TUSCULUM COLLEGE
GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
COURSE SYLLABUS
RESEARCH WRITING AND COMMUNICATION I - RESC 512
Instructor Name
Phone (w)
E-mail
Course Dates:
(h)
MAOM ______
Course Description:
Preparation of written research reports for effective communication within the
organization. Teaches managers how to report data using descriptive statistics.
Prerequisites: RESC 508. (2 credit hours)
Required Texts:
Emory, C.W. & Cooper, D.R. (1991). Business research methods (4th ed.). New
York: Irwin.
Supplemental Materials:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the
American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC:
Author.
Tusculum College Graduate and Professional Studies Student Handbook and
Research Guide. (2002). Greeneville, TN: Tusculum College.
Salkind, N.J. (2000). Statistics for people who think they hate statistics.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
(Indicate any other supplemental materials here)
Course Goals:
This course will:

provide the student with practical application skills in communicating research
findings.
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
develop the student's insight into the fields of research and statistics as
applied to managerial research and decision making.

emphasize compilation, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of research
findings using visuals and descriptive statistics.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

develop a complete research proposal and gather data as proposed.

identify the levels of data and apply basic descriptive statistics
appropriate to each.

calculate measures of central tendency, dispersion, and shape as
needed to analyze survey questions and answer research questions.

understand and apply the normal curve characteristics to business
settings.

take a data set and create tables and visuals (such as pie charts, bar
charts, scatter plots) in order to clearly present data obtained from
survey questions.

analyze, interpret, and present the findings from collected data
including development of visuals for this purpose.

develop a written report of the research conducted (this report will
include the presentation of findings and conclusions and
recommendations based on the research findings; the students’
reports will be completed in the follow-up course, RESC-510 and orally
presented in RESC-514).
Advanced Competencies:
The five advanced competencies must be addressed in the course.
The Advanced Competencies are:
1. Critical Thinking—narrowing of focus, sorting ideas generated,
identifying the most reasonable ones. This involves recognizing
opinions vs. facts, being honest with oneself, resisting manipulation,
overcoming confusion, asking questions, acknowledging complexity,
finding connections between subjects, and being intellectually
independent.
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2. Synthesis of Information—taking independent bits of information,
understanding their relevance, and bringing them together into a
meaningful order.
3. Problem Solving—defining the problem, thinking about problem is both
narrowed and expanded, possibilities are generated, a plan is created
and performed.
4. Ethical Decision Making—values and plan in life are clear to the
student, information needed to make decisions is available, values are
applied to information, and action is taken.
5. Data Analysis and Interpretation—organizing qualitative and/or
quantitative data, selecting appropriate analyses or statistical tools,
gleaning for similar content/calculating, deriving a finding, interpreting,
and practically applying it.
These competencies will be addressed in this course. You should indicate how
each is addressed in your course format. Some suggestions are listed below,
in italics.

Critical Thinking – Students will demonstrate critical thinking by analyzing
previous research and applying it to their projects; Evaluating previously
developed measurement instruments or developing measurement
instruments will also require application of critical thinking.

Synthesis of Information – Students will take numerous research articles,
books, etc. and integrate them into an organized discussion of their research
topic; Students will also use information garnered from the review of previous
research to refine their research methods.

Problem Solving – Students will demonstrate problem solving by designing
a method with which to investigate their research problem and by addressing
problems/concerns that arise during development and testing of instruments
and/or sampling methods.

Ethical Decision Making – In their projects students must understand and
apply the research guidelines established by the American Psychological
Association’s Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct including the
concepts related to protection of subjects from harm including appropriate
use of anonymity and confidentiality.

Data Analysis and Interpretation – Students will demonstrate data analysis
and interpretation through their application of descriptive statistics and visuals
to their pilot test and main study data.
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Students With Disabilities:
Tusculum provides individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to
participate in educational programs, activities, and services. Students with
disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in class activities or meet
course requirements should contact Lori McCallister at (423) 636-7300,
extension 651 or 1-800-729-0256, extension 651.
Tusculum College Learning Center:
If any student requires additional academic support, they may obtain it through
the Tusculum College Learning Center. For this service, please contact Lori
McCallister at (423) 636-7300, extension 651; 1-800-729-0256, extension 651; or
by email at lmccalli@tusculum.edu. The Learning Center is located in Room 100
of Annie Hogan Byrd. The mailing address is Tusculum College Learning Center,
Box 5025, Greeneville, Tennessee, 37743.
Course Schedule:
Include a description of Weekly Individual Assignments and a description of
Weekly Study Group Assignments. Include both individual and study group
assignments prior to the first class meeting.
Grading System:
Instructors must reveal their own grading system.

The grading system should include the relative weights and percentages of
assignments, tests, etc.

Instructors should be specific on how the percentages are derived and what
assessment measures are utilized to determine the grade. Separate criteria
to measure a particular assignment should be included either here in the
syllabus or provided as an attachment to the syllabus. Grading criteria
should be aligned with the learning outcomes.

Grading for study group assignments should be included in the system (the
study group assignments should equal around 20% of the grade). Individual
performances of study group members should be evident in the grading of
study group assignments. Instructors should guard against some members
of the study group “carrying” weak students.
Grading Scale:
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The scale set forth by Tusculum College must be used for all courses. The
grading system used by instructors must be converted to this grading scale.
95 - 100
90 - 94
87 - 89
83 - 86
80 - 82
77 - 79
73 - 76
70 - 72
0-69
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CF
Explanation of Assignments:
All assignments should be described. Information may include nature and
objectives of assignments, length, grading criteria, due date, and any other
relevant information. Collectively, all of the assignments, tests, and any other
activities should contribute to measuring the extent to which students are
performing on the course objectives and the Advanced Competencies. All
individual and study group assignments should be included in this section.
Research Assignment:
Faculty members should ensure that there is a specific research assignment that
requires the students to utilize the Tusculum College library resources either in
person or via the Tate Library website: http://library.tusculum.edu. Librarians
are available to assist faculty in developing assignments and in instructing and
assisting students in their research. Several of the online resources may also be
accessed from home with a username and password provided by library staff.
For more information, contact Anne Reever, Asst. Library Director for Distance
Education, in Greeneville at 423-636-5320 or 1-800-729-0256 extension 5801 or
Mary Halliburton, Distance Education Librarian Southeast, in Knoxville at 865693-1177 or 1-800-729-0116 extension 5016.
Course Attendance Policy:
The Tusculum College Professional Studies attendance policy is found in the
college catalog. Please note that attendance is mandatory and is monitored
across the program, as well as in individual courses. Sanctions may be imposed
for excessive misses across the program. Within each course, any student
missing more than one third of any course will receive an “F”. Instructors must
adhere to Tusculum’s policy, but may specify additional policies on attendance,
lateness, and making up work.
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Instructors must carefully document student attendance including late arrivals
and early departures. Any combination of missing that is greater than 1/3 of the
class time is an automatic “F” and the student is to be assigned the “F” by the
instructor. This is an institutional policy and is not up to the discretion of the
instructor. Instructors are expected to hold students accountable for class time
missed due to absences. Instructors are encouraged to require additional
assignments/activities be completed to ensure that the student has covered the
material missed. A statement to this effect and how the absence may affect the
grade should be included.
Academic Misconduct:
Plagiarism is a violation of the Ethics of Social Responsibility competency. As
stated in the Graduate and Professional Studies Student Handbook and
Research Guide, and in the Tusculum College Catalog, plagiarism is a form of
academic dishonesty. It consists of knowingly presenting in writing or in speech
the intellectual or creative work of others as if it were one’s own. This includes,
but is not limited to:
1. Failing to identify direct or word-for-word quotations by use of appropriate
symbols and reference to the source
2. Restating in your own words the work (ideas, conclusions, words) of
another without reference to the source
3. Presenting as your own the creative work (for instance, music or
photographs) of another without proper acknowledgement.
See the Graduate and Professional Studies Student Handbook and Research
Guide and the Tusculum College Catalog for other forms of academic dishonesty
and the sanctions for dishonest performance.
Other Policies:
Instructors should provide students with any other policies that they will adhere
to during the course.
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Sample Study Group Activities
(Make sure that students have meaningful assignments that fulfill the
requirement of meeting an additional four hours per week in study group. The
faculty member may want to have a weekly assignment as well as a large project
that will take several weeks of preparation.)
Study Group Assignments:
1 - Read/ paragraph map proposals – students create a paragraph map of each
other’s literature review section to help identify flow problems
2 - Data analysis/reporting exercise – students must analyze data from a minisurvey and create a report and presentation based on this; included are
identification of levels of data and appropriate descriptive statistics to use for
each; creation of presentation graphics (frequency tables, piecharts, barcharts,
scatterplots), and report writing involving four sections (Intro/background;
methods, results, discussion)
3 - Exam Review Sheets