Intro to Research Methods
Course Description

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to HOW research in the field of communication is conducted from a social science perspective. Various types of research methods will be presented and evaluated in terms of their strengths and weaknesses.

Course Objectives

The principal objectives of this course are to 1) provide knowledge regarding the various types of methods that are used in the field of communication and to 2) develop the ability to critically evaluate the use of these various research methodologies. Specifically, these objectives can be defined as follows:

1. Gain an understanding of the process of inquiry (how knowledge is developed).
2. Gain an understanding of the similarities and differences between qualitative and quantitative research.
3. Gain familiarity with the following research methods: ethnography, participant observation, survey research, experimental designs, and content analysis.
4. Develop the ability to evaluate the appropriateness of using various research methods.
5. Explore ethical issues associated with conducting research.
   

Principle Topics Covered

Overview of the process of inquiry
Conceptualization and Operationalization
Sampling Theory
Overview of Qualitative Research Methods
Ethnography
Participant Observation
Overview of Quantitative Research Methods
Surveys
Experiments
Content Analysis
Measuring and describing data
Quantitative Reasoning skills: (z-scores, t-test, F-test, Chi-square, correlations)