Wednesday, January 31

Good work this week. I know the class is moving slow and may by repetitive from your other comm classes, but I assure you new exiting information is on the horizon. This week we covered the following;

1.) Applied vs. Basic Communication Research
2.) What a Theory is
3.) Evaluating Theories Explain
Predict
Control
Heuristic
Communicative
Inspiration
4.) Operationalization
5.) Hypothesis vs. Research Question
6.) IV vs. DV
7.) Types of Questions Definition
Fact
Value
Policy
8.) Theory Building (Inductive vs. Deductive)



Question for thought;
On Monday I gave an example of a theory I created to help explain a common situation. For posting, describe a theory of your own. It does not have to be a good theory, but it should not be a real published communication theory. In addition, critique your own theory on two of the possible six principles we discussed.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Great first week class. Both group assignments were done very well and I appreciate the discourse beginning. So far this week we have covered;

Different epistemologies
Personal experience
Intuition
Authority
Appeals to tradition, custom, and faith
Magic, superstition, and mysticism
Research
6 Characteristics of research
What all communication scholars have in common
Model of communication research
2 competing research paradigms
G. R. Miller’s reasons for studying communication

Question for thought?
Monday we discussed several different epistemologies. The problem with everyday ways of knowing occurs when we should question what is assumed to be true, but do not because we accept things simply at face value. Think about an instance when you (or a friend or society at large) have believed something that later was found to be incorrect. For your posting, describe this instance and list the epistemology you used.
*Remember to include your name after posting anonymously. You may have to preview your post first. (I have posted an example)

January 17, 2007

Welcome To Research Methods
Spring 2007