COMM 6302, FALL 2004 JIM L. QUERY, JR., PH.D.The purposes of this handout are to ID my expectations and tips for the In Progress Report and Term paper. To ease your perusal, an outline format is employed. PLEASE PLAN YOUR PREP TIME NOW.
Ideal Grp Size = 4-5 Individuals
While you must coordinate your activities and cooperate with one another, each member authors individual content. For some sections, only 1-2 students will be writing. For other sections, ALL grp members will write. Similar to real-world research teams, you are charged with ensuring a fair distribution of the tasks below.
Optional Risk-Free In Progress Report Due: October 11, 2004.
Final In Progress Report Due: October 25, 2004.
Final Sections Due: December 13, 2004.
Weight: In Progress Report @ 20%; Final Sections' Paper @ 30%.
Total Length Parameters:
While I am reluctant to specify a fixed range, most successful papers should reside in the range of 16-20 INDIVIDUALLY authored pages (bibliography is not included). In terms of sources, your goal is to craft a well-developed and cogent piece. Thus, EACH grp member should use at least 25-35 citations to support his/her assessment. No jointly-authored sections will receive a passing grade.
Format:
All papers should adhere to the standards specified in the writing standard guide, follow correct APA documentation procedures, and must be typed using double-spacing. If you have not used APA before, the StyleWizard, developed by Dr. Lyle Flint will build your bib for you. The classes' page also briefly indicates how to use APA procedures within papers (click here).
Assume that you are writing to a theory and research neophyte. A "neophyte" is one new to an area, and thus, has much to discover and learn.
ASSIGNMENT EXPLICATION:
LABEL as Introduction Section
1). Select and describe a COMMUNICATION-BASED event or situation which intrigues you and/or the group. Your analysis should describe the nature of the event or situation, explicate its history, and detail key outcomes that are shaped by communication. Some possible events/situations include: relationship development, maintenance, and/or termination among adolescents, young adults, middle-aged adults, or the elderly; communication between parents and children; communication among siblings; communication with terminally-ill individuals; communication in support groups; communication between students and instructors; communication among health care providers; communication between spouses; communication of health promoting messages via mass media campaigns; communication with battered women; communication with sexually abused individuals; communication with homeless individuals; computer-mediated communication; advocacy or issues management campaigns; or communication with disabled individuals. Of course, there are many other possibilities, and you are not limited to the preceding topic areas. The key here is to focus on the communicative patterns of individuals in some context which excites, perplexes, or challenges you and/or the group. Be advised, however, that this section is NOT a brief overview. In the past, most successful authors have used several pages to provide an overview of the selected topic focusing on its nature and history. [This section is large enough to accomodate at least two individuals.]
LABEL as Rationale Section
2). Justify your selection of the topic. Describe its prevalence, implications for individuals, families, organizations, and/or society at large. Focus your analysis by indicating why others should study the selected topic. Also, explicate theory-based (i. e., how will theory-building be enhanced if the proposed study is completed?) and pragmatic benefits that may be realized if your study is conducted. For theory-based benefits, one might consider drawing from the standardized criteria for evaluating the merits of theories. For the pragmatic benefits, potential outcomes must have some degree of reasonable feasibility. In this section, the author(s) seek to convince the audience that the topic is worthy of study, and has several potential and pragmatic implications. [Two individuals could address this section.]
LABEL as Literature Review Section
3). Generate an abbreviated communication theory which accounts for the key features and relationships which exist in your context. Address either the quantitative (3a) or qualitative (3b) foci as well as the respective item in number four (e.g., if a grp member selectes 3a, he/she must also select and complete 4a).
a) Quantitative Focus
Assume you are contemplating a quantitative study. Identify, conceptualize, and operationalize your variables. Justify the merits of your
operationalizations by examining past reliability and validity levels.
b) Qualitative Focus
Assume you are considering a qualitative study. Explicate the key tenets
of supporting theories that would guide such an investigation (e.g., the
narrative paradigm).
[ALL individuals complete either 3a or 3b]
c) Similar to the class examples, you must describe what is currently known about your topic here. In particular, how do past research and existing theories inform the development and/or focus of your theory? This section should include the bulk of the paper's citations. Working from an economical, yet in depth review, one can identify RQs/Hypotheses (for a quantitative approach), OR potential theoretical underpinnings to anchor an anticipated qualitative study. [ALL individuals complete 3c.]
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4a). ID two RQs or two hypotheses (hys) to help test your theory. Briefly describe the nature of your sample (e.g., biological gender, age, education, SES level, etc.) How are the sample's characteristics important to knowledge advancement and theory-building? Or, are they valuable at all? [Those choosing 3a, complete this section.]
4b) For qualitative research designs, describe the potential units of analysis (e.g., symbols, signs, rituals, stories). Indicate their relevance to "lived experience" and suggest sound data-collection strategies to capture and explain this type of data. What special challenges, if any, might confront qualitative investigators? [Those choosing 3b, complete this section.]
5). Berger (1991) argues that there are too few communication theories. Krippendorff (1993) argues that human communication is a phenomenon that exists only with an accompanying understanding of its theories. Support or reject the preceding positions being sure to integrate at least five communication-based studies within your response. Close the analysis by describing at least two implications for theorizing and research. [All individuals complete this section.]
