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4. Identify the two things we must do before conducting any type of research. (49)
1. determine exactly what information is already known about your topic 2. determine exactly what you want to know
7. Describe what type of information we can find in scholarly journal articles. (58)
1. research topic 2. main points and findings 3. claims 4. evidence 5. basic or applied research 6. research question or hypothesis? 7. highly regarded? 8. how recent? 9. methodology? Detailed? 10. in depth research? 11. how recent are the sources? 12. relevant quotes 13. other sources
Problems with epistemology
Accuracy (14): We are not very accurate at making observations. For example, think back to the last person you saw, and try to remember what shoes they were wearing. Overgeneralization (14): We prefer our world to be orderly, and we tend to generalize our knowledge to a broader reach. This can be a problem because we base this knowledge on just a few experiences or observations. Cognitive Conservatism (14): The idea that how we view the word is often based upon our prior beliefs. Example: When asking people to view a picture of a black and white man fighting, with the white man holding a knife. People would often switch the perception as if the black man had the knife, simply because the situation is consistent with their beliefs and they tend to disregard those that are inconsistent with their beliefs. Contradictory Knowledge (14): your parents or other authorities might have given you advice on one side or the other about the reality, and they could probably cite everyday evidence to support each claim. Example: "The more you fail, the more likely you are to succeed"
2. Describe what an annotated bibliography is and how it's different from a literature review.
Annotated bibliography (67): a list of separate summaries of various sources. 2. Describe what an annotated bibliography is and how it's different from a literature review. Annotated bibliography (67): a list of separate summaries of various sources.
Magic, superstition, mysticism (13):
Being superstitious. The value of this method of knowledge is that there are some things we cannot know scientifically. Examples: using the same pen for every exam because you always receive an A, "Knock on wood".
3. Define conceptualization and operationalization. (49)
Conceptualization is the first phase of research-forming an idea. NEVER use a regular dictionary for this. Operationalization is the second phase of research-defining your terms as you're using them in your research project. 3. Define conceptualization and operationalization. (49) Conceptualization is the first phase of research-forming an idea. NEVER use a regular dictionary for this. Operationalization is the second phase of research-defining your terms as you're using them in your research project.
12. Identify what we can know about an article from reading the abstract. (59)
From the abstract, this appears to be APPLIED RESEARCH, although you don't yet know the research question or hypothesis. You also know that this is a highly regarded journal, and that it is a recent article. 13. Identify the general order in which we should read a scholarly article. (58) 1. abstract 2. introduction 3. conclusion 4. discussion 5. literature review 6. method 7. findings 8. limitations 9. references
10. Recognize when using an older source is deemed acceptable. (57)
If you are citing a source that is considered CLASSIC in the field of communication studies. Ex: if you talk about the concept of symbolic interactionism, you'd need to cite Blumer, who wrote the original book on the topic.
1. Describe the purpose of a literature review.
Literature review (66): summary of existing literature on a given topic. Serves the express purpose of synthesizing or summarizing. PURPOSE: to give the reader a clear overview of what is known about the topic
6. Identify which writing style most social science and NCA journals use.
Many NCA journals use APA style (75).
9. Recognize how international, national, regional, and state journals are rated. (57)
Not all journals (or sources) are created equal! International>National>Regional>State Peer-Reviewed> Non-Peer-Reviewed
3. Identify a major misconception of science as a way of knowing. (15)
One major misconception of science as a way of knowing is that science PROVES things, research that "supports" ideas does NOT "prove" the idea. Scientists are more likely to talk about PROBABLITY, with a greater confidence in results, and will be concerned with DISPROVING a priori statements. The most useful advantage of scientific thinking is the ability to predict.
1. Identify the five main purposes of library research (46)
One-to DETERMINE WHAT'S ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THE TOPIC and related topics Two-to DEFINE THE PROBLEM AND FORMULATE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. The assembling and analyzing of available secondary data will almost always provide a better understanding of the problem and its context, will frequently suggest solutions not considered previously, and will identify gaps in the body of knowledge for which research is needed. In addition, you don't want to duplicate what's already been done. Three- to PLAN THE COLLECTION OF PRIMARY DATA. You can examine the methods and techniques used by previous research efforts in similar studies, which will be useful in planning your present study. Also, this may be of value in establishing classifications that are more compatible with past studies, so that you can more readily analyze trends. Four- to DEFINE THE POPULATION and select the sample in your primary information collection. This may be valuable in helping you choose areas for most productively interviewing participants. Five- to SUPPLY BACKGROUND INFORMATION that will fill out what you find in your primary research. You may also find information against which you can compare your own findings and experience.
8. Describe what is means to say an article is "peer-reviewed."
Peer review (56): the way in which a scholarly field determines which research is acceptable sound, and valid, and which is not. Which research is acceptable and which is not.
4. Define plagiarism.
Plagiarism (72): the failure to properly cite sources, which results in taking credit for someone else's words or ideas.
1. Distinguish positivism from interpretivism.
Positivism (31): the most traditional research perspective with the belief that scientific evidence is superior to other types of knowing. Interpretivism (32): a research perspective in which understanding and interpretation of the social world is derived from one's personal intuition and perspective.
2. Explain the different types of research and where you find them
Primary research (47): research that is conducted to answer a specific problem or question and produces original data. Usually found in an original published account of research findings. For example, most research papers you read in journals. Secondary research (47): research that has been previously collected or conducted. Found in textbooks and literature reviews. Applied research (50): research that tests theory in real life contexts to see if it can be used to solve problems.
2. Distinguish how realists, nominalists, and social constructionists differ in their beliefs.
Realist (29): the belief that the world exists and is tangible. Nominalist (29): the belief that there is no universal truth and that ideas about the way things are, are constructs of our individual or cultural ways of seeing the world. Social constructionist (29): the belief that our ideas about reality are constructed through societal and interpersonal communication. Objectivist (29): the belief that it is possible to know and explain the world. "Effect" Subjectivist (29): the belief that knowledge is relative and can be understood only from the point of view of the individual involved. "sense of"
Scientific community (pp. ch.1):
Similar education, similar professional limitations, read some technical literature, drawn many of the same lessons from it, and boundaries of that standard literature mark the limits of a scientific subject matter.
5. Describe what purpose research objectives serve in the research process. (50)
The purpose of study objectives is to figure out—what do you want to answer with this research. This is the most important step of any research study. Good researchers refer back to the objectives every step of the way to ensure that everything they are doing answers these objectives.
Epistemology (9):
The study of Epistemology (9): The study of knowledge. knowledge.
Appeals to traditions, customs, and faith (12):
Things you've come to know by the traditions your family followed and the knowledge passed down from one generation to the next. Taught very early in life and we believe them because they align with faith. Examples: Easter baskets. One family has always bought a new basket for their children, to ensure they wouldn't catch on that they are the ones buying the goodies. When another family traditionally teaches their children that the Easter bunny uses the same basket every year. Another example includes religion, being a Baptist because that's all you've ever known.
Critical perspective (33):
This perspective uses research methods as a tool to challenge unjust discourse and communication practices, with the goal of using knowledge as a tool to create social change. Understanding the pervasiveness of an advertisement. Example: Ad that produces a product that harms animals in the production or testing. A critical researcher would look at these things to criticize the company. -analyzing the media for themes that exist, uncovering some of those themes. -could reveal what is false -looks for the underlying message or implied message in advertisements -could lead people to a conclusion that the ad might actually be saying -rhetorical strategies the companies are using
5. Describe paraphrasing and when we should use it. (73)
When paraphrasing you must understand the entire idea and then restate it in your own words. Write is as if you're explaining it to a friend when the original source is not in front of you.
6. Explain what we can do if our library doesn't have access to a journal article, book chapter, or book we need.
You can order the article through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
1. Personal Experience
a common way of understanding the social world. Example: Touching a hot stove with your hand teaches you not to do that in the future.
Theory (15):
a set of interrelated constructs, definitions, and propositions that present a systematic view of phenomena by specifying relations among variable, with the purpose of explaining and predicting the phenomena.
Hermeneutics (34):
a way to study textual data through interpretation to create meaning: knowledge gained via interpretation.
Scientific Reasoning (15):
begins with a priori assumptions, but goes a step further--- it includes SELF-CORRECTION. A way of knowing where one has a hunch about how things ought to be then tests that hunch by making observations.
-Hypotheses (15):
educated guesses about a social phenomenon based on prior observations.
Intuition or hunches (13):
intuition is that feeling we get that we often call our "gut feeling." It is some internal-based instinct we have about a situation, issue, or experience. Or simply knowing something without knowing how we know it.
11. Identify the criteria we should use to evaluate courses as credible (56-57) -
peer reviewed -Updated research -year of the publication -reputation of the author -how the research was conducted -relevancy -relatable to your topic -how was the population sampled -how does the population relate to your objectives -is the perspective of the article local, regional, national, or international -why was the study conducted -what problem was the researcher addressing -primary or secondary source
Quantitative research (40):
research, usually studying numerical data (or reducing words to numerical data), that uses methods which embrace a postpositivist paradigm typically from a deductive explanatory based point of view. "based on what I studied on this amount of people I understand this is how others act". Methods typically include experiments, questionnaires, surveys, statistical methods, theory testing, secondary data analysis, and numerical coding. -like to simplify, organize, manage the world, or categorize the world -like math and formulas -usually thinks there's a separate, objective reality to be captured. -concentrate on rational, patterned order of social life -write in authoritative, declarative sentences
Qualitative research (39):
research, usually studying words or texts, that uses methods which embrace a naturalistic, interpretive paradigm typically from an inductive discovery based point of view. Tends to be more naturalistic, interpretalistic, inductive. Their goal is not to understand everyone but specific groups. Methods typically include natural observations, interviews, focus groups, reviewing documents, gathering life histories, exploring one's own life, field notes, transcripts, and narrative forms of coding. -like ambiguity and complexity -like to ask questions -like to interact and be with people -like to analyze immediate experience -fantasize about what goes on behind people's windows/ phone calls -Concentrate on episodic, emotional aspects of social life. -question authority
Tenacity (10):
the assumption that something is true because it has always been said to be true. Examples: "women take longer to get ready then men" "we only use 10% of our brains", or Daylight savings time. "a coin tossed off a skyscraper, could kill someone if it landed on them"
Deductive model (38): General (theory)
the model is typically referred to as theory driven. Communication scholars preferring a deductive approach begin with a theory and gather evidence to evaluate that theory. Most scholars who prefer this method of inquiry use quantitative research methods. Deduction= Theory-> hypothesis-> observation-> confirmation (repeat)
Authority (11):
the reliance upon someone in a position of power to determine what is factual. This power may be derived from a variety of places, such as expertise, political power, religious authority, or interpersonal trust. Examples: Famous person tells you this is the best product out there and you believe them because of their authority. Doctors tell you when you are sick, and how to get better, you trust their authority.
1. Define metatheory and several terms relevant to metatheory (e.g., ontology, epistemology, axiology). Metatheory (28):
theory about theory that allows people to understand the philosophy driving their decisions about research methods, designs, and analysis.
Inductive model (37):
this approach to research is often referred to as grounded theory. Communication scholars begin the research process by gathering data, observing patterns, and idiosyncrasies within the data, and developing theory based upon that data. Most scholars who prefer this method of inquiry use qualitative research methods. Induction= observation-> pattern-> tentative hypothesis-> theory (repeat)
-A priori (13):
this form of reasoning is based on personal reasoning or logic, or the fact that there are some things you just simply know to be true. Example: if you are trying to carry a 200lb couch upstairs to your apartment all by yourself, when you notice the elevator to your right. A priori knowledge tells you that using the elevator will greatly increase your success. It's a universal truth that elevators reduce efforts, no hypothesis or research is needed.
7. Recognize the rules for references and in-text citations.*** In text citations: SEE EXAMPLES IN BOOK PAGE 83.
***More notes on PowerPoint Chapter 4 7. Recognize the rules for references and in-text citations.*** In text citations: SEE EXAMPLES IN BOOK PAGE 83.
Epistemology (29): Axiology (30): Ontology (29):
1)the study of the nature of knowledge -Objectivists -Subjectivists 2)the study of values. Good scholarship is based in our values and ethics. 3)the study of the nature of reality. -Realist -Social Constructionist 0Nominalist