are required to contribute equally to the project.
3. Both members are required to have a total understanding of the research project (this includes all relevant articles, research procedures, etc.)
4. Any partner in the dyad can choose to unilaterally dissolve the team at any time during the term. You are to notify me immediately of any such dissolutions.
5. If a team is dissolved, each member is then expected to complete and submit the research project individually.
6. Each member of a dyadic team will meet individually with me. Failure of either team member to knowledgeably and appropriately respond to my questions will result in immediate dissolution of the team with each member then acting individually to complete the project.
7. Additional rules for dyadic teams may be added as needed anytime during the semester.
Late Assignments: Points will be deducted for lateness proportionate to how late the assignment is turned in. Late assignments will be placed at the bottom of my work pile which will jeopardize your opportunity to gain critical feedback before the next assignment becomes due.
Completing Work: All assignments must be completed and passed (D- or better) in order to pass the course.
Use of Human Subjects: All students are expected to understand the ethical issues and requirements related to conducting any research using human subjects. This issue was covered in ComSt 203 and will be discussed briefly in 404. However, if you feel unsure about the restrictions and protocols, please review them at: Your research study is expected to comply with all requirements governing the use of human subjects. The following is a brief explanation from ISU’s Office of Responsible Research on participant consent for student research studies conducted for a class project:
All projects conducted under this policy involving human participants must be preceded by a disclosure of the following information to the respondent. If an Informed Consent Document is used, these points must be included in that document:
- The student identifies him/herself as an ISU student who is performing the activity to fulfill a course requirement, and the course is specifically identified.
- The name and contact information for the supervising faculty member to contact for questions is provided.
- The persons who have access to the individual data and/or summarized results are specified (e.g., instructor only, company/organization/agency).
- Participants are informed that their participation is completely voluntary, that they can skip any questions they do not wish to answer (e.g., for surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.), and that they can stop participating at any time.
- The disclosure should not state that the project has been approved by the ISU IRB.
Plagiarism: PLAGIARISM EITHER INTENTIONAL OR ACCIDENTAL WILL RESULT IN A FAILURE IN THE COURSE AND ADDITIONAL DISCIPLINARY ACTION. All ideas or materialthat not are not your own MUST be appropriately referenced. It is your responsibility to know how to appropriately reference sources. Ignorance of correct referencing methods is not an acceptable excuse. A variety of on-line resources are available (see my website for links to some).
SEE ME IF YOU HAVE ANY UNCERTAINTIES.
Attendance and Participation. You are expected to be on time and present. The seminar format of the course provides an interactive forum from which to learn from me and from your fellow students but requires everyone’s attendance and participation. You are expected to come prepared and to provide helpful feedback to others. Missing class or scheduled meetings will seriously jeopardize your ability to successfully conduct your study and complete the research project, and will negatively impact your final grade. You should talk with me should this policy pose a problem for you.
Grading: (The numbers indicate points for each assignment)
Bibliography of 10 likely research articles 20 points(each team member does individually)
Concept paper 50 (each team member does individually)
Theory building/research article review and
hypotheses/research questions section100
Methodology/design proposalincluding measures 50
Poster Presentation 50
Final Research Paper400
GRAND TOTAL 670pts.
Final GradeScale :
100-93% = A 89-87 = B+ 82-80 = B-76-73 = C 69-67 = D+ 62-60 = D-
92-90 = A-86-83 = B 79-77 = C+72-70 = C- 66-63 = D 59-0 = F
Tentative Calendar
This calendar is intended to provide a general framework for the course timeline by indicating tentative deadlines and activities and are likely to change. You are responsible for knowing what is expected on any given day.Italicized activity entries indicate that we are not meeting as a class on that given day.
DateActivity/Deadlines
Aug22 TDiscussion of the course, of the research process, brainstorming topics.
25ThThree research topic ideas due for each student. Discussion and examination of topics.
30T3 potential citations for each research topic due. Select, revise, finalize research topic
Sep 1Th(self-directed work/office visits)
6 TBibliography of at least 10 likely research articles due.
8Th(self-directed work/office visits)
13 TDiscussion of integrating articles.
15ThConcept paper utilizing two research articles (continue search for additional articles).
20 TDiscussion of theory building/research review. Discussion of hypotheses/research questions.
22ThFinalizing hypotheses or research questions. Discussion of research design and ethics.
27 T(self-directed work/office visits)
29Th(self-directed work/office visits)
Oct 4 TTheory building/research article/hypothesis/RQ reviews due.
6ThResearch design options discussed and developed. Instrument development.
11 THypothesis/RQ section of paper due.
12 WStudent-Instructor Interviews and discussion oftentative methodology
13ThStudent-Instructor Interviews and discussion oftentative methodology
14 FStudent-Instructor Interviews and discussion oftentative methodology
18 TFinalization of research design and materials. Discussion of data analysis.
20ThResearch Design Proposal/Methodology due
25 T(self-directed work/office visits)
27ThDesigns revised; data collection plans finalized (if not already done).
31 MCollect data.
Nov 1 TCollect data.
2 WCollect data. (Office appointments—Data analysis)
3. ThCollect data. (Office appointments—Data analysis)
4 FCollect data. (Office appointments—Data analysis)
7 MOffice appointments—Data analysis
8 TOffice appointments—Data analysis.
10ThConstructing research posters and delivering a poster presentation.
BUILD IN DAYS FOR MEETING WITH ME WITH A ONE PAGE WRITE UP OF THE ANALYSIS RELEVANT TO A RQ OR HYPOTHESIS.
14 M Office appointments—Data analysis.
15 TMaking sense of your data; writing up your data analysis.
16 W (Making sense of your data—optional office appointments)
17Th(Making sense of your data—optional office appointments)
18 F (Making sense of your data—optional office appointments)
Thanksgiving Break
29 TFinal research paper preparation discussion and planning.
Dec 1Th(self-directed work/office visits)
6 T(self-directed work/office visits)
8ThPoster Presentations
Final Research Papers submitted by 11:00 AM, Monday, Dec. 12th
COMMUNICATION RESEARCH PAPER GUIDELINES
I. Introduction and Rationale:
A. Introduce the topic or issue to be investigated.
B. Discuss the reason the issue is worthy of study. What is the value in examining it? Why important?
Why study it? (PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIMS)
II. Define key terms, concepts and the problem to be addressed.
A. A review of relevant conceptualizations, discussing strengths and weaknesses of them.
B. Present the conceptual definition you are advocating. Provide sufficient explanation.
You may wish to argue for a definition different from anyone else's but derived from others.
III. Literature review/theory building:
This review represents "theory building" in that you are attempting to develop and focus on a particular research question or hypothesis. You should try to identify from the literature that which supports your direction, and discuss contrary points of view and their weaknesses. The purpose of the review is twofold:
1. Surveying relevant and applicable literature to provide a base of understanding the concepts.
2. Developing arguments that support your research question/hypothesis.
There are at least two ways to approach this section (and they are not mutually exclusive):
A. ORGANIZED BY ARTICLE: Review and inter-relate each study in a comprehensive manner
a. Describe the theory and method used by the authors.
b. Use transitions from article to article; INTEGRATE THE ARTICLES.
c. Discuss strengths/assets and weaknesses or limitations.
d. Be critical of other research (particularly design flaws and sources of invalidity).
B. ORGANIZED around the CONCEPTS and/or THEORIES:
a. Draw relevant supporting information from the articles (specifically the research findings)
focusing on the particular concept being discussed.
b. Provide comprehensive reviews of the theory and method used by the authors.
Either approach should lead to the development of a hypothesis/hypotheses or the posing of a research question(s). For the hypothesis, it is important to discuss the expected relationship between your variables, and to provide sufficient support that that is the relationship to be expected. Present this in the form of dependent, independent variables, and intervening variables.
IV. Research Design/Methodology
Explain the research plan (how you obtained participants, the instructions given and tasks taken) and provide support for your choices (cite previous research that used similar methodology). Explain the operationalization of your concepts and variables (how you measured them—include cited information any instruments or measures incorporated in your study). Provide a copy of your informed consent form, measures, surveys, etc. in an appendix.
For qualitative studies this section includes explanation of the method to be incorporated including the process of getting participants, issues of objectivity, plans for triangulation or other means of insuring cross-validating of material. Citation of material that supports the process you used needs to be included. Additional instructions on qualitative method and what to write up will be covered as needed.
V. Results:
Provide a brief set of demographics about the participants (number, sex, age, and any other relevant information).
Discuss each hypothesis or research question, the statistical test used (with a rationale for the test) and the results. Indicate whether the hypothesis was confirmed or what answer is provided for the RQ. Include graphs and tables within the body of the text.
VI. Discussion: Discuss the degree to which your hypothesis was confirmed or research questions answered. Discuss the value and applicability of your findings. Discuss limitations and weaknesses of the study. Discuss implications for future research.
VII. References.
A list of all articles cited within your paper following appropriate APA style.
VIII. Appendix (these are in addition to the typical 20-25 page total for the paper from the above elements)
--Consent forms
--Measures and instruments
--Graphs, etc.)
Additional Notes: