COMMUNICATION 102 HANDOUT OF REQUIREMENTS
COMMUNICATION RESEARCH
Dr. Cliff Fortenberry
925-3457, 3229
Aven 117A
P.O. Box 4019 MC
Clinton MS 39058
E-mail address: fortenbe@mc.edu
Text: COMMUNICATION RESEARCH: STRATEGIES AND SOURCES , 7 Th
Rubin, Rubin & Piele ISBN 0-495-09588-0
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition
ISBN -13: 987-1-4338-0561-5
This course prepares the student to do practical research associated with the pursuit of a degree in communication. Emphasis will be placed on developing a research attitude, research skills, and a research vocabulary. The course will deal with surveys, validity, and the interpretation of data.
This class is designed to take the communication student on a trip into and out of the arcane jungle of communication research. The student should learn how to find and limit topics of interest and discover the manner of finding pertinent information about the selected topics both in primary and secondary research. The class will cover journal search, computer search, online search, content analysis, survey design (creation and use) and other information gathering and implementing strategies. The student will work individually, in groups and within panels in order to gain the most experience in all aspects of general communication research.
Much of the outside class work will center on the current events covered by the mass media. The class will be conducting content analysis to determine the primary media messages and then will be conducting various types of surveys to determine whether or not those messages are reaching the public in the manner in which the media sources wish. Students will also be conducting ongoing background studies to determine the manner in which the media has covered similar events in the past.
Students will also pursue a study of a topic of interest in order to generate a series of different types of bibliographic sources. These sources will be used to create an extensive reference list. The reference list must use all of the various types of search sources available to the student. The reference list will be used to create an outline made up of APA headings and subheadings. The outline will then be used to form a final research project. Only APA 6th edition style is acceptable for materials turned in for grades.
If you do not own the APA 6 th Ed. stylebook, or have access to one, buy one. Learn to use it!! http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx
Classroom time will be spent discussing text material, answering questions about ongoing research attempts, presenting findings, turning in due materials and testing. It is imperative that each student attend each class meeting.
Class participation is expected; in order to participate, the student must attend class. Absences will hurt your grades!!
There will be 3 tests, three letters (turned in on hard copy and also electronically through e-mail), one 10 source bibliography, one content analysis, one survey, one group presentation, reference list due dates, one outline and abstract due date and one individual research paper and presentation.
No assignments will be accepted late!!
Make it your business to get them in on time....or early! If the student cannot attend class on the due dates, assignments may be mailed. They must be post-marked on the due date or earlier. Those not post-marked or post-marked later than the due date will not be accepted.
Makeup tests must be taken within two weeks of the normal test date. Please make arrangements to do this. No makeup tests can be given or taken without an excused absence.

COMM 102 P. 2
Calendar of Events:
January 11 Syllabus introduction
January 13 - 20 The communication field, ten source bibliography assignment
January 18 Martin Luther King Holiday
January 25 - February 1 Communication literature, library trip 1/25 & 27, Ten source reference page due 2/3.
Three letters to communication organizations both hardcopy and in Eform due 2/8.
February 3 - 10 Computer search, cd rom, online; interlibrary loan, Individual research project topic selection 2/8,
First 10 reference list due 2/10
February 19 MCA (Attendance results in extra credit)
February 15 - 17 Computer search strategies
February 22 TEST
February 24 – March 16 Introduction to Content Analysis and group assignments, Second 10 reference list due 3/4
March 5 - 13 Spring Break
March 21 - 23 Introduction to survey technique, use and design; group work, Third 10 reference list due on 3/25
March 18 Last day to drop a class
March 28 Easter Break (no day or night classes)
March 30 – April 4 Survey pretest, Group work; in class and outside, Survey tool due 4/1
April 6 - 11 Survey Group work, Class meeting & Fourth 10 reference list, due 4/8
April 8 - 9 MC/Tougaloo research symposium (extra credit for presentation and attendance)
April 11 Communication Graduate Research Forum (Attendance results in extra credit)
April 13 - 18 Writing research style, Individual research project outline and abstract due 4/15
April 20 TEST
April 25 Instructor proof day for research papers. Final time to meet with me for paper critique
April 27 Individual research project presentations (students who miss the presentations will be assessed a 50 point penalty per absence)
May 2, 12:00 pm, FINAL Individual research project presentations (students who miss the presentations will be assessed a 50 point penalty per absence)
Grade components:
10 Cite Bibliography 2.5%
Three Letters
Survey
Content Analysis
Group presentation
Reference List
Outline and abstract
Individual Paper
Tests
Class Participation
Total
Grading Scale
A = 100 - 94 B = 93 - 85
2.5%
10%
10%
10%
10%
5%
20%
20%
10%
100%
C = 84 - 75 D = 74 - 68 F = 67>
th