JLS814 Communication Research

About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 150 hours
Maths: Basic
Content: Theoretical, case study, research
Practical work: Yes

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor Marked Assignments
Final Examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of JLS814, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3 · MAJOR COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS

Module 4

Module 5

Module 6

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

JLS814 · UNIT 1 THE MEANING OF RESEARCH AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The assignment must be submitted to your tutor for formal assessment in accordance with the deadline stated in the presentation schedule and the Assignment file. The work you submit to your tutor for assessment will count for 30% of your total score.

Start reading Get the original PDF, if you want it

What you should be able to do

Define and apply key research concepts and methodologies.
Design and conduct basic communication research projects.
Analyze and interpret research data using appropriate statistical tools.
Evaluate the ethical implications of communication research.
Critically assess existing communication research studies.

What it prepares you for

Careers

Media Researcher
Communication Analyst
Public Relations Officer
Advertising Executive
Market Research Analyst

Where it is applied

Media Industry
Advertising Agencies
Public Relations Firms
Market Research Companies
Government Communication Departments

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 3: Major Communication Research Methods
Unit 1: Experimental Research
Experimental research requires a strong understanding of variable manipulation and control, which can be challenging for students new to research methodologies.
Module 3: Major Communication Research Methods
Unit 3: Content Analysis
Content analysis involves rigorous coding and categorization of data, requiring careful attention to detail and a clear understanding of the research objectives.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 34 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 1: The Meaning of Research and the Scientific Method · 2 hours
  Define research and the scientific method.. Discuss the importance of research in mass media.. Outline the steps of the scientific method..
Week 2Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 2: Application of the Scientific Principles to Social Research · 2 hours
  Explain the application of scientific principles to social phenomena.. Discuss how science demands evidence from social phenomena.. Describe how science explains and predicts social phenomena..
Week 3Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 3: Characteristics of and the Development of Mass Media Research · 2 hours
  Identify the characteristics of research.. Explain the development of mass media research.. Discuss the European and American media research traditions..
Week 4Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 4: Classification of Research · 2 hours
  Identify the types and methods of research used in communication studies.. Determine the content and context of various research approaches.. Adapt research approaches for use in your own research..
- Unit 5: Research Paradigms · 2 hours
  Identify and explain the three research paradigms in social sciences. Differentiate between quantitative and qualitative research methods. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each research paradigm.
Week 5Module 2: The Elements of Research
- Unit 1: Concepts, Constructs, Hypotheses/Research Questions and Instrumentation · 2 hours
  Understand the meaning of concepts and constructs.. Explain the differences between research questions and hypotheses.. Identify the characteristics of useful hypotheses..
Week 6Module 2: The Elements of Research
- Unit 2: Variables · 2 hours
  Define and explain the meaning of variables.. Identify and classify the major types of variables.. Understand the importance of variables in research..
Week 7Module 2: The Elements of Research
- Unit 3: Measurement, Scales and Indexes · 2 hours
  Understand the meaning of measurement in communication research.. Identify the elements that are measured in communication research.. Explain the various levels of measurement..
Week 8Module 3: Major Communication Research Methods
- Unit 1: Experimental Research · 2 hours
  Define experimental research.. Explain the purpose of experimental research.. Identify the structure of an experiment..
Week 9Module 3: Major Communication Research Methods
- Unit 2: Survey Research · 2 hours
  Define the survey research method.. Explain the purpose of survey research.. Differentiate between descriptive and analytical surveys..
Week 10Module 3: Major Communication Research Methods
- Unit 3: Content Analysis · 2 hours
  Explain the meaning of content analysis.. Outline the procedure of content analysis.. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of content analysis..
Week 11Module 3: Major Communication Research Methods
- Unit 4: Case study · 2 hours
  Explain the meaning of case study.. Discuss the characteristics of case study research.. Outline the procedure for conducting case study research..
- Unit 5: Observational Research · 2 hours
  Explain the meaning of observational research.. Differentiate between participant and non-participant observation.. Outline the procedure of observational research..
Week 12Module 4: Sampling
- Unit 1: Population and Sample · 2 hours
  Define population and sample.. Identify reasons for sampling.. Discuss sampling techniques..
- Unit 2: Sampling Techniques · 2 hours
  Differentiate between probability and non-probability samples.. Identify probability and non-probability sampling techniques.. List other types of sampling techniques..
Week 13Module 4: Sampling
- Unit 3: Sample Size and Sampling Error · 2 hours
  Identify a truly representative sample.. Determine how large a given research sample should be.. Define sampling error..
- Unit 1: The Research Proposal · 2 hours
  Explain the meaning of the research proposal.. Identify the essential parts of the research proposal.. Describe the components of each chapter in a research proposal..

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Review definitions of key research terms (variables, hypotheses, sampling).
Practice applying different research methods to sample communication problems.
Focus on understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each research method.
Create concept maps linking research methods to appropriate data analysis techniques.
Study examples of published research articles to identify research designs and data interpretation.
Practice writing clear and concise research proposals.
Review ethical considerations in communication research.

Questions students ask about this course

What is JLS814 about?

This course introduces Journalism students to data gathering methods in Communication Research. It aims to improve skills in data analysis and critical evaluation of journalistic writing. The course covers fundamental principles for qualitative and quantitative data collection, research types, and data sources. It examines Communication research areas, providing insights for research topics and stimulating research ideas, with a focus on Nigerian contexts and the needs of Postgraduate Diploma students.

How many units does JLS814 have?

JLS814, Communication Research, has 24 units across 6 modules, over 270 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is JLS814?

JLS814 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Social Sciences.

Is JLS814 hard?

JLS814 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, case study and research work, and it has a practical component.

How long does JLS814 take to study?

About 150 hours of study, spread across its 24 units.

How is JLS814 assessed?

JLS814 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.

What can I do with JLS814?

Media Researcher, Communication Analyst, Public Relations Officer, Advertising Executive and Market Research Analyst.