Ithaca College
Mass Media Research Methods
TVR-26300
Spring 2014
Instructor: Dr. Jack Powers
E-mail: jpowers@ithaca.edu
Office Hours:
Mondays: 9:00 a.m. -- 10:00 a.m.; 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. -- 10:00 a.m.; 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Additional hours available by appointment.
Class site: http://ICresearchmethodsSpring2015.blogspot.com
Course description:
This course serves as a basic introduction to research methods in mass communications including sampling, survey, experimental, and content analysis. Review of literature, identification of basic concepts, problems, responsibilities, and research ethics; procedures and basic techniques of computer data analysis (statistical analysis) are also covered. A research project is required.
Course Objectives/Goals:
By the end of the term, students enrolled in this course should be able to
1. Provide accurate explanations of information generated or presented in quantitative or mathematical forms (e.g., equations, expressions, graphs, diagrams, tables, and words) and describe this information in the context from which it is taken;
2. Analyze such information in order to make judgments, construct arguments, and draw conclusions in context, explain how these are supported by the quantitative analysis, and describe the limits of such analysis; and
3. Present this information in an effective format in support of a well-reasoned argument that addresses the context from which the information is taken.
More specifically, it is further expected that by the end of the term students will
1. Know and understand the basic elements/tenets of mass media research methods including survey research, experiments, content analysis, qualitative techniques, statistical analysis, and be able to apply these elements/tenets to real-life mass media/social science problems/situations.
2. Plan, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of an original, quantitative, social science research project.
3. Intelligently interpret quantitative research findings in the social scientific arena and to critically evaluate those findings in terms of their overall worth.
4. Exhibit a solid understanding in social science research and data analysis.
To achieve these goals, students will
1) read extensively;
2) critically examine quantitative social science research;
3) actively participate in intellectual discussions involving research methods, statistics, and data interpretation;
4) complete a series of assignments dealing with quantitative data interpretation, statistical application, statistical analysis, and how to effectively communicate statistical data;
5) complete two exams; and
4) produce an original mass media/social science research project that collects and analyzes data.
Required text:
Wimmer, R., Dominick, J. (2010). Mass media research: An introduction, 9th edition. Boston, MA: Cengage-Wadsworth
Recommended text:
Field, A. (2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS, 3rd edition. London: SAGE.
Overall grades will be based on the following:
Exam 1: 100 points
Exam 2: 100 points
Data Assignments: 100 points
Project and Presentation: 100 points
Total: 400 points
Data Assignments:
There will be ten assignment data exercises. Each assignment is graded and is worth ten points. The assignments will address the following topics:
1. Measures of central tendency
2. Measures of dispersion
3. Using the Z-statistic
4. Graphing techniques
5. Interpreting statistical significance
6. Hypothesis testing
7. Correlation
8. Chi-square
9. T-test and one-way ANOVA
10. Creating effective data tables
Overall grades will be based on the following percentages:
93 – 100 A
90 – 92 A-
87 – 89 B+
83 – 86 B
80 – 82 B-
77 – 79 C+
73 – 76 C
70 – 72 C-
67 – 69 D+
63 – 66 D
60 – 62 D-
00 – 59 F
Course material:
Assigned readings should be completed prior to the day due. Lectures, notes and assignments are intended to enhance and/or supplement the readings. Some of the material will come from sources other than the assigned readings. You are responsible for this material as well as for the material in the readings—even if it is not specifically covered in class. If you have any difficulty understanding the material, it is your responsibility to ask for clarification. I will regularly ask if anyone has any questions.
Make-up policy:
As a general rule, make-up assignments are not allowed except in cases of emergency. It is your responsibility to complete the assignments. If an emergency does arise, it is imperative for you to contact me PRIOR to the scheduled due date. Do not expect to make-up a missed assignment without clearing it with me ahead of time. Incompletes are rarely given. In fact, an incomplete is ONLY given if you are unable to complete the coursework because of a serious illness, accident, emergency, or other crisis. A formal request must be made prior to the end of the term. An incomplete can only be granted with permission from the Dean.
Standards of Academic Conduct
A. Academic honesty is a cornerstone of the mission of the College. Unless it is otherwise stipulated, students may submit for evaluation only that work that is their own and that is submitted originally for a specific course. According to traditions of higher education, forms of conduct that will be considered evidence of academic misconduct include but are not limited to the following: conversations between students during an examination; reviewing, without authorization, material during an examination (e.g., personal notes, another student's exam); unauthorized collaboration; submission of a paper also submitted for credit in another course; reference to written material related to the course brought into an examination room during a closed-book, written examination; and submission without proper acknowledgment of work that is based partially or entirely on the ideas or writings of others. Only when a faculty member gives prior approval for such actions can they are acceptable.
B. It is the responsibility of instructors to inform students clearly in writing specific rules, procedures, and/or expectations pertinent to their particular course that differ from those identified in paragraph A of this section. In those courses where limited consultation among students is permitted in the preparation of assignments, it is extremely important for instructors to clarify the guidelines for appropriate conduct.
C. In situations where a student may have difficulty in distinguishing between acceptable behavior and academic misconduct, it is the responsibility of the student to confer with the instructor. This is particularly important for avoiding plagiarism when written sources are used in the preparation of papers or take home examinations.
Because Ithaca College is an academic community, ignorance of the accepted standards of academic honesty in no way affects the responsibility of students who violate standards of conduct in courses and other academic activities.
D. All members of the academic community are expected to assist in maintaining the integrity of Ithaca College, which includes reporting incidents of academic misconduct. Such instances may be reported to a faculty member, the dean of the school involved, or the director of judicial affairs.
7.1.4.1 Plagiarism
As amended by the Ithaca College Board of Trustees May 18, 2001.
Whether intended or not, plagiarism is a serious offense against academic honesty. Under any circumstances, it is deceitful to represent as one's own work, writing or ideas that belong to another person. Students should be aware of how this offense is defined. Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of someone else's published or unpublished ideas, whether this use consists of directly quoted material or paraphrased ideas.
Although various disciplines follow styles of documentation that differ in some details, all forms of documentation make the following demands:
• That each quotation or paraphrase be acknowledged with a footnote or in-text citation;
• That direct quotations be enclosed in quotation marks and be absolutely faithful to the wording of the source;
• That paraphrased ideas be stated in language entirely different from the language of the source;
• That a sequence of ideas identical to that of a source be attributed to that source;
• That sources of reprinted charts or graphs be cited in the text;
• That all the sources the writer has drawn from in paraphrase or direct quotation or a combination of paraphrase and quotation be listed at the end of the paper under "Bibliography," "References," or "Works Cited," whichever heading the particular style of documentation requires.
A student is guilty of plagiarism if the student fails, intentionally or not, to follow any of these standard requirements of documentation.
In a collaborative project, all students in a group may be held responsible for academic misconduct if they engage in plagiarism or are aware of plagiarism by others in their group and fail to report it. Students who participate in a collaborative project in which plagiarism has occurred will not be held accountable if they were not knowledgeable of the plagiarism.
What, then, do students not have to document? They need not cite their own ideas, or references to their own experiences, or information that falls in the category of uncontroversial common knowledge (what a person reasonably well-informed about a subject might be expected to know). They should acknowledge anything else.
7.1.4.2 Other Forms of Academic Dishonesty
Other violations of academic honesty include, but are not limited to, the following behaviors:
• Handing in to a class a paper written by someone else;
• Handing in as an original work for a class a paper one has already submitted to another course;
• Handing in the same paper simultaneously to two courses without the full knowledge and explicit consent of all the faculty members involved;
• Having someone else rewrite or clean up a rough draft and submitting those revisions as one's own work.
These offenses violate the atmosphere of trust and mutual respect necessary the process of learning.
Note: Students who would like help in learning how to paraphrase or document sources properly should feel free to come to the Writing Center in 107 Smiddy Hall for assistance.
Attendance:
College Policy
Students at Ithaca College are expected to attend all classes, and they are responsible for work missed during any absence from class. At the beginning of each semester, instructors must provide students in their courses with written guidelines regarding possible grading penalties for failure to attend class. Students should notify their instructors as soon as possible of any anticipated absences. Written documentation that indicates the reason for being absent may be required. These guidelines may vary from course to course, but are subject to the following restrictions:
1. In accordance with New York State law, students who miss class due to their religious beliefs shall be excused from class or examinations on that day. Such students must notify their course instructors at least one week before any anticipated absence so that proper arrangements may be made to make up any missed work or examination without penalty. Faculty will not schedule examinations or quizzes on designated religious holidays on the calendar day following the designated holidays. Designated holidays are Rosh Hashanah (2 days), Yom Kippur, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
2. Any student who misses class due to a verifiable emergency - such as an illness requiring attention by the health center, or hospitalization, death, or serious illness of a family member, or required appearance in a court of law - shall be excused. Students may notify the Office of Student Affairs about any emergency, and that office will notify the appropriate faculty member.
A student may be excused for participation in college-authorized co-curricular and extracurricular activities such as athletic events, musical and theatrical performance, and professional conferences if, in the instructor's judgment, this does not impair the specific student's or the other students' ability to succeed in the course.
The course instructor has the right to determine if the number of absences has been excessive in view of the nature of the class that was missed and the stated attendance policy. Depending on the individual situation, this can result in the student being removed from or failing the course.
It is expected that students will regularly attend class, take notes, pay attention, and participate in discussion/activities.
Students with disabilities:
In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation will be provided to students with documented disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Students must register with the Office of Academic Support Services and provide appropriate documentation to the College before any academic adjustment will be provided.
Dealing with Stress while at College:
Diminished mental health, including significant stress, mood changes, excessive worry, or problems with eating and/or sleeping can interfere with optimal academic performance. The source of symptoms might be strictly related to your course work; if so, please speak with me. However, problems with relationships, family worries, loss, or a personal struggle or crisis can also contribute to decreased academic performance.
Ithaca College provides a Counseling Center to support the academic success of students. The Counseling Center provides cost-free services to help you manage personal challenges that threaten your well-being.
In the event I suspect you need additional support, I will express my concerns and the reasons for them, and remind you of resources (e.g., Counseling Center, Health Center, chaplains, etc.) that might be helpful to you. It is not my intention to know the details of what might be bothering you, but simply to let you know I am concerned and that help, if needed, is available.
Getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do -- for yourself and for your loved ones.
Title IX:
Title IX is a federal act mandating that educational institutions must provide sex and gender equity. All students thus have the right to a campus atmosphere free of sexual harassment, sexual violence, and gender discrimination. For questions about sexual misconduct, see the Ithaca SHARE website (Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Education): http://www.ithaca.edu/sacl/share/). To report or discuss sexual assault or harassment, or general issues, please contact Tiffani Ziemann, Title IX Coordinator; tziemann@ithaca.edu 607-274-3300.
Student safety:
You must respond to and report conditions and actions that may jeopardize your safety, or that of other people and/or equipment. Report to the responsible College employee. During class sessions that person would be your instructor or lab assistant. Outside of class the person might be your instructor, lab supervisor, co-curricular manager, equipment and facilities manager, or one of the engineering support staff. You must be aware that misuse of equipment or use of damaged equipment can create the risk of serious injury, infectious contamination, and expensive damage. You may be liable for damage or injury resulting from such use. Unsupervised use of facilities puts you at risk. Failure to be alert to safety problems, or to report them, may have serious consequences for you or others.
Course material:
Assigned readings should be completed prior to class. Lectures and assignments are intended to enhance and/or supplement the readings. Some of the material will come from sources other than the assigned readings. You are responsible for this material as well as for the material in the readings—even if it is not specifically covered in class. If you have any difficulty understanding the material, it is your responsibility to ask for clarification. Often, I will ask if anyone has any questions.
Make-up policy:
As a general rule, make-up assignments are not allowed except in cases of emergency. It is your responsibility to complete the assignments. If an emergency does arise, it is imperative for you to contact me PRIOR to the scheduled due date. Do not expect to make-up a missed assignment without clearing it with me ahead of time. Incompletes are rarely given. In fact, an incomplete is only given if you are unable to complete the coursework because of a serious illness, accident, emergency, or other crisis. A formal request must be made prior to the end of the term. An incomplete can only be granted with permission from the Dean.
Late Assignments:
As a general rule, late assignments are not accepted. In specific circumstances, late assignments may be accepted, but with a substantial penalty.
Tentative Course Schedule:
Week of January 19
Ways of Knowing
Steven Levitt article
Week of January 26
Scientific inquiry
Research Process
Week of February 2
Elements of research
Research ethics
Sampling
Week of February 9
Survey Research
Content Analysis
Experimental Research
Week of February 16
Online Class Exercise
Midterm Exam, Thursday, February 19, 2015
Week of February 23
Qualitative Techniques
Interviews
Focus Groups
Participant Observation
Week of March 2
Introduction to statistics
Week of March 9
Spring Break - No classes
Week of March 16
Hypothesis Testing
Week of March 23
Statistical analysis
Week of March 30
Statistical Analysis, continued
Week of April 6
Exam #2 (Monday, April 6, 2015)
Instrument Design
Data Collection
Week of April 13
Data Collection/Instrument
In-class work on final projects
Week of April 20
In-class work on final projects
Week of April 27
In-class work on final projects
Week of May 4
Final Project Presentations (during our final exam slots):
Wednesday, May 6, 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
(For those enrolled MW 10:00 a.m.)
Thursday, May 7, 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
(For those enrolled MW 12:00 p.m.)
The instructor reserves the right to amend this syllabus as necessary. It is meant as a guideline. Any changes will be announced in advance.
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