This asynchronous online course is a basic research methods course for those with little or no experience or course work in quantitative communication research. COMM 3710 is a quantitative intensive (QI) course. The goal of this course is to provide you with a critical framework for evaluating social science research and some hands-on experience in the process of conducting empirical investigations. We will examine how research questions are developed into a research project. Additionally, we will learn how to select appropriate research techniques, measure concepts, draw samples, interpret results, and write research reports. Key topics include:
To succeed in this class, log into the course regularly, complete and submit work in a timely manner, and ask questions if you need help.
Wrench, J.S. (2019) Quantitative Research Methods for Communication: A Hands-On Approach (4th edition). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Additional readings will be provided as PDF documents on Canvas.
To ensure that you have full access to the course, you will need:
We will be using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), R, and RStudio in this course. Additionally, access to a text-editor (e.g., Wordpad, TextEdit, Notepad++, Atom) and Adobe Acrobat (free for UofU students) are recommended.
You will need access to Canvas and Zoom. I expect you to check the course Canvas website regularly. Announcements, assignments, readings, etc., will be posted there. You should be familiar with and comfortable using Canvas and Zoom. If you need help with Canvas, visit the Canvas Getting Started Guide for Students. If you need help with Zoom, check out these tutorials.
Course grades will be based on the following:
Quizzes (100 pts). Quizzes will be administered on Canvas. All quizzes will be based on assigned readings and lectures. Under no circumstances will make-up or late quizzes be administered but you may drop one quiz. You have until the end of the week to complete each quiz. There are 11 quizzes, each worth 10 points (out of 11 points possible: every quiz has one bonus question). You will have 12 minutes to complete your quiz. Note that you only have one attempt at each quiz—please do not start a quiz unless you are ready to complete it.
Group Project (100 pts). You will be randomly assigned to a project group with other students in your lab. As a group and using secondary data, you will explicate a research problem, conduct basic data analysis, and report your research. You will complete group project components in lab throughout the semester. Detailed instructions will be provided in lab and on Canvas. At the end of the semester, your group will share your research with other students in the course.
Individual Lab Assignments (80 pts). There are 8 lab assignments. Information on individual lab assignments will be provided on Canvas. Late assignments will not be accepted. Make sure to give yourself enough time to work on these assignments and do not wait till the very last minute.
Discussion board participation. Your participation in the Discussions on Canvas will enhance your learning experiences in this course. Be sure to check the discussions frequently and ask and/or respond to questions as appropriate. You are part of a learning community in this course and are expected to be an active participant in this community.
There are two sections of COMM 3710 that are using R this semester, sections 008 and 009. Even though you are enrolled in COMM 3710-009 (i.e., section 009), you may drop-in to the office hours of the professor, Dr. Sara Yeo, teaching COMM 3710-008 (i.e., section 008). Office hours will be held virtually each week.
COMM 3710-009 & Prof. Ye Sun & Wednesdays, 3:00 - 4:00 pm via this link
COMM 3710-008 & Prof. Sara K. Yeo & Tuesdays, 2:00 - 3:00 pm via this link
Information on the grade points assigned to letter grades and how to calculate your GPA can be found here. If you wish to dispute your grade on any assignment, quiz, or exam, you must put your concerns in writing (as a Microsoft Word document or PDF attached in an email), clearly outlining your rationale. These concerns must be presented to your instructor within one week of receiving your grade. You can and should check your grade regularly on Canvas. You can also use Canvas to calculate “what-if” scores and determine the score you need to get to do well in this class.
One of the best ways to understand any subject is to actively try to make connections between a new topic and information you already have stored in memory. The more connections you can make between new material you encounter in this class and what you already know, the better you will be able to remember and apply it. Our goal is “knowledge integration,” connecting the dots between what might appear to be disparate concepts but are ideas that fit together into a bigger picture thereby providing a broader context for understanding. The best way to achieve knowledge integration is to:
By enrolling in this course, you agree to (i) respect all members of the course; (ii) engage with the online content meaningfully; and (iii) meet the requirements of this course. This list represents the minimal standards to make the course a productive learning space. Your final grade may be reduced by 1% each time you engage in disruptive and/or disrespectful behaviors.
If you need to contact me, please use your University of Utah email. Please send a message from your University of Utah email account to ye.sun@utah.edu. Emails should be written clearly and professionally with correct spelling and grammar, and please provide a clear description of your problem and all relevant information.
There is zero tolerance for academic misconduct. You are responsible for understanding what constitutes academic misconduct (see Policy 6-400). Anyone found guilty of academic misconduct should expect to fail this course. In addition, academic misconduct may result in other penalties deemed appropriate by the university. Your rights and responsibilities are outlined in Policy 6-400, the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. You are responsible for obeying Policy 6-400. Ignorance of the policy is not an excuse.
In the event of a University-wide emergency which prevents us from meeting face-to-face, students should continue to stay current with our schedule as posted in this syllabus and to attend to the course website on Canvas. Information about the status of assignments and other course work due during this period will be addressed on Canvas and by way of email. It is critical that you check your University email account frequently.
Curriculum accommodations take two forms—scheduling and content accommodations. I will consider scheduling accommodations on a case-by-case basis for those who have conflicts that involve religious observances, University-sanctioned activities, and personal or medical emergencies, if you submit the appropriate documentation in advance of the conflict. If you anticipate a scheduling conflict, please speak with me as soon as possible. Without exception, it is your responsibility to plan for any scheduling conflict. There will be no content accommodations in this course. The material has been selected for its pedagogical value in relation to the concepts we are engaging. It is your responsibility to review the course materials to be sure that this is a course you wish to take. More information on the University’s accommodation policy can be found in Policy 6-100.
Coronavirus and COVID-19. If you test positive for COVID-19, you must submit a report at coronavirus.utah.edu. For more information about how the University is handling the coronavirus pandemic, visit coronavirus.utah.edu.
The Americans with Disabilities Act. The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in this class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, (801) 581-5020. CDS will work with you and the instructor to arrange accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.
University Safety Statement. The University of Utah values the safety of all campus community members. To report suspicious activity or to request a courtesy escort, call campus police at 801-585-COPS (801-585-2677). You will receive important emergency alerts and safety messages regarding campus safety via text message. For more information regarding safety and to view available training resources, including helpful videos, visit safeu.utah.edu.
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Undocumented Student Support Statement. Immigration is a complex phenomenon with broad impact—those who are directly affected by it, as well as those who are indirectly affected by their relationships with family members, friends, and loved ones. If your immigration status presents obstacles to engaging in specific activities or fulfilling specific course criteria, confidential arrangements may be requested from the Dream Center. Arrangements with the Dream Center will not jeopardize your student status, your financial aid, or any other part of your residence. The Dream Center offers a wide range of resources to support undocumented students (with and without DACA) as well as students from mixed-status families. To learn more, please contact the Dream Center at 801-213-3697 or visit dream.utah.edu.
The schedule is subject to change. Any changes will be announced on Canvas. Your continued enrollment in this course constitutes an agreement to abide by the policies and procedures in this syllabus.
Throughout the semester, I will hold drop-in office hours via Zoom. You may drop-in to ask questions but are not required to attend these office hours. Office hours with a Zoom link will be announced on Canvas.
Note: LA = individual lab assignment, GP = group project component
Course introduction | Quiz 1
Readings: syllabus, Pauk Ch. 7, Wrench Ch, 1
Lab: Introduction, LA.1–Installing R and RStudio (10 pts), GP.A–Ethics in Human Subjects Research (10 pts)
Overview of the research process; Research ethics | Quiz 2
Readings: Wrench Ch. 2, 3, Cushing
Lab: LA.2–Understanding Data (10 pts), GP.B–Finding a Research Topic (10 pts)
Concept explication | Quiz 3
Readings: McLeod et al.
Lab: LA.3–Examining Data (10 pts)
Variables and measurement | Quiz 4
Readings: Wrench Ch. 6, 7
Lab: LA.4–Working with Data (10 pts)
Survey research; Experiments | Quiz 5
Readings: Wrench Ch. 9, 11
Lab: LA.5–Visualizing Data (10 pts), GP.C–Literature Review (10 pts)
Reliability and validity | Quiz 6
Readings: Wrench Ch. 8
Lab: LA.6–Relationships in Data (10 pts)
Sampling | Quiz 7
Readings: Wrench Ch. 12, ASA pp. 63-68
Lab: LA.7–Practice Data Analysis (10 pts)
Introduction to statistics; Descriptive statistics | Quiz 8
Readings: Wrench Ch. 13, 14, Silver, Zukin
Lab: LA.8–Practice Data Analysis (10 pts), GP.D–Exploring Data (10 pts)
Inferential statistics | Quiz 9
Readings: Wrench Ch. 15, 16, 18
Lab: GP.E–Data Management (10 pts)
Data analysis | Quiz 10
Group Project work | Quiz 11
Lab: GP.F–Univariate Graphs (10 pts)
Group Project work
Lab: GP.G–Bivariate Graphs (10 pts)
Group Project work
Lab: GP.H–Statistical Tests (15 pts)
Group Project work
Lab: GP.I–Reporting Research (15 pts)
Group Project work