Interpersonal Communication II - CA301 Action Research Project Assignment, 1
Content Analysis Research Project for Interpersonal Communication 2
Assignment: Formulate a research question relevant to interpersonal
communication and mediated communication (e.g., texting, Internet, advertising,
reality television). Answer the question through systematic study, which leads you to
suggest a theory about interpersonal communication.
Each student needs a different topic, although students are welcome to work
together to help each other investigate related topics. Make sure you have a general,
open-ended question, which you can answer in your small research project. Here are
some example questions:

What are some ways people use Facebook to enhance their interpersonal
communication?

What are some interpersonal communication principles portrayed—or
violated--in the television show The Bachelor?

What are some ways people use texting as interpersonal communication?
Complete These Steps
Your task is to conduct action research, where you develop a theory of interpersonal
communication.
1. Formulate a question to answer.
2. Use EBSCO host to find peer-reviewed articles and review the scholarly
literature on the topic.
3. Identify and describe the most important features of interpersonal
communication related to your topic.
Interpersonal Communication II - CA301 Action Research Project Assignment, 2
4. Explain how the features of the concept studied interact and what happens
in interpersonal communication as they do.
5. Offer an understanding of what the interpersonal communication related to
your topic is and how it may be subjectively experienced by individuals.
6. Predict what will happen in the future and define ways you could control
future interpersonal communication events related to the topic.
7. State a specific theory you have created or might suggest to explain and
predict interpersonal communication.
Research Strategies for Using Scholarly Databases
Go beyond trial and error to find your research. Find 20-30 articles that look
relevant. Find one good article on topic, and then look at the following:

Key words used. Then use those key words to find more.

Reference list. See what references the authors used and look those up.

Click on “Find More Like This” link to find similar articles.
Broaden your research to include research on relevant—but not exact—topics.
Narrow your topic if there is too much research.
Format for Writing and Organizing Your Report
Use underlined words as headings to indicate sections in your paper. “APA
number” refers to the section in the APA manual, which describes what this section
should contain. Use your spell and grammar check. Number pages. Double-space
everything.
APA 1.06 Title Page
Interpersonal Communication II - CA301 Action Research Project Assignment, 3
Use a descriptive scholarly title, which clearly explains the paper’s content—NOT an
attention-getter. Give your name, Park University, date.
APA 1.07 Abstract (100 -150 word summary of the question, method, and results)
APA 1.08 I. Introduction
This is the background to the problem.
A. Research question.
1. A brief history of interest in the area.
2. Specify unresolved issues, theoretical questions, and/or social concerns.
3. Rationale for the study.
B. Review of Literature. A review of literature is an examination of key peer-reviewed
journal articles on the topic. Theory Building (Group information according to ideas,
NOT according to research articles. This section is NOT an annotated bibliography).
Everything in the reference list must be cited. Cite paraphrased and quoted material.
Please use subheadings to generally describe each idea.
1. Paragraphs about first idea from review of literature.
2. Paragraphs about second idea from review of literature.
3. Paragraphs about third idea from review of literature.
C. Problem Statement -- Drawing from the literature review of 20-50 sources, explain the
ideas you plan to investigate. Include the following:
1. Identify variables (dependent and independent variables).
2. Delineate the research problem to explain the relationships expected among
variables (research questions or hypotheses).
APA 1.09 Method
Interpersonal Communication II - CA301 Action Research Project Assignment, 4
1. Description of Method
a. Describe what content analysis is and why content analysis is used. Here
is an example section regarding method.
Content analysis will be used to examine _________. Content analysis is
a qualitative research method, in which the researcher categorizes and analyzes
the text (content) of a particular piece of communication. In content analysis, the
research develops categories for analysis, then applies those categories to study of
the text (e.g., website, text messages, Facebook page, advertisement, news story).
The extensive use of content analysis in research suggests that content analysis
can be an important research method in communication research (e.g., Allan,
2008; Ginossar, 2008, Hester & Dougall, 2007; Macias, Springston, Lariscy &
Neustifter, 2008: Maher & Childs, 2003; Mastro & Ortiz, 2008; Mastro & Stern,
2003; Paul, 2001; Roberts & Pettigrew, 2007; Woo & Kim, 2003).
APA 1.10 Results
APA 1.11 Discussion
You can use the word “I” in this section, but still use correct writing style. Write a
paragraph on each of the following.

State a specific theory you have created, found, or can suggest to explain and
predict interpersonal communication related to your topic.

Explain the implications of your results.

Identify and describe the most important features of interpersonal communication
related to your topic.
Interpersonal Communication II - CA301 Action Research Project Assignment, 5

Analyze interpersonal communication in a relationship (a case study of real or
simulated interpersonal communication).

Explain how the features of the concept studied interact and what happens in
interpersonal communication as they do.

Discuss intercultural communication research and differences in values and
communication and how that affects relationships.

Offer an understanding of what the interpersonal communication related to your
topic is and how it is subjectively experienced by individuals.

Assess your interpersonal communication strengths and weaknesses according
to interpersonal communication theory and research.

Predict what will happen in the future, and define ways you could control future
interpersonal communication events related to the topic. Remember, a good
theory helps you to predict.

Develop an action plan to improve weak areas of interpersonal communication
skills.

Discuss relevance of three of the following topics: Mental process in
communication, perception, content, amount of communication, interpersonal and
task behaviors, norms, conflict, creativity, touch, distance, time usage,
manipulation of environment, intervention, attitude change and opinions, and how
communication fosters attraction, productivity and leadership. Analyze
perceptions of others through interviews or survey. You can do this face-to-face
or through surveymonkey.com
Interpersonal Communication II - CA301 Action Research Project Assignment, 6
APA 1.13 References (emphasize quantitative, peer-reviewed articles in the field of
communication and leadership). Each reference listing must be cited in your final project
and each citation in your final project needs to be in the reference list.
Allan, D. (2008, September). A content analysis of music placement in prime-time
television advertising. Journal of Advertising Research, 48(3), 404-417. Retrieved
March 4, 2009, doi:10.2501/S0021849908080434
Ginossar, T. (2008, January). Online participation: A content analysis of differences in
utilization of two online cancer communities by men and women, patients and
family members. Health Communication, 23(1), 1-12. Retrieved March 4, 2009,
doi:10.1080/10410230701697100
Hester, J., & Dougall, E. (2007, Winter2007). The efficiency of constructed week
sampling for content analysis of online news. Journalism & Mass Communication
Quarterly, 84(4), 811-824. Retrieved March 4, 2009, from Communication &
Mass Media Complete database.
Macias, W., Springston, J., Lariscy, R., & Neustifter, B. (2008, Spring2008). A 13-year
content analysis of survey methodology in communication related journals.
Journal of Current Issues & Research in Advertising, 30(1), 79-94. Retrieved
March 4, 2009, from Communication & Mass Media Complete database.
Maher, J., & Childs, N. (2003, Spring2003). A longitudinal content analysis of gender
roles in children's television advertisements: A 27 year review. Journal of Current
Issues & Research in Advertising, 25(1), 71. Retrieved March 4, 2009, from
Communication & Mass Media Complete database.
Interpersonal Communication II - CA301 Action Research Project Assignment, 7
Mastro, D., & Ortiz, M. (2008, March). A content analysis of social groups in prime-time
Spanish-language television. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 52(1),
101-118. Retrieved March 4, 2009, doi:10.1080/08838150701820916
Mastro, D., & Stern, S. (2003, December). Representations of race in television
commercials: A content analysis of prime-time advertising. Journal of
Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 47(4), 638-647. Retrieved March 4, 2009,
from Communication & Mass Media Complete database.
Paul, M. (2001, Winter2001). Interactive disaster communication on the internet: a
content analysis of sixty -- four disaster relief home pages. Journalism & Mass
Communication Quarterly, 78(4), 739-753. Retrieved March 4, 2009, from
Communication & Mass Media Complete database.
Roberts, M., & Pettigrew, S. (2007, August). A thematic content analysis of children's
food advertising. International Journal of Advertising, 26(3), 357-367. Retrieved
March 4, 2009, from Communication & Mass Media Complete database.
Woo, H., & Kim, Y. (2003, Fall2003). Modern gladiators: A content analysis of televised
wrestling. Mass Communication & Society, 6(4), 361-378. Retrieved March 4,
2009, doi:NO_DOI
APA 1.14 Appendix (e.g., measure or unpublished test and its validation, the printout of
results from surveymonkey.com).
Research Project Grading Rubric
Grading Criteria for 90% (Meets Mastery Expectations)
1. Eight to ten page research-based paper.
2. Write effectively, including in a review the scholarly literature on the
topic using 10 sources including textbook.
Points or
R
(Revise)
Interpersonal Communication II - CA301 Action Research Project Assignment, 8
APA Parenthetical Citation Style and Format
Cite the source of ALL information in your report. You can cite a large
piece of paraphrased information by saying: According to Neer-- put
all the information here--end with date to show closure (2005).
Avoid Plagiarism:
Academic integrity.
3. As part of the review the scholarly literature on the topic, use APA style
reference list of ten sources, including the textbook as one source.
Journal: Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of
article. Title of Periodical, volume number(issue number), pages.
Book: Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter
also begins subtitle. Location: Publisher.
Webpage: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of
document. Place of Publication: Publisher. Retrieved month date,
year, from http://Web address.
4. Identify and describe the most important features of interpersonal
communication related to your topic. Analyze the communication in
a relationship (a case study of real or simulated interpersonal
communication).
5. Explain how the features of the concept studied interact and what
happens in interpersonal communication as they do. Discuss
intercultural communication research and differences in values and
communication and how that affects relationships.
6. Offer an understanding of what the interpersonal communication related
to your topic is and how it is subjectively experienced by
individuals. Assess your interpersonal communication strengths
and weaknesses according to interpersonal communication theory
and research.
7. Predict what will happen in the future, and define ways you could control
future interpersonal communication events related to the topic.
Develop an action plan to improve weak areas of interpersonal
communication skills.
8. Discuss relevance of three of the following topics: Mental process in
communication, perception, content, amount of communication,
interpersonal and task behaviors, norms, conflict, creativity, touch,
distance, time usage, manipulation of environment, intervention,
attitude change and opinions, and how communication fosters
attraction, productivity and leadership. Analyze perceptions of
others through interviews or survey. You can do this face-to-face or
through surveymonkey.com
9. State a specific theory you have created to explain and predict
interpersonal communication. Demonstrate ability to think
critically and communicate effectively.
Interpersonal Communication II - CA301 Action Research Project Assignment, 9
20. Orally present to class according to sign up sheet (a.) Everyone in class
participated. (b.) Engaged class. (c.) Appropriate dress and volume.
(d.) Used time wisely. Students will present during under
construction and once during completed stage.
Style Manual
APA (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed.
Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.