Sample Syllabus I: Research Methods in Mass Communication

Course Objectives

This course will serve as an introduction to various media research methodologies and applications to communication theories. This course has three primary objectives:

  1. Understanding basic research methodologies with emphasis on the research process, design and data collection
  2. Applying communication research methods to theories in communication field
  3. Understanding statistical procedures and research methods in new media environment

Required Reading

R. Wimmer and J. Dominick, Mass Media Research: An Introduction (8th edition), Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2006

Assignments

  1. Quiz I...... 25%
  2. Quiz II...... 25%
  3. Program critique & assignments...... 15%
  4. Group Presentation...... 25%
  5. Attendance and class participation.....10%

Deadlines for assignments need to be met. A paper/exam cannot be made up except in cases of documented emergency.

Class ScheduleReadings

Class schedule is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion

Topic / Content / Readings
Week 1 / Introduction / Course Introduction
What is science & research? / History & Theoretical Concepts / Chapter 1-2

Week 2

/ Elements of Research / Comparison between Quali and Quanti / Chapter 3
Research Ethics
Sampling / IRB / Chapter 4

Week 3

/ Qualitative Research Methods / Field observations, Focus group, Intensive interview / Chapter 5
Content Analysis / News, Daytime TV Talk shows / Chapter 6
Topic
/
Content
/
Readings

Week 4

/ Survey Research I / Advertising, War & Political election / Chapter 7
Survey Research II / Making questionnaire and wording / Chapter 7

Week 5

/ Longitudinal Research
Experimental Research / Chapter 8 Chapter 9

Quiz I

Week 6

/ Statistics / Descriptive statistics vs. Inferential statistics / Chapter 10
Hypothesis testing / Chapter 11

Week 7

/ Basic Statistical Procedures / Excel and SPSS / Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Research in the Print Media

Week 8

/ Research in the Electronic Media / TV, Radio, Internet / Chapter 14
Research in Advertising / Commercials / Chapter 15

Week 9

/

Research in Public Relations

/ Chapter 16

Research in Media Effects

/

Located on

(Book website.) / Chapter 18

Week 10

/ Mass Media Research and the Internet / Chapter 17

Quiz II

Week 11

/

Fall break!

Group Discussion

/ Making research questions

Week 12

/ Group discussion / Questionnaire design
Group discussion / Questionnaire design

Week 13

/ Group discussion / Data collection
Group discussion / Data collection

Week 14

/ Group discussion / Data analysis
Group discussion / Data analysis

Week 15

/

Group discussion

/ Data interpretation

Week 16

/

Group presentation

/ Group 1 & 2

Group presentation

/ Group 3 &4

Sample Syllabus # 2: Research Methods in Mass Communication

Course Description: Qualitative and quantitative methodologies of mass communication research, with emphasis on the research process, concepts and issues of research design, and methods of data collection. Topics introduced include measurement, sampling, focus groups, interviewing, survey and experimental design, and data analysis.

Text: R. Wimmer and J. Dominick, Mass Media Research: An Introduction (8th. edition), Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2006.

Additional readings may be assigned in class.

Schedule:Attached is a tentative schedule of events and reading assignments. We will modify it as needed.

WeekTopicReadings

1Introduction; epistemology; scientific methodChap. 1

2Research process; selecting topicsChap. 2

3Qualitative methodsChap. 5

4Qualitative data analysisAppendix 3

5Introduction to quantitative data analysisChap. 10

6Sampling and sampling errorChap. 4

7Hypothesis testingChap. 11

EXAM ONE

8Content AnalysisChap. 6

9Content Analysis StatisticsChap. 12

10Survey ResearchChap. 7

11Survey ResearchChaps. 8 & 13

pp.279-290

12Experimental ResearchChap.9

13Experimental ResearchChap. 12

14Research ApplicationsChaps. 13-14

15Research ApplicationsChap. 15

16Research ApplicationsChaps. 16-17-18

17EthicsChap.3

FINAL EXAM