Class Schedule: Fall 2009 #2140
Quick Links
Professional Expectations
Academic Expectations
Course Grading
Grading Criteria & History
Ron Smith, Professor of Communication
smithrd @ buffalostate.edu
878-6008 (phone) … 878-4697 (fax)
Bishop 210
Text
Wimmer, R.D. & Dominick, J.R. (2006): Mass Media Research: An Introduction (8th edition).
Belmont CA: Wadsworth. ISBN: 0-534-64718-9
Chapter 1 (part 1)
Chapter 1 (part 2)
Chapter 2
Prerequisites
COM 301, Junior/Senior standing, 2.6 GPA in major
Class Website
faculty.buffalostate.edu/smithrd/401/Syl.htm
Purpose
This is an applied course in research methods appropriate for the study of mass media research and other forms of communication research. The primary goals of this course are:
- To introduce students to the nature and process of preparatory interviews and literature reviews
- To introduce students to content analysis as a form of unobtrusive quantitative research
- To introduce students to the nature and process of focus groups as a form of qualitative research
- To introduce students to the nature and process of survey research as a form of quantitative research
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to show competency by meeting the following objectives:
- To explain the purpose of various research methodologies and their application for communication disciplines
- To develop answerable research questions
- To design and implement research study using one of several methodologies (such as content analysis, focus groups and surveys)
- To critically evaluate scholarly research articles and applied research reports
See official Course Outline for COM 401.
As a student in COM 401, you will be treated as you can expect to be treated in the work place; that is, as an adult professional responsible for your own performance in both individual activities and team projects.
Attendance
You are expected to come to every class meeting on time and prepared to participate. Working on an assignment is no excuse for missing class or arriving late. You may be absent for no more than 15 percent of class meetings. For this semester, that means three is the maximum number of allowable absences. Any more than three absences, regardless of the reason, will result in a maximum possible course grade of C.
Participation
Active class participation involves more than mere physical presence. You are expected to be actively involved in this class. Take the initiative in discussion and projects; ask relevant questions; contribute to the over-all learning environment of this class. This is known as active learning. Class discussions will be wide-ranging and open; no relevant topic will be off-limits. Students are encouraged to share their media and research experiences, insights and professional observations. Class discussions must be conducted in an environment of respect and tolerance – for both people and their ideas.
Assignments
You will receive ample notice of assignment deadlines. All writing assignments must be typed and proofread. Because of the professional nature of this class, high standards of grammar, punctuation and spelling will be expected in every writing assignment the student submits. Neatness and a professional look also are expected.
Late Assignments
Assignments are due on the assigned day, either in class or in the instructor's office or e-mail prior to 6 p.m. Late assignments may be accepted until the next class meeting, with a late penalty ranging from a loss of 10 points to a maximum grade of 50 percent. If you are not comfortable with this admittedly arbitrary policy, turn your work in on time.
Teamwork
Much of the work this semester will involve teams of three or four students. You will be responsible for both the quality and quantity of your entire team, and part of your final grade will be determined by your participation in team projects. Thus it is important for you to communicate with your team mates, perform your tasks effectively, and interact professionally with each other.
Special Needs
Students with disabilities or special needs should should make these known to the instructor. More importantly, they should contact the Office of Disability Services (120 Twin Rise South Wing, 878-4500). Based on recommendations from that office, students may receive needed assistance, such as additional time or a quiet space to take exams, a reader for exams, and so on.
Workload
Each student begins this class with the presumption that s/he is an average student capable of advanced undergraduate work. Students will determine their grade from this basis according to their academic performance. SUNY criteria for minimal out-of-class work is two hours for each hour of class time; students should expect to spend adequate time in reading, researching and writing homework assignments, and studying for exams. This is known as independent learning, a hallmark of an educated person. Students in COM 401 also can expect to spend a significant amount of time on group projects. Contribution to the team effort will factor in each student's grade for group projects.
Academic Integrity
Each student is expected to make an honest effort in this class and to be scrupulous in maintaining academic integrity. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated, and college guidelines on academic misconduct will be enforced. Guidelines on avoiding plagiarism are available at the department website: www.buffalostate.edu/communication.
Semester Topic
Teams of students (three or four students per team) will select a semester-long research topic related to some area of communication. This topic will apply to research projects dealing with content analysis and surveys, as well as the Final Presentation. The following topics used by teams in previous classes are noted here to get you thinking about your own topic: Radio programming formats; social/political message content in popular music; sex appeal in advertising; race and ethnicity in local TV news coverage; portrayal of women in children's books; young adults use of the news media; internet v/ traditional sources of news; age/gender/ethnicity of TV news reporters and its impact on credibility; news coverage of the war; influence of TV news on young adults; image of X in the news media or in advertising; family influence on news interest or media use; public opinion about pornography; blogs as emerging news sources; TV viewing habits; graphic news content; public opinion about the First Amendment; ethical issues in the news/entertainment media ... or some other topic associated with public relations, advertising, journalism or broadcasting.
Resource: Working in Teams
Semester Client & Research Need
Each team also will identify an organization (real or plausible) as the client for these research projects and the eventual recipient of both information obtained through research and recommendations from the research team. Since this is applied research, it is intended to help a client organization use the information in a practical way to address a particular problem or opportunity. Each team must be able to articulate the over-arching need or purpose of the research and the reason that the client is undertaking it. Generally, the purposes of applied communication research are to explore a topic to learn about it and peoples' attitudes, opinions and behaviors toward it, or to describe situations and events so decisions can be made about them. Thus applied research generally includes gathering and analyzing information about what people know, what they feel or think about what they know, and how they act or intend to act on that knowledge. The following topics used by teams in previous classes are noted here to get you thinking about your own topic: Radio station (changing format to appeal to a younger audience); politician (how constituents obtain their news, or how a particular constituent group uses a particular medium such as Internet, social media, or radio); parent or educational organization (how media depict girls/women and how teen girls feel about this); youth group (how media portray masculinity so it can develop an educational program); ad agency (use of female models in advertising to men), Buffalo Bills (how media use impact fan response), Buffalo State (how students use media technology), TV station (what viwers want in local news), advocacy group (impact of media representation of group such as American Indians, Arab Americans, gays/lesbians, etc), political organization (media influence on public perception of political issues) ... or some other organization and research need associated with public relations, advertising, journalism or broadcasting.
Research Project: Literature Review & In-Depth Interview ... 10% (Individual Grade)
Each team will prepare and conduct a preparatory research project that includes a review of published literature and in-depth interviews. Literature Review & In-Depth Interview Assignment
Research Project: Focus Group ... 15% (Team Grade)
Each team will plan, conduct and analyze a focus group research project of between 8 and 12 persons. The project will be presented as a written report on the focus group. Focus Group Assignment
Research Project: Research Analysis ... 10% (Individual Grade)
Each student individually will identify a published report about an applied research study conducted by an individual or organization. The report should deal with some aspect of communication of interest to the student. The project will be presented as a written report on the critique. Research Analysis Assignment
Research Project: Survey ... 15% (Team Grade)
Each team will prepare, administer and analyze a survey research project that includes at least 200 respondents. The project will be presented as a written report on the survey. Survey Assignment
Content Analysis ... 15% (Individual Grade)
Each student (or pair of students) will conduct a content analysis on a topic related to media content. The project will be presented as a written report. Content Analysis Assignment
Final Presentation ... 10% (Team Grade)
As a summary class project, each team will develop a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the semester-long research activities associated with research projects involving the literature reviews, in-depth interviews, focus group and survey. This team presentation will take the place of a final exam for the course. Final Presentation Assignment
Quizzes ... 15% (Individual Grade)
Students will receive approximately 14 chapter in-class quizzes based on chapter readings.
Individual Participation ... 5% (Individual Grade)
This part of the final grade will include the professor's assessment of each student's participatory role in the class. It will involve objective data such as attendance and timely submission of assignments, as well as subjective assessment of the student's attitude, interest level, and so on. Attendance at the final class meetings for team presentations is mandatory; absence will result in the loss of 10 points from the final course grade.
Team Participation ... 5% (Individual Grade)
Each student will evaluate his/her own performance as well as teammates' participation in research projects and final presentation. This evaluation will be held confidential.
Individual grades will account for 60% of the final course grade. Team grades will account for 40% of the final course grade. In general, projects and the final course evaluations will reflect the following standards of student achievement for a passing grade:
· D (<70%) – Substandard
Student performs individual and/or team tasks at a substandard level. Reports are incomplete, illogical or poorly presented, and/or reflective of substandard work.
· C (70-79%) – Acceptable
Student performs individual and/or team tasks at a minimally acceptable level. Reports are relatively complete, logically presented, and/or reflective of minimally acceptable work.
· B (80-89%)– Commendable
Student performs individual and/or team tasks at a commendable level. Reports are complete, well presented, and reflective of commendable work.
· A (90-100%) – Exceptional
Student performs individual and/or team tasks at an exceptional level. Reports are complete, well presented, and reflective of exceptional work.
Pass/Fail grades are not available to students taking this course for use in their major.
Incomplete grades can be given only for serious medical, legal or similar last-minute obstacles to completing the course requirements. Such obstacles must be documented and must be beyond the student's control. Incompletes cannot be given just because a student has procrastinated and fallen behind in his/her work.
Grading History. Here's a break-out of final grades in COM 401 over the past six semesters:
15 A, 16 A-, 23 B+, 44 B, 28 B-, 13 C+, 6 C, 1 C-, 1 D+, 3 D, 8 E (n=158)
More simply: 20% A range, 60% B, 13% C, 8% D & E