RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This course provides an introduction to research methodologies in both qualitative and quantitative. The subject introduces students to contemporary perspectives in research, and in particular focuses on developing a range of skills involved in formulating a research proposal; including framing research questions, reviewing the literature and choosing appropriate methodologies for different types of study. The ways in which researchers from different research traditions use the different methods of collecting research data will be included. As the subject is intended to prepare students either for an industry-based project, some preliminary work on the development and administration of a research instrument is included.

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:

1. Define research; explain and apply research terms; describe the research process and the principle activities, skills, and ethics associated with the research process.;

2. Explain the relationship between theory and research;

3. Describe and compare the major quantitative and qualitative research methods in mass communication research;

4. Propose a research study and justify the theory as well as the methodological decisions, including sampling and measurement;

5. Understand the importance of research ethics and integrate research ethics into the research process;

6. Be able to assess and critique a published journal article that uses one of the primary research methods in the field;

7. Be able to construct an effective questionnaire that employs several types of survey questions;

8. Construct an effective research proposal that will serve as the launching point for the study you conduct next semester.