Course
Description

Discussion and application of communication data collection methods including content
analysis, participant observation, questionnaire design, sampling procedures, and unobtrusive
measures.

Methods of Course Instruction

COMS 300 is offered online this quarter; no face-to-face or classroom sessions will be held during the quarter. All communication will be conducted using email, the course website, IM during office hours, or the telephone (with the first three channels preferred).

Blackboard, a web-based course system, is the host for the course. You must use Blackboard (hereinafter Bb) to post questions, submit lessons, exchange peer feedback, and complete other course assignments. An initial, ungraded assignment will familiarize you with Bb, its capabilities, and one another.

In order to access Bb, you must use your Oak email account, no other email can be used.
If you have not activated your Oak email, go to the OU Online website (http://www.ohiou.edu/ouonline) and follow the instructions.

The course is scheduled across the ten weeks of summer session, beginning Monday, June
23, and continuing through Wednesday, August 27, 2008. Assignments are due throughout
the summer quarter. This is NOT a self-paced class.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Explain communication research objectives and methods;

2. Evaluate communication approaches strategically and ethically;

3. Articulate research arguments;

4. Identify and discuss four research methods applicable to communication studies in a field setting; and,

5. Apply the research methods in a series of “mini-studies.”

• Lessons 1-5 (20 pts. each) = 100 pts.

• Interaction (1 pt/reading) = 10 pts.

• Peer Feedback (5 pts. each) = 25 pts.

• Examinations (50 pts. each)

Materials

Required

Text(s)

Leslie Baxter and Earl Babbie, The Basics of Communication Research, 2004, Thomson-Wadsworth, ISBN 0-534-50778-6

Additional or Optional Materials
To access the course materials most effectively, you will need the following: reliable Internet access, software for reading Adobe PDF documents (if you do not have Acrobat Adobe Reader, it can be downloaded free from (www.adobe.com), and either Microsoft Office Word or Corel WordPerfect for assignment preparation. You need to know how to save your assignments in Rich Text Format (RTF) before posting or sending them to classmates or the instructor.

Note: The books for the course are in stock at College Bookstore, (740) 594-3505. Click here for online ordering.

Exams
Requirements

2 exams - Proctoring required

How are exams to be taken: Online

Dates of Exams

Exam 1 - Mon 7/21

Exam 2 - Wed 8/27