Queens University of Charlotte Knight School of Communication COMM602 Research Proseminar Wednesday 6:00-9 pm Dana 202

Instructor: Zachary White, Ph.D. Office Location: Dana 102-D Office Phone: 704-688-2731 Email:whitez@queens.edu Office Hours: by appointment
Required Materials: Keyton, J. (2010). Communication research: Asking questions, finding answers (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Supplemental Readings:Additional readings and research examples will be posted on the Queens LearningManagement System (Moodle). http://moodle.queens.edu/

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is designed as an introduction to graduate study in Organizational and Strategic Communication. This introduction will include an overview of assumptions, values, theories and concepts in communication. In addition, students will survey basic research methodologies, focusing on qualitative research methods. Finally, this course will introduce students to the academic research and writing processes involved in the investigation of communication in a variety of contexts. The specific goals of this course are to: 1. Expose students to the various disciplines and theoretical approaches to the study of communication. 2. Familiarize students with basic research methodologies, the structure of academic research, and the skills necessary to interpret and critically evaluate communication research using competent and ethical methods. 3. Develop academic thinking, research, and writing skills as it pertains to investigating and analyzing communication in organizational settings.

After completing this course, you will be able to: Identify and locate academic research on a particular topic Summarize and evaluate an existing research study Understand quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and their respective validity and reliability measures Draft an annotated bibliography related to a research topic and present some of the findings to a local professional (non-academic audience) Draft a formal research proposal for your own research study using APA citation style o Choose a research topic o Perform library research and keep research notes o Compose an appropriate research question(s) o Write an effective literature review o Design a research methodology o Complete a thorough APA bibliography Understand what constitutes academic plagiarism Edit your own writing (and your peers) for academic style, grammar, and punctuation Translate research proposal into an alternative medium

Course Policies: 1. Expectations: At the graduate-level, I expect students to come to class ready to discuss, analyze, critique, and apply course-related material. Given we meet only once a week, each class period is vitally important to your ability to do well in the course. Moreover, your active and ongoing participation throughout the course is essential to enhancing both your own success and that of the overall class experience. My goal will be to introduce you to graduate level studies and provide you the basic knowledge and skills necessary to explore, study, and contribute to the field of communication and to your particular area of interest/expertise/audience. Moreover, I hope to introduce you to the communication methods and approaches that will help you best understand and study the communication phenomena you are most interested in. 2. Written Work:In addition to bringing a hard copy of assignments to class, please submit an electronic copy (email to: whitez@queens.edu) of all written documents by 6 p.m. on the assigned day. Any assignments submitted to me after that time will be considered late. Typically, late assignments are lowered one letter grade for each class meeting after the assigned due date. If you know you will miss class for any reason when an assignment is due, you must submit the completed assignment BEFORE you leave to receive credit. Written work must be TYPED and PROOFREAD for errors. Handwritten assignments will not be accepted (unless otherwise specified). Written assignments are required to follow the APA format. For example, typed assignments should be 11- to 12point font size, Times New Roman, double-spaced, and one inch margins--a few of the basic guidelines for APA format. Be sure to keep a copy of all major assignments for your records. 3. Class Attendance:A great deal of learning in this course comes from in-class discussions, so it is essential that you attend class consistently. More than 1 unexcused absence will result in a deduction of participation points. This course meets 13 times over

the semester. Therefore, a student who misses class more than 3 times (and thus misses almost 1/3 of the class meetings) will receive a failing grade in the course. 4. University Closings/Cancelled Classes: In the rare occasion when it is necessary to close the university, announcements will be made on TV and radio, and will be posted on the Queens web site (www.queens.edu). Students who live on campus will be notified of a decision to cancel classes through their voice mail. Commuter students should call the Queens Information Hotline (704-337-2567). NOTE: If classes are meeting but you find that you cannot find a safe way to get to class, you should notify me as soon as possible. 5. Academic Integrity: Papers/assignments found to contain plagiarized material will result in an automatic failure for the assignment, and possible future action by the university. The Honor Code, which permeates all phases of university life, is based on three fundamental principles. It assumes that Queens students: a) are truthful at all times, b) respect the property of others, and c) are honest in tests, examinations, term papers, and all other academic assignments. Please contact me if you believe a violation of the Honor Code has occurred. It is a violation of the Honor Code for a student to be untruthful concerning the reasons for a class absence. 6. Intellectual Property Policy: Queens University of Charlotte faculty and students adhere to the Queens Intellectual Property Policy. See Faculty Handbook, http: moodle.queens.edu and the Queens University of Charlotte Website at: http://www.queens.edu. 7. Class decorum: Students are not to talk over the professor or others during class. Students are to come to class on time. Students are expected to turn off cell phones and other electronic devices while in class. Violation of any of these simple rules of decorum will negatively affect a students participation grade. Continued violation will result in the student being expelled from the class. 8. Disability Accommodations: If you are a student with a verified disability, please give to your professor, the LETTER OF ACCOMMODATION provided by Student Disability Services. Students who have a disability, or think they have a disability (e.g. psychiatric, attentional, learning, vision, hearing, physical, or systemic), are invited to contact Sandy Rogelberg, Manager of Student Disability Services for a confidential discussion. The Office of Student Disability Services is located in Dana 014 (in the Center for Academic Success) or contact at 704-337-2508 or at rogelbes@queens.edu. Additional information is available at the SDS website: http://www.queens.edu/studentlife/resources/disability.asp.

9. Grading: You will receive feedback and a grade on each assignment completed. Final
grades will be calculated by summing your numerical grades and assigning the appropriate letter grade. The grading scale is as follows: A B C D F 100-90 89-80 79-70 69-60 59 and below

10. Graded Assignments:

A: Participation (15% total). Your participation grade is partly based on your

preparation for class as evaluated by your active engagement in class discussion and completion of in and out-of-class exercises. Specifically, your participation grade will be determined by your performance on the following: o Research Scavenger Hunt (Due June 8) o Article Discussions(Due: TBA):For 1 selected assigned reading posted on Moodle, I will assign each of you to be responsible for being the lead discussant. Your article-report grade on these selected readings will be based on coming to class prepared to summarize the reading with: a) a typed outline summarizing the essential components of the academic article; and b) evaluating specific concepts/structures/methodology/literature review, etc., per class discussion. o Research Translation (Due: July 20) For this assignment, you will be required to choose one academic article that you believe will be of benefit to a specified audience (employer, employee, prospective consulting client, etc.). You must do all of the following for this assignment: a) choose a peer-reviewed article; b) make sense of the article and its use for the specified audience; c) meet with the audience and translate the material; d) turn in a 3-page brief on the meeting including a synopsis of the article, why you believed it was of benefit to your designated audience, and the response/interaction during/after the informal presentation). B: Research Critique 20%(Due: June 22) Summarize and critique a peer reviewed scholarly journal article. You will also prepare a 5-minute oral presentation of your findings to give the class. A detailed description of the expectations for this assignment will be posted on Moodle. . C. Annotated Bibliography 25% (Due: July 13) Draft an annotated bibliography on nine academic articles/books that you will later use for yourresearch proposal. You will orally present one of the sources from your annotated bibliography to the class and to a local professional. A detailed description of the expectations for this assignment will be posted on Moodle. D. Research Proposal 35% (Final Proposal Due:August 3) Draft a formal research proposal on a chosen organizational communication topic using correct APA citation style. See more guidelines below. There are several mini assignments due throughout the semester to help you progress on this assignment: o o o o Research Topic (one sentence): Due June 1 Research Questions: Due June 29 Rationale (1 paragraph) and Theoretical Framework (1 paragraph): Due June 29 Proposed Methodology (July 13)

Other major deadlines:

o o o

Draft of Research Proposal (for in-class peer critique): Due July 27 Final Research Proposal: Due August 3 Presentation of Proposed Research (in different media platform): Due August 10in class

Tentative Class Schedule May 18 Rationale and Goals for Course What is Communication? Communication as a Mode of Inquiry and Research Work Experience History/Developing Topics/Areas of Interest

May 25 Ways of Knowing in Communication (Ontology, Epistemology, Axiology) How to Choose a Research Topic/Theory Discussion (Research Topic Due: June 1) Introduction to Theory Complete Queens Information Literacy Tutorial (QUILT) http://queens.libguides.com/quilt. Thinking About Theory and Research (see Moodle) June1 Meet in the Library Instruction Lab Library& Internet Research How to Write an Annotated Bibliography Research Topic Due Assign: Research Scavenger Hunt (Due June 8) Keyton, Ch.s 1 & 2; APA, pp. 9-11 Introduction to Quantitative Research Assumptions/Aims/Strengths/Weaknesses Validity and Reliability Ethics/IRB How to Read a Journal Article Assign: Annotated Bibliography Due July 3 Research Scavenger Hunt Due Assign article discussion leaders for selected readings posted on Moodle Keyton, Ch.s 3, 5,& 6, APA Ch. 6

June 8

June 15 Quantitative Data Collection and Analysis Article Discussion Leaders Reading and Writing the Quantitative Research Report Assign Research Critique (Due June 22) How to Write a Research Critique Keyton, Ch. 9 or 13 & Ch. 17, APA Ch. 7

June 22

Introduction to Qualitative Research Assumptions/Aims/Strengths/Weaknesses Validity and Reliability How to Write a Rationaleand Theoretical Framework for the Research Proposal Keyton, Ch.s 4, 14, 15 & 18 Research Critique Due Assign article discussion leaders for selected readings posted on Moodle

June 29

Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis Reading and Writing Qualitative Research Reports Article Discussion Leaders Ethics/IRB How to Propose a Methodology Research Questions, Rationale (1 paragraph) and Theoretical Framework (1 paragraph) Due Assign: Research Proposal Due on August 3 Keyton Ch.s 15 & 16 Work on Annotated Bibliographies/Conduct Research Translation Assignment

July 6

July 13 Annotated Bibliography Due Proposed Methodology Due Methodology and Data Analysis Discussion How to Write a Literature Review/Data Analysis/Findings Section and Conclusion Reviewing the necessary elements of the proposal APA, Ch. 2 July 20 Academic Writing Mechanics and Style Proposal Checklist and Review (including audience checklist) Research Translation Assignment Due Plagiarism exercise IRB appendices APA, Ch.s 3 & 4 How to Write a Title Page and Abstract Peer Critique of Drafts Draft of Research Proposal Due Ch. 8, APA

July 27

August 3 August 10

Final Research Proposals Due Presentation of Research Proposals (in alternative medium)