Foundation of Communication Research

1. Define research and its nature
2. Discuss the scope of media research
3. Identify elements of research
4. Discuss communication research methods
5. Understand the research process

13 weeks, about 28 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: Introduction

   • Unit 1: The concept of research · 2 hours

     Define the concept of research.. Understand the characteristics and objectives of research.. Know the significance of research..

2. Week 2Module 1: Introduction

   • Unit 2: Classification of research · 2 hours

     Understand the classification of research.. Identify the various types and formats of research in mass communication and the social sciences.. Describe the content and context of the various research formats..

3. Week 3Module 1: Introduction

   • Unit 3: The scientific method and the development of mass media research · 2 hours

     Define the concepts of science and scientific method.. Explain the tenets of science and the scientific method.. Explain the major areas of mass media research..

4. Week 4Module 2: Elements of Research

   • Unit 1: Concepts, Constructs, hypotheses and instrumentation · 2 hours

     Define and explain concepts.. Understand the importance of concepts in research.. Distinguish between concepts and constructs..

5. Week 5Module 2: Elements of Research

   • Unit 2: Variables · 2 hours

     Understand the definition and meaning of variables.. Identify types of variables.. Understand the importance of variables in research..

6. Week 6Module 2: 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.. Understand the four levels of measurement..

7. Week 7Module 3: Major Communication Research Methods

   • Unit 1: Experimental research · 2 hours

     Know, define and explain what experimental research is.. Identify the purpose(s) of experimental research.. Know the experimental research designs and the structure of an experiment..

8. Week 8Module 3: Major Communication Research Methods

   • Unit 2: Survey research · 2 hours

     Define and know the survey research method.. Get an understanding of descriptive and analytical surveys.. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of surveys..

9. Week 9Module 3: Major Communication Research Methods

   • Unit 3: Content analysis · 2 hours

     Understand the definition and origin of content analysis.. Understand the process or steps involved in conducting content analysis.. Know the advantages/strengths and disadvantages/weaknesses of content analysis..

10. Week 10Module 3: Major Communication Research Methods

    • Unit 4: Other research methods · 2 hours

      Understand the case study method, its advantages and disadvantages as well as the process involved in conducting a case study.. Understand observational research and all that it entails.. Understand longitudinal research, its advantages and disadvantages..

11. Week 11Module 4: Sampling

    • Unit 1: Meaning and types of sampling · 2 hours

      Define the term Sampling.. Identify at least three reasons for sampling.. Discuss the sampling techniques..

12. Week 12Module 4: Sampling

    • Unit 2: Population and sample · 2 hours

      Define some key terms such as: population, Sample, Probability and non-probability techniques.. Differentiate between Probability and Non-Probability Samples.. Identify at least 3 each, of probability and non-probability samples..

    • Unit 3: Sampling size and sampling error · 2 hours

      Identify a truly representative sample.. Determine how large a given research sample should be.. Define sampling error..

13. Week 13Module 5: The Research Process

    • Unit 1: The research procedure · 2 hours

      Explain the meaning of the research proposal.. Understand the different essential parts of the research proposal.. Understand how to write the research proposal..