COMM 2500 exam 1

Research

the activity of conducting intellectual investigations into the observable world, asking and answer questions

social research

this research for focuses less on the observable world and more on the interactions themselves

interpersonal research

the study of communication between individuals in various one-on-one contexts and experiences

communication researchers

scholars and professionals who study communication processes, meaning and messages

social science research

the scientific study of human society and social research, aims to understand how individuals and groups interact, how cultures and institutions form and the factors influencing how societies develop

communication research

how messages are created, transmitted, received, and interpreted

RQ of fact

inquiry that asks whether something has happened, will happen or whether a specific condition exists

RQ of definition

a specific inquiry designed to clarify, establish or formalize the meaning, boundaries, or characteristics of a concept, phenomenon, or a term within a study

world view

what guides your nature of research and inquiry, influences your outlook on life, reality and knowledge, associated with research paradigms

ontology

the study of the nature of being, existence and reality

epistemology

the study of knowledge

worldview =

ontology + epistemology

theory

a set of interrelated constructs, definitions, and propositions that present a systematic view of phenomena by specifying relations among variables, with the purpose of expelling and predicting the phenomena

hypothesis

educated guesses about a social phenomenon based on prior observations

post-positivism

learns though observation, experiments, and measurements, verifies theories through empirical research

post-positivism - reductionism

breaks reality in to smallest possible components

post-positivism - determinism

determines and predicts future outcomes

what is the ontology for post-positivism?

single, external, objective reality exists

what is the epistemology for post-positivism

knowledge is gained through systematic observation and measurement

constructivists

focuses on understanding the present, not predicting the future, understands through meaning making, generates new theories through research

constructivists - reality

knows reality though interaction - reality is constructed through communication

what is the ontology for constructivists?

reality is multiple, subjective, and socially constructed

what is the epistemology for constructivists?

knowledge is co-constructed through interaction

advocacy/participatory-ists

believes that research should be change oriented, aims to empower oppressed populations, engages in collaborative dialogue with communities, fights for systematic change

what is the ontology for advocacy/participatory-ists?

reality is shaped by structures of power, oppression and inequality

what is the epistemology for advocacy/participatory-ists?

knowledge is created collaboratively with marginalized groups, with the goal of social change

pragmatics

problem-centered real world practice, views reality as a consequence of social action, takes a problem-centered approach, embraces a diversity of viewpoints

what is the ontology for pragmatics?

reality is limited to the consequences of actions and practices

what is the epistemology for pragmatics?

knowledge is what works in practice for addressing concrete problems

qualitative research

inquiry which seeks to understand social phenomena through the exploration and interpretation of the meanings people attach to, and make sense of, their experiences of the social world

quantitative research

inquiry based on testing a theory composed of variables-measured with numbers and analyzed with statistical procedures- to determine weather the predictive generalizations of the theory hold true

research question

a clear focused question that guides a study to find out something new about a specific topic

boundary condition

a rule that tells us what happens at the edges or limits of a theory

inductive reasoning

Induction is a way of thinking where you look at specific examples to make a general rule or idea. a bottom-up approach

what order is inductive reasoning?

data → pattern → conclusion

deductive reasoning

Deduction is a way of reasoning where you start with a general idea and use it to figure out specific facts. top-down approach. conclusions are certain

what order is deductive reasoning?

conclusion → experiment → evidence

research questions

inquire about a communication phenomenon

what are research questions associated with?

the inductive method

theories in communication

describe, predict or explain communication phenomenons

what method are theories in communication associated with?

the deductive method

what is qualitative research associated with?

the constructivist and advocacy paradigm

what is a key principle of qualitative research?

subjectivity/interpretation

when is the theory developed in qualitative research?

during and/or after the study

what process is qualitative research?

inductive

what is quantitative research associated with?

associated with post-positivist paradigm, and problem-solving

what is a key principle of quantitative research?

objectivity

when is the theory stated for quantitative research?

before the study

what process does quantitative research follow?

deductive

primary research

original first hand data direct from the source

secondary research

collecting, analyzing and synthesizing that has already been published

popular source

an information piece written for the general public rather than academic or professional experts

what are examples of popular sources?

news media, social and creator content, trade press, brand and pr materials

scholarly source

written works created by experts and researchers to share new findings and advance knowledge in a specific or academic field

trade source/publication

periodical, magazine, or journal written by and working for professionals within a specific industry or occupation

what do popular sources do?

show you the artifact and the conversation, then give you claims to test

who is the audience of a popular source?

the general public

who is the author of a popular source?

journalists, creators, brands

what is the purpose of a popular source?

to inform, entertain, or persuade

what is a popular sources evidence?

often informational or unstated

who reviews a popular source?

an editor or no review

who is the audience of a scholarly source?

researchers, scholars, and students

who are the authors of scholarly sources?

researchers with disciplinary expertise

what is the purpose of a scholarly source?

to contribute new knowledge

how does a scholarly source use evidence?

methods described and sources cited

what review does a scholarly source have?

they are mostly peer reviewed

what is the peer review process?

submit → screen → review → revise and resubmit → publish to a journal

boolean search terms: and

narrows results and requires all terms to be present

boolean search terms: or

broadens results and allows any search terms to appear, great for synonyms

boolean search terms: not

restricts results, removes the second search term

boolean search terms: quotations

searches for an exact phrase

boolean search terms: parentheses

group terms together, often used with or

boolean search terms: asterisks

acts as a wildcard for different word endings

misinformation

false, inaccurate, or misleading information that spreads unintentionally without a malicious or deceptive intent

disinformation

false or misleading information that is deliberately spread with the intent to deceive, manipulate or cause public harm

spin

uses real or selective facts, highlighting favorable details while downplaying or hiding inconvenient ones, to shape a short term narrative

SIFT model

Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, Trace claims

Literature

Fancy term for existing information about a topic, can be scholarly, trade or popular publications or sources

annotated bibliography

list of sources found in literature, brief descriptive and evaluative paragraphs

review organization: topical

themes, variables, categories

review organization: chronological

time periods or publication dates

review organization: spatial

physical locations or regional boundaries

review organization: problem-solutions

elements of a problem and a proposed solution

review organization: methodological

how was research conducted

review organization: dialectical

differing view-points

congruency theory

people seek consistency between their attitudes toward a source and an object associated with the source

para-social interaction theory

imaginary engagement that a person experiences with a media figure

para social relationship level: entertainment-social

learns about their life, enjoys talking about them

para social relationship level: intense-personal

sees them as a friend, part of a fan club, may try to interact with them at events

para social relationship level: borderline-pathological

stalking, willingness to cause harm on behalf of the figure

conceptual definition

defines a concept in terms of its theoretical or abstract meaning (what the idea means)

operational definition

explains how a concept will be measured or observed in a research study (how you actually measure it)

human subject protection

ethical research rules that refer to the guidelines that are followed to ensure the protection of participants being studied

respect for persons

research participants should be treated as autonomous agents, independent, self-governing, capable of making decisions

nomalenficence

no avoidable harm should be done to participants

beneficence

the outcome of research should be positive and beneficial

anonymity

no one can connect a participants responses to their identity

confidentiality

the identity of participants is kept secret in the reports/findings

justice

all classifications of people should be equally subjected to research

Belmont report

document that federal regulations for the protection of human research participants are based