Synopses & Reviews
This text covers basic research issues and both quantitative and qualitative approaches to communication research. The guiding principle of the text is that methodological choices arise from ones research questions and hypotheses; thus, the text focuses first on the research process, and then discusses the methodological tools for understanding and conducting basic communication research projects. In the second edition, every chapter includes examples based on research from 2002 and thereafter, and revisions improve the balance of quantitative and qualitative research perspectives as well as of data collection and analytical procedures.
Synopsis
This text covers basic research issues and both quantitative and qualitative approaches to communications research. The guiding principle of the text is that methodological choices are made from one’s research questions and hypotheses.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 386-398) and indexes.
Table of Contents
PART I. RESEARCH BASICS 1. Introduction to Research in Communication 2. The Research Process – Getting Started 3. Introduction to Quantitative Research 4. Introduction to Qualitative Research 5. Research Ethics
PART II. QUANTITATIVE COMMUNICATION RESEARCH 6. Measurement 7. Sampling, Significance Levels, and Hypothesis Testing 8. Quantitative Research Designs 9. Surveys and Questionnaires 10. Descriptive Statistics 11. Testing for Differences 12. Testing for Relationships 13. Quantitative Analysis of Texts PART III. QUALITATIVE COMMUNICATION RESEARCH14. Designing Qualitative Research 15. Qualitative Methods of Data Collection16. Analyzing Qualitative Data
PART IV. READING AND WRITING RESEARCH REPORTS 17. Reading and Writing the Quantitative Research Report 18. Reading and Writing the Qualitative Research ReportAppendix A: Personal Report of Communication ApprehensionAppendix B: Formulas and Steps for Statistical CalculationAppendix C: Random Numbers TableAppendix D: Sample Protocol for Experimental Study Glossary Index At the end of each chapter: Summary Key Terms