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Journalism415 Course Syllabus
Mass Communication Research Methods
Fall Semester 2014
Department of English and Journalism
Western Illinois University
Simpkins Hall Room 327
Section 021
Tuesdays and Thursdays
11 a.m.-12:15p.m.
Instructor:
Yong Tang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Journalism and Mass Media Law
Office location:
SI 226G
Office telephone:
309-298-1948
Office hours:
Tuesdays
3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Wednesdays
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Thursdays
3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Or by appointment
Electronic mail:
Y-Tang@wiu.edu
Snail mail:
Simpkins Hall Mailroom 122
Class Materials:
Baxter and Babbie, The Basics of Communication Research, Wadsworth (required).
You may rent the digital copy of the book from the following site. It is much cheaper
than buying a brand new physical copy. The rental expires after 180 days of use.
http://www.coursesmart.com/IR/4389151/9780534507787?__hdv=6.8
Course Description:
Communications Research Methods is a required core course in the journalism
major. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to commonly used
communications research methods, both quantitative and qualitative.
The goal of this course is to help students acquire the skills and knowledge needed
to utilize communications research methods in conducting research on mass
communications systems and texts. Students will also be expected to write research
paper proposals that present their findings. In short, students will show
competence in using research methods to explore and investigate issues involving
mass communications systems and their content.
Attendance and Participation:
Attendance is mandatory for this course. Class attendance will be counted in
determining the final course grade. Students will be allowed to miss three classes
without grade penalty. For these three missed classes, no excuses are needed.
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Please use them just for emergencies and sick days. Beyond the three, you chip away
at attendance and participation points. Five points will be deducted for each
unexcused absence. It is the student’s responsibility to provide written document
to the instructor in order to receive an excuse for an absence. Simply writing an
email to say that you are sick is NOT sufficient. In-class quizzes or assignments
missed because of lateness or unexcused absences cannot be made up and will
receive zeros. For WIU Student Absence Policy Clarification, see
http://wiu.edu/policies/stuabsc.php
Students are required to complete readings of assigned chapters from the textbook
before coming to class so they can actively participate in class discussions and
activities. Class participation will be counted in determining the final course grade.
Research Proposal:
You should write a research proposal and submit the final version to Western Online by
Monday midnight, December 8, 2014. You may write on whatever topic as long as it is
related to mass communications. The paper should be no less than 15 pages (12 Times
New Roman font, double spaced) plus the bibliography. Bibliography should be prepared
and typed according to the instructions in the current edition of the Publication Manual of
the American Psychological Association (APA) that is available at the Information desk
of the main Library.
Grading Criteria:
Breakdown of the final grades for the course:
Research proposal:
400 points (40%)
Research proposal presentation
100 points (10%)
Test One (9/16)
100 points (10%)
Test Two (10/14)
100 points (10%)
Test Three (10/30)
100 points (10%)
Class attendance
100 points (10%)
Class participation
100 points (10%)
Total:
1000 points (100%)
All three tests are open book, open notes, and multiple-choice exams. Final
grades for the course are determined according to the following scale:
920-1,000
A
890-919
A870-889
B+
830-869
B
800-829
B770-799
C+
730-769
C
700-729
C670-699
D+
630-669
D
600-629
D-
3
0-599
F
Extra Credit Opportunities
The instructor will announce extra credit opportunities as soon as they become
available. Detailed instructions for extra credit exercises will be distributed to class
later.
Academic Integrity:
Western Illinois University, like all communities, functions best when its members
treat one another with honesty, fairness, respect, and trust. Plagiarism, cheating,
and other forms of academic dishonesty constitute a serious violation of University
conduct regulations. Students who engage in dishonesty in any form shall be
charged with academic dishonesty. Any student with a question about academic
integrity or plagiarism is encouraged to discuss it with his or her instructor. For
details on WIU’s Academic Integrity Policy, see
www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php
Student Rights and Note to Students with Disabilities:
As a WIU student, you have your rights and responsibilities, see
http://www.wiu.edu/provost/students.php. In accordance with University
policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic accommodations
may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an
accommodation. For the instructor to provide the proper accommodation(s) you
must obtain documentation of the need for an accommodation through Disability
Resource Center (DRC) and provide it to the instructor. It is imperative that you take
the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor's attention, as he/she is not
legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students. Students who
may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.)
should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in
such an emergency. Contact Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 298-2512 for
additional services.
Personal Communication Devices:
Personal computers must be turned off when class begins and must not be used
again unless it is for an assignment. Use of cell phones, pagers, IPods, or any other
personal communication devices or programs in the classroom during class time is
strictly prohibited. You will be asked to leave for the day if you engage in such
practices. Repeated offenses will affect your final grades. Make sure these devices
are turned off prior to entering the classroom.
Miscellaneous:
If you have a question about any of the readings, assignments, or anything course
related, it is up to you to approach or contact me in due time. I cannot read your
mind and it is much better to be overly safe than sorry later: No question or concern
is stupid except the ones that remain unexplored.
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About the Instructor:
Before joining academia, Dr. Yong Tang worked for nearly 15 years as an awardwinning editor and reporter for the People’s Daily, the largest and most politically
influential newspaper in the People’s Republic of China. From 2004 to 2007, he was
a Washington, D.C.-based correspondent of the People’s Daily. Drawing upon his
unique reporting and writing experiences as a foreign correspondent in the world
capital of news, Tang published in 2014 a four-volume book America in the Eyes of
Yong Tang with a reputable publishing house in Beijing.
Yong Tang is a recipient of WIU Professional Achievement Award (2014). He was
named as Faces of Penn State (2013) (http://faces.psu.edu/faces/yong-tang/). He
was on the list of Top 50 Journalism Professors (2012)
(http://journalismdegree.org/top-professors/). Tang's list of additional honors and
awards includes the top faculty paper award from the Law and Policy Division,
AEJMC (the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication)
(2012); AEJMC's Best Research Scholar-to-Scholar Presentation Award (2011); Gene
and Fran Goodwin Journalism Scholarship at Penn State (2010); University
Graduate Fellowship at Penn State (2009); Freeman Fellowship at George
Washington University (2007); and the China Journalism Award (2004).
Yong Tang holds a doctoral degree in mass communications law and policy from
The Pennsylvania State University and another Ph.D. in international journalism
from The Communication University of China in Beijing. He studied at the George
Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs and earned a master’s
degree in international policy and practice. Yong Tang received his undergraduate
education in China, where he received his bachelor’s degree in English language and
literature from Sichuan International Studies University and another undergraduate
degree in English news reporting and editing from China School of Journalism. For
more information about the instructor, see Tang’s faculty page:
http://www.wiu.edu/cas/english_and_journalism/directory/show.php?y-tang.
Course Schedule:
This schedule is tentative and may be adjusted throughout the semester. Readings
are DUE on the day they are assigned.
Part I: Introduction
Aug 26
Instructor and Student Introduction
Aug 28
Part One: Introduction to Scientific Inquiry about
Communication (Chapter 1-2)
Sep 2
Part One: Introduction to Scientific Inquiry about
Communication (Chapter 2-3)
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Sep 4
Part One: Introduction to Scientific Inquiry about
Communication (Chapter 3-4)
Sep 9
Part One: Introduction to Scientific Inquiry about
Communication (Chapter 4-5)
Sep 11
Test Preparation
Sep 16
Test One
Part II: Quantitative Communications Methods
Sep 18
Quantitative Communications Methods (Chapter 6-7)
Sep 23
Quantitative Communication Research (Chapter 7-8)
Sep 25
Quantitative Communication Research (Chapter 8-9)
Sep 30
Quantitative Communication Research (Chapter 9-10)
Oct 2
Quantitative Communication Research (Chapter 10-11)
Oct 7
Quantitative Communication Research (Chapter 11-12)
Oct 9
Test Preparation
Oct 14
Test Two
Part III: Qualitative Research
Oct 16
Chapter 13: Participant Observation
Oct 21
Chapter 14: Qualitative Interviewing
Oct 23
Chapter 15: Social Text Analysis
Chapter 16: Qualitative Data Analysis
Oct 28
Test Preparation
Oct 30
Test Three
Part IV: Office Conference for Research Proposal
Nov 4
Conference 1
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Nov 6
Conference 2
Nov 11
Conference 3
Nov 13
Conference 4
Nov 18
Conference 5
Nov 20
Library Session
Nov 25
Thanksgiving Break
Nov 27
Thanksgiving Break
Part V: Research Proposal Presentation
Dec 2
Cancelled for research proposal
Dec 4
Cancelled for research proposal
Dec 9
Cancelled for research proposal
Dec 11
Research proposal presentation
Dec 16
Research proposal presentation (10am)