This graduate seminar provides an overview of applied research methodologies for the study of communication. We will discuss the relationships between epistemology, ontology, theory, metatheory, and various methodological traditions. Specific methodological approaches we will explore include (but not necessarily be limited to) focus groups, grounded theory, metaphor analysis, phenomenology, interpretive and critical interpretive approaches, ethnography, and narrative. Our emphasis will focus on the advantages and tradeoffs of different research methods and how we might integrate them to strengthen the foundations of our research. We also will analyze the ways in which issues of validity and reliability are addressed in qualitative research, and the extent to which conclusions can be drawn from qualitative data. The course will include conversations on all aspects of qualitative research, from the development of the question to the writing of the final report.

This course is designed to guide students in developing skills in designing, evaluating, and understanding qualitative research methods as they relate to communication. The intent is to prepare students to undertake a qualitative research study and to make methodological choices based on an understanding of the assumptions inherent in the method of choice. By successfully completing the course, students will be able to:

• Identify qualitative research methods prevalent in communication.
• Formulate research design, data analysis, and evaluation techniques for qualitative research.
• Evaluate qualitative research of others in the field of communication.
• Identify potential research designs and select one that will obtain the desired results.
• Develop a proposal for a graduate thesis or project

• Course Packet, Available from The Pulse through Titan Shops.

• Coffey, A., & Atkinson, P. (1996). Making sense of qualitative data: Complementary research strategies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• Creswell, J. (1998). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• Locke, L. F., Spirduso, W. W., & Silverman, S. J. (1993). Proposals that work : A guide for planning dissertations and grant proposals. (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (1994). (APA Publication Manual, 4th Ed). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

You may earn a maximum of 1000 points during the semester. Final course grades are assigned as follows:

COURSE ACTIVITIES:

You may earn points toward your final course grade by completing assignments, taking exams, and participating in class activities. Your final grade is based on a total of 100 points. Each activity is worth a maximum number of points as follows:

Each practicum paper will give you an opportunity to summarize and extend the required and recommended class readings, as well as to apply course concepts. Be prepared to present your paper in class on the day it is due. All papers should be three-to-five-pages of text (not including bibliography), typed, and in conformance with APA style. I am including a bibliography of references to give you a running start.

Practicum Paper #1: This paper will draw on Burrell & Morgan as a starting point to summarize, then compare and contrast various research paradigms. It should include your thoughtful reflections on the types of questions each seeks to answer and the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Practicum Paper #2: This paper will describe a master's thesis that you can obtain on the third floor of the library. After reading the thesis, report the following eight items: 1) the title, author, and year of publication; 2) an outline of all headings and subheadings in the thesis, 3) what theory grounded the research and how it related to the conclusions, 4) whether the thesis is quantitative or qualitative and how you made the determination, 5) whether the study is experimental or nonexperimental and how you made the determination, 6) the sample, whether it was adequate, and how you made the determination, 7) the measures or instruments used and whether the thesis provided enough information for you to judge their adequacy (if so, explain why, and if not, explain what else you need to know), 8) major strengths and major flaws that you see in the study.

Practicum Paper #3: This paper will explore one topic from at least three perspectives. For example, your topic might be something like: "violence in urban settings, the media representations of violence, and violence as communication." For each perspective, describe what sort of research methodology you might use to design a study for and why that methodology is the most appropriate for that perspective.

Practicum Paper #4: This paper will describe the philosophy, process, and evaluation of a journal article that reports an ethnographic research study. Be sure to attach the article to your practicum paper.

Practicum Paper #5: This paper will describe the philosophy, process, and evaluation of a journal article that reports a critical or feminist approach to a research study. Be sure to attach the article to your practicum paper.

Practicum Paper #6: This paper will describe the philosophy, process, and evaluation of a journal article that reports a metaphor or thematic analysis. Be sure to attach the article to your practicum paper.

This assignment is your opportunity to get a running start on your project or thesis proposal. The bibliography should consist of an alphabetical listing of every book and article you can find that addresses your proposal topic. Each reference should be accompanied by a paragraph or two in your own words that summarizes the book or article. Your references should include background information on your topic and anything that relates to your topic, major theories that inform your research, and pieces that describe research methodologies that you might use in your study.

Bear in mind that whether you're planning to write a thesis or to complete a project, both endeavors have an academic component, and both require a fairly extensive bibliography. Therefore, while the thesis may have more emphasis on theory than a project, both should be grounded in a theory you have studied. For example, both a thesis and a project on persuasive messages in international public relations might incorporate Petty & Caccioppo 's elaboration likelihood model of persuasion, as well as Hall's high- and low-context cultures and Hofstede's concepts of individualism and collectivism. The thesis, however, is a larger undertaking than the project, and the final report will take the form of a formal research study. The project, on the other hand, will be more applied than the thesis, and the format may be less scholarly. For example, a project on persuasive messages in international public relations might take the form of a corporate or business report (e.g., include an executive summary and direct feedback to the "client"). The bottom line is that the bibliography, at least at this stage, will look pretty much identical for both, and should include a minimum of 20 sources. Hint: Be sure to incorporate both quantity and quality in your bibliography. While minimum numbers almost always result in grades of C, extensive listings of low-quality resources will not fare any better.

During the first week of class, please review all the topics that we will address during the semester (see the Course Schedule). The second week of class, come armed with a one- or two-page description of your first, second, and third choices for a topic you would like to tackle. You will become the resident class expert on that topic. In that capacity, you will act as class lecturer on the evening that the topic will be covered. Half of the scheduled class time will be yours to cover the information (we can negotiate if you need more for an exercise, demo, etc). As part of your presentation, you should prepare a handout for your classmates and instructor that outlines the content of your presentation. Your handout should include abstracts (in your own words) of all articles, books, and book chapters that pertain to your topic, as well as any diagrams, figures, exercises, or tables that you think will be useful for your classmates. If you need extra presentation equipment, you may order it from the Learning Technology Center, LS-048A, Phone 657-278-3056. Your grade will be based on: 1) the depth and breadth of your research, 2) the clarity of your presentation, 3) the quality of your handout as a reference resource for your classmates. Hint: Work smart--give some thought to the subject of your thesis or project proposal when you choose your presentation topic!

The major assignment in this course is the preparation of a proposal for your master's thesis or project. We will discuss this extensively in class. The proposal is just that--a proposal to conduct a research study or to engage in a project that will contribute to an organization or community. The proposal will describe: 1) your statement of purpose, 2) your rationale for the importance of the study, 3) the theory or theories that inform your work as well as who else has done similar work and a report of their findings, 4) the questions you hope to answer by doing the study or project, 5) a detailed description of the methods you expect to use for the collection and analysis of your data, and 6) what you expect to contribute to your field and/or client by completing the work.

If you expect to work with human subjects (this includes such innocuous methods as surveys, ethnographies, and interviews), you must complete file both an application and a completion report with the Cal State Fullerton Institutional Review Board (IRB). The good news is that the IRB form requires you describe your research protocol, which will strengthen your proposal. Your course packet includes a sample of the IRB application, the completion form, and a mock protocol.

Although I will formally grade only your final proposal and IRB application, for full credit, you must turn in several early stages. The first stage is submission of a minimum of three possible topics for approval. The second stage is your annotated bibliography, which is graded separately (see above). The third stage is submission of your review of literature and research questions. The fourth stage is your research protocol (this is the first draft of your IRB application). The fifth stage is an optional rough draft of your complete proposal package. The sixth and final stage is your final proposal draft and your in-class presentation of your proposal.

COURSE POLICIES:

• Regular attendance is expected and necessary in this class. Please do not assume that you can skip class if a lab or guest speaker is scheduled. I expect you there, armed with your course materials and books, ready to discuss the topic at hand. Excessive tardiness or absences will affect your grade.
• You are responsible for all notes, handouts, and assigned readings. If an emergency arises that necessitates your missing a class, it is up to you to get notes and materials from fellow students. Develop a buddy system and exchange phone numbers! Please notify me in advance if you must miss a class.
• As a matter of courtesy and professionalism, set your pagers and cell phones to silent alerts during class time.
• You must type and double-space all work, unless you receive other instructions.
• You must turn in all assignments on time. I do not accept late assignments. Only severe medical problems are acceptable reasons for missing assignments, and it is your responsibility to make immediate arrangements with me for make-up work. Computer problems and crashed disks are not valid reasons for late work. If a medical emergency arises, you must notify me in advance of the class and provide verification in order to be excused and scheduled for make-up work.
• For your protection and my peace of mind, keep copies of all your completed assignments, including those handed in on diskettes.
• See me immediately if you have any difficulties in this course. Do not wait a week or until the end of the semester to contact me with problems. I'm always happy to help you in any way I can, but any delay in communicating with me reduces your chances of getting help.
• You must complete all course activities to earn a minimum grade of "D."
• You must earn a minimum of 600 points to earn a minimum grade of "D."
• Any proven case of plagiarism or violation of ethical conduct will result in immediate failure of the class. In this course, plagiarism includes but is not limited to: borrowing another person's ideas without acknowledgment; using paraphrased material without attribution; not citing quoted material; copying from any source and presenting the work as your own; downloading and using as your own any sentences, paragraphs, or entire documents off the Internet (including source code, scripts, graphics, or other Web elements); using anyone else's assistance (other than the instructor or a lab TA) to fulfill course requirements.