COMM 3435: Communication Research Methods

3 Credit Hours

Prerequisite: COMM 2020
Description:
This is an advanced course on the nature of academic inquiry in communication, the structure and methodology of professional and academic research, and the resources available for access to published research.

Course Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Write APA-style papers that demonstrate understanding of qualitative and quantitative communication research methodologies.
Explain the importance of the IRB and identify when human subjects research protection is needed.
Identify when and how to use quantitative surveys, interviews, focus groups, content analysis, textual analysis, and critical or ethnographic research.
Identify the specific research instruments needed for surveys, interviews, focus groups, content analysis, textual analysis, and critical or ethnographic research.
Construct and administer a quantitative survey.
Conduct qualitative research (interviews, focus groups, case study, ethnography, and/or thematic analysis).
Use descriptive statistics to analyze quantitative data, and demonstrate competency with basic qualitative data analysis.
Create research reports designed for a public audience.