tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922363996284191692026-02-05T18:39:41.601-05:00This is a blog about my teaching, research and service with some occasional personal comments thrown in. <br>These are my <b>notes</b> on a variety of topics. If you want to follow my blog posts on a specific topic, then see the Table of Contents in the right-hand column. While I try to work in the realm of facts, logic and moral absolutes, if there are any opinions expressed here, they are my own. -<b><a href="http://www.williamhartphd.com">WilliamHartPhD</a></b>WilliamHartPhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10186409541942091616noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492236399628419169.post-61803032813577770952018-04-19T12:00:00.000-04:002018-04-19T12:00:09.862-04:00

If you wanted to&nbsp;do&nbsp;an experiment, there are three general&nbsp;ways&nbsp;for&nbsp;doing&nbsp;it. First, a quick question: Based on name alone, which do you think is the worst form of experimental design? &nbsp;Why? Now let's look at each. The diagrams in these slides explain how to&nbsp;do&nbsp;the different types of experimental designs. Read these slides from left

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Play the first minute or so. When you think of a person doing science, doing research, doing an experiment, what images pop into your mind? Have film and television shaped your view of science and of experiments? Hey, I feel a research question coming on. &nbsp;We could research that. If it is not the Frankenstein movies that have shaped your image of scientists doing experiments, what

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Quantitative research papers which use methods like experiments, surveys, and content analysis typically follow a certain format. Quantitative research paper outline: Introduction&nbsp; Review of literature Research question(s)/hypothesis Methods&nbsp; Results Discussion&nbsp; References Rhetorical criticism papers usually take a different approach. Writing the Rhetorical Criticism Essay (

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An example of content analysis research: Why is it that during times of war people see the enemy of as animals, as monsters, as barbarians, as devil or death? &nbsp;Put differently, why do people dehumanize the enemy? &nbsp;What purpose does it serve? Social psychologist Sam Keen offers some answers in his book and a doc based on the book. &nbsp;Here's the beginning of the doc. &nbsp;I'd

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We've discussed previously&nbsp;experiments&nbsp;and&nbsp;surveys&nbsp;as research methods. &nbsp;Here's a third research method, a third way to answer some research questions. In experiments you study subjects. &nbsp;In surveys you study respondents. &nbsp;What do you study in textual analysis? What is textual analysis? “A research method that uses measurement techniques to classify and

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Photo by&nbsp;Robyn Lee. &nbsp;Used under creative commons A survey usually begins with some demographic questions or "items". &nbsp;Since there are sometimes no questions marks, it would be best to refer to them as items. Demographics questions/items: “survey questions that inquire about respondents’ personal characteristics, such as name, age, gender, education”(FBFK). What demographic

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What is a survey?&nbsp; A research method in which respondents representing a specific population are asked questions concerning their knowledge, beliefs,&nbsp;attitudes, and behaviors (based on FBFK). Scholarly use: e.g., correlational design. Why&nbsp;correlational and not causal? &nbsp; Types of applied use: e.g., &nbsp;political polls&nbsp;and&nbsp;market research&nbsp;(e.g.,&nbsp;

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Research ethics are the moral principles and rules that guide a researcher’s actions. Why talk about research ethics? &nbsp;What is the need? To answer that question, let's look at some important research studies from the past. When watching these clips ask yourself what ethical concerns are raised in doing this research. 1)&nbsp;Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment 2)&nbsp;The Immortal Life of

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What is the role of university research review boards?&nbsp; How's this fit in with research ethics? Human Subjects Review Board (or Institutional Review Boards): “It is university policy that all projects involving risk to human subjects must be approved by the University Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects for Funded Research. Approval is based on established university, state

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Below are some ethical questions a researcher should ask when doing research, especially with human subjects. 1) Do subjects have free choice? Free choice Informed consent Briefing/Debriefing - clear up any deception 2) Are subjects shown respect? Respect - e.g. sexism, racism 3) Are subjects compensated in some way for their time and effort? Compensation Manus manum lavat&nbsp

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Sampling Sampling is the process of selecting subjects for a study. &nbsp;Generally, the subjects are the specific people studied in an experiment or surveyed. &nbsp;The sample is chosen out of a larger population. Why sample? &nbsp;The population you are studying is too large to study, so you have to study just a part of that population (a sample). What could be some problems with sampling (

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You operationalize your variables in order to measure them. So, now let's talk about measurement and related concepts. When measuring your variables you may ask yourself... Is my measure “on target”? &nbsp; That is, are my measurements accurate? Do my measures “cluster together”? &nbsp;That is, am I getting consistent results? But what does that mean? What we are talking about is&nbsp;

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As you are determining what your variables&nbsp;are&nbsp;and how you are going to&nbsp;measure&nbsp;them, it is also helpful to have clearly in mind what&nbsp;type&nbsp;of data (or&nbsp;level of measurement) you will be using. &nbsp;This is especially helpful when you are doing statistical analysis on the data later in the research process. Recall the earlier discussion of&nbsp;types of

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Once your variables have been identified, then they will need to be measured, but how? &nbsp; And, what does an operational definition have to do with it? What is an operational definition? &nbsp;What does it mean to operationalize a variable? "Operational definition" is "a statement that describes the observable characteristics of a concept being investigated…”(Frey, et. al). &nbsp;Or, put

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You are working on some research and you want to mention or&nbsp;cite&nbsp;a book in the research paper you are writing. How do you cite a&nbsp;book&nbsp;using&nbsp;APA-style? Two Book Examples: Jewell, T. E., &amp; Hart, W. B. (1996).&nbsp;Interpersonal communication: Student workbook. New York: McGraw-Hill. Frey, L. R., Botan, C. H., &amp; Kreps, G. L. (2000).&nbsp;Investigating

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When doing research, one of the first things you do is gather up journal articles and books that have also addressed your research question. &nbsp;This is known as a literature review. In terms of journal articles, a media scholar would probably want to check out the following journals published by ICA and AEJMC. What are some comm journals published by the ICA?&nbsp;What is ICA? Human

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Our Critical Thinkers Creed We are Open-minded. We seek to understand the other viewpoints. We are Knowledgeable. We offer opinions/claims backed with logic and evidence. We are Mentally Active. We use our intelligence to confront problems. We are Curious. We go beyond superficial explanations. We seek deeper understanding. We are Independent Thinkers. We are not afraid to disagree

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How does our discussion of theory and research question relate? How do RQs fit in the theory building process? Theories are built. Theory building is a process. It starts with observation and, in a way, ends with observation. &nbsp;See below. Related terms: Deduction: “inference in which the conclusion about particulars follows necessarily from general or universal premises“ (

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What is meant by directionality in RQs? Non-directional wording: e.g., There is a relationship between the IV &amp; DV. No positive or negative relationship between IV and DV stated, just that there is a relationship. Directional wording: e.g., As the IV increases the DV decreases. A positive or negative relationship between IV and DV is given. Now, let's test some comprehension of

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Earlier we defined... Research question (RQ): "An interrogative statement exploring the relationship between two or more constructs [concepts, variables, etc.]" (Stewart, 2002, p. 173). More specifically, we could say a RQ is a question that asks about the influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable. We didn't change anything. &nbsp;We just added some further detail. &nbsp;

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Now we move from the philosophical to the more practical.&nbsp; How do you do research?&nbsp; It all starts with the RQ. Research question (RQ): "An interrogative statement exploring the relationship between two or more constructs [concepts, variables, etc.]" (Stewart, 2002, p. 173). In short, is there a relationship between one variable and another? In the past I asked students to offer

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In the case of media technologies, there are two basic theories worthy of discussion. Ev Rogers&nbsp;and I once wrote a book chapter which, in part, explained the Social Construction of Technology and Technological Determinism theories. &nbsp;We also tied the two theories together. The chapter appeared in&nbsp;The Changing Conversation in America&nbsp;edited by Eadie and Nelson. Ev and I

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Earlier we defined theory as an explanation of how or why something works. We've also discussed the relationship between theory and research. Researchers generally test theories, find support for theories or not. Now, let's turn our focus specifically to media-related theories and let's start with a brief historical overview. If the timeline is not showing above for you, the History of

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Along with a general discussion of theory, another related concept you sometimes see is the concept of a paradigm. Q: What is a paradigm? A: Oh, about 20 cents. But seriously, what is a paradigm and what is the relationship to theory and research? Let's get a general introduction to the concept of a paradigm and also the person who greatly developed it, Thomas Kuhn. Ans so, what is Kuhn's

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We've talked previously about what a theory is. &nbsp;We've defined it as an explanation of how or why something works. For our discussion of communication theory let's start with a basic definition of the word theory and a common example from biology and we'll mix in a little flat-earth theory as well. One of the best explanations of biological evolution and the mechanism that drives

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