Research and Writing Methods
(480.600.52)
Syllabus
Spring 2008

Course Description/Assignments/Grading
Course Outline/Schedule
Reading List and Other Resources
Student Survey
Final Paper Peer Review

INSTRUCTOR: Jad Melki                             OFFICE HOURS: By Appointment
E-MAIL: jmelki1@jhu.edu                             MEETING: Tuesday 5:15 - 7:25 pm

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Sophisticated communication professionals need to understand how to create and evaluate knowledge. This course is designed to increase your critical thinking skills, particularly regarding the ways in which science can inform communication practice. This course will expose you to the logic and conduct of research that is aimed at producing knowledge about human communication so that you can find, read, understand and use scientific studies about communication in your daily work. Toward that end, you will be exposed to the logic of scientific investigation, different research methods common to the field of communication and effective ways to read and understand statistics. Topics covered include how to use library resources to inform communication practice; and how to conduct focus groups, interviews, surveys and experiments. Many classes focus on how we know what we know and what methods are best used to answer different kinds of communication questions.

COURSE GOALS

After completing this course you should be able to:

• answer questions about the effectiveness of various communication strategies by finding, reading, and analyzing scholarly studies.
• critically and skeptically analyze claims to knowledge that you encounter at work.
• create a plan for conducting a study to answer questions about the effectiveness of different kinds of communication.
• complete your thesis.
• employ proper citation in your writing.

COURSE MATERIALS

Required:

• Williams, F., & Monge, P. (2001). Reasoning with statistics: How to read quantitative research (5^th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

Articles and chapters: (available on electronic reserve)

• http://reserves.library.jhu.edu/access/reserves/findit/articles/index.php

                        (Password: get it from me in class)

• To enable home computers for remote access to JHU restricted sites (including e-reserves), follow links/directions at: http://www.library.jhu.edu/services/computing/remoteaccess.html.

Recommended:*

• Galvin, J. (2006). Writing literature reviews. (3^rd ed.). 
• Patten, M. (2005). Understanding research methods (5^th ed.).
• Pryczak, F. (2006). Making sense of statistics: A conceptual overview. (4^th ed.)

* All three books are published by Pyrczak Publishing, Glendale, CA. See http://www.pyrczak.com for more information. If you are worried about statistics, I especially recommend Making sense of statistics: A conceptual overview.

POLICY ON COURSE WORK

All work for this class should be typed double-spaced, spell-checked, have one-inch margins, and use 12-point serif font. Use APA format. Late work will be dropped one grade for each day it is late. Work is due at the beginning of class on the assigned date. If you have extenuating circumstances or need special accommodations, please contact me before the due date and we will work something out.  Please note that in all cases you are responsible for getting your work in on time.

Sharing Assignments: Because all students in the Communication in Contemporary Society Program are required to take Research and Writing Methods and the assignments from one semester to the next are very similar, any sharing of assignments from previous semesters, using any previously completed work, or sharing of previously used test questions will be considered cheating. Both the person who shared his or her work and the person who used the previously completed work will be pursued with ethics charges.

Please note that we will be using the Turnitin.com plagiarism program. You are asked to submit all original assignments to the Turnitin.com website when you turn them in to me.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

Early Homework: You will complete two important homework assignments shortly after the course begins; one on APA Style and one on library research (2 assignments @ 5 pts. each = 10 pts. total). The week that follows you MUST write and submit the first methods paper. In other words, the first methods analysis paper is required.                               

Method Analysis: We will cover seven methods in this course, and you will write a methods analysis about four of them. **THE FIRST METHOD ANALYSIS PAPER IS REQUIRED**. After that, it is up to you to choose which three of the other six methods you want to analyze. You must do the methods reading even if you don’t complete a paper. Material from all the methods readings will be on the exam. You will be required to write no less than two pages double-spaced and no more than three pages double-spaced about the reading for that week (excluding cover page, abstract and reference list). Please note that the page limit will be strictly enforced; I will stop reading at the end of three pages and your grade will be based on what I have read. Your method analysis should take the form of a clear argument.

For each method we will cover, you will be assigned at least three readings. One or two readings will deal with the method itself (e.g. what types of questions the method can answer, how to properly conduct a study using the method, what type of findings the method yields, etc. I call these the “how to” articles.). One or two other readings will be examples of actual studies that use the method. I called these the “research study” articles.

You will write a persuasive argument explaining why you do or do not think the two studies are quality examples of the method studied. Your task is to evaluate the methodological strengths and weaknesses of the two studies, not to merely summarize them. Your argument should be well grounded in the assigned readings. Use the “how to” reading to set up criteria and then use the “research” readings to see if the criteria were met. Make sure you address all of the assigned readings in your analysis.

These analyses are about your thinking -- quotations should be used very sparingly. Use APA format and tight scholarly writing. Write in active voice whenever possible, and avoid using expletives. Don’t forget to include a coversheet, short abstract and reference page (these elements are not included as part of your two-to-three page limit). Write an introduction that sets out the main thesis of your paper and a conclusion that summarizes your main points. Make sure your introduction includes a thesis statement that introduces the main argument of the paper. Your paper should include correct citations, with references listed at the end. Papers receiving ten points will communicate a clear argument, demonstrate an understanding of all the readings, be free of APA errors, be elegantly and clearly written, and provide sophisticated and well-articulated arguments, not common insights, analyses, and/or comparisons. Please review the grading rubric below so you know what I will be looking for in grading your paper. (5 papers @ 10 pts. each = 50 pts.)

Grading Rubric for Methods Analysis:

1) Writing uses all texts with a clear understanding of each. (1.0)

2) Writing makes a clear, well-organized and well-supported argument that provides sophisticated insights and analyses. (2.0)

3) Body contains a clear introduction with a thesis statement that is supported by the body of the paper. (1.5) 

4) Body provides a conclusion with summary. (1.0)

5) Writing is clear and free of APA and grammar errors. It contains transitions and headings that give the paper flow. (2.0)

6) Each paragraph has a clear thesis statement and supporting documentation. (1.5)

7) Paper contains all required sections and adheres to the formatting directions. (1.0)

Due dates: Dates vary – papers due on the day of method lecture

You will be allowed to submit ONE EXTRA method analyses paper to replace the lowest grade you received on one of the four orginal method analysis papers. The EXTRA method analysis paper is due near the end of the course and will be corrected and graded as a regular method analysis paper, but it's grade will replace the lowest grade your received on the original four papers. You must turn your EXTRA paper in to Turnitin.com.

Paper Outline:  You must submit a detailed, full-sentence outline of your final paper, which includes your research question; thesis statement (what you think you will cover/argue in your literature review); a summary of the literature to be reviewed, organized into subtopics; and your proposed study/research method. I will give you a model outline as a guide. Make sure you include a coversheet and reference page. Please review the grading rubric below so you know the criteria on which your paper will be evaluated. (5 pts.)

Grading Rubric for Paper Outline:

1) All elements written in full sentences (1 pt.)

2) Introduction explains why the study is important (.5 pt.)

3) Claims made in the literature review express specific and directional relationships and are backed with evidence (source citations) (1 pt.)

4) RQ(s) or hypotheses are clearly identified and listed at the end of the literature review (.5 pt.)

5) Literature review is relevant to RQ(s) (1 pt.)

6) Method section explains how you will answer the RQ(s) by clearly outlining your method, data, and research design (1 pt.)

Revised Outline and Rough Draft Paper Sections: You must revise and resubmit your outline, attached to the back of your rough draft paper sections. You will complete two sections of your paper for this rough draft:

1)  You will include at least two sections of your literature review. The first will be the introduction to the review and the first topic you wish to cover in the literature. You will write the literature review’s introduction, subhead the first section of the review, write a small introduction to that section, discuss the works included in this section, and then provide a brief conclusion to the section. The second section you must include is the last section of the review, the conclusion to the review, and your RQs or hypotheses. You will include just the subheading for other sections that you wish to include in the review. You must discuss at least 4 separate piece of literature in this sample paper. Your sources must be peer-reviewed, scholarly work. Each section should contain literature that is narrowly linked and on the same specific topic that pertains to your research question. Please also make sure you summarize and synthesize the results of the literature at the end of each section.  Follow the guidelines we discuss in class and write a paragraph about each source. We will go over all of this in class. This section should be about 3 to 6 pages.

2) You will include a rough draft of your entire method section. It should contain: A) a statement describing your method and why you are using this method for your study; B) a description of your proposed data or text(s), how you will collected them and why you are them; C) a research design that outlines a step-by-step process for how your will answer your research question and analyze your data, and D) a brief description of the limitations of your method. This section should be about 2 to 4 pages.

You must include a cover sheet with this paper. Begin each section and sub-section with the proper heading and include a correctly formatted reference list. Write everything in APA format. (20 pts).

Grading Rubric Revised Outline and Rough Draft Paper Sections:

1) Literature reviewed is relevant to RQ(s) and explained clearly in one paragraph per entry (4 pts.)

2) Literature review contains clear introductions, summaries and transitions. (3 pts.)

3) Research questions are clearly marked and articulated at the end of the literature review (2 pts.)

4) Method section explains how you will answer the RQ(s) by clearly outlining your method, data, and research design as outlined above. (5 pts.)

5) The entire paper is written in proper APA format (3 pts.)

6) Outline follows the same criteria listed above for the draft outline, but contains important revisions, if necessary (3 pts.)

Exam on Methods and Basic Statistics: This will be an open book, open notes exam on the concepts, definitions, readings, formulae, statistics and application of ideas taught in class and covered in the reading. You may bring a calculator, but you may not share notes or calculators with anyone. (50 pts.)

Peer Review of Final Paper: You will come to class on Nov. 27, 2007, with two copies of your paper as outlined below. In class you will read someone else’s paper, make edits on the copy, and write a thoughtful evaluation using the form attached to this syllabus. Only people bringing a completed copy of their paper will be allowed to review someone else’s paper for credit. If you bring a partially completed paper or you edit a partially completed paper, you will not received credit for the assignment. You will be graded on the quality of your evaluation only (not your paper). Evaluations should be thorough, helpful, critical, and encouraging. Points will be assigned for thoughtful, thorough editing and suggestions. Top quality editing looks both at micro-problems such as spelling and grammar and macro-problems about argument and presentation

At the end of class I will make a copy of every evaluation. You will give me the clean copy of your paper and one copy of the evaluation you received on your paper. You will keep one copy of your paper and evaluation you received. (5 pts.)

Final Paper: You will complete a final paper that will contain a: 1) cover sheet, 2) abstract, 3) introduction, 4) literature review, 5) hypothesis or research question at the end of the literature review, 6) method section, and 7) reference section. The abstract should be one paragraph (about 150 words) and should summarize the whole paper.

(50 pts.)

The introduction:

• should introduce the topic, put it in context and explain the importance of the research.
• should contain a broad statement of purpose.

The literature review:

• should answer the following question: What do we know about the topic?
• should contain scholarly, peer-reviewed literature.
• should be organized into sections according the literature. Each section should have a clear heading, introduction and synthesis.
• should conclude with a final summary discussing what know and what we don’t know, based on the literature.
• should have clearly and precisely worded hypotheses and/or research questions (not more than four) at the end of the literature review.
• *You must include at least 15 academic, peer-reviewed sources in your final literature review.*

The method:

• should describe how you would do the study (Tell us the method and how you would apply it to your particular study.)
• should describe your data (Tell us what it is, how and where you found it, and why you chose this particular data.)
• should contain a short statement of methodological limitations.

Grading Rubric for Final Paper:

1) The introduction clearly introduces and explains the importance of your topic. The writing is compelling and makes the reader care about the topic. The section ends with a clear statement of purpose for the paper. (5 pts.)

2) The literature review begins with a clear introductory paragraph that outlines what you will discuss in the literature. It is a clear thesis paragraph. The literature review ends with a paragraph that summarizes the entire literature review. (5 pts.)

3) Clearly articulated research questions and/or hypothesis follow the conclusion paragraph of the literature review. They are clearly marked as such. (5 pts.)

4) The literature reviewed is relevant to RQ(s) and explained clearly in one paragraph per entry. (10 pts.)

5) Literature review contains clear subheadings, introductions, and summaries for each section, and clear transitions between entries and sections. (5 pts.)

6) Method section explains how you will answer the RQ(s) by clearly discussing: a) the method and why it is good for your particular study, b) a detailed description of you data (or texts) – what they are, why you chose them and how you will collect them, c) your research design or procedures – exactly what you will do to answer your research question and how you plan to do it, and d) any limitations to the method or your study.  (8 pts.)

7) The entire paper is written in proper APA format, and all elements of the paper are included according to syllabus directions. (6 pts.)

8) The writing is grammatically correct, concise and in active voice whenever possible. (6 pts.)

Final Paper Presentation: On the last day of class you will make a five-minute presentation on your research. Please prepare and practice this presentation so it does not take more than five minutes. DO NOT come to class and merely read your paper. (5 pts.)

Class Participation: You will earn two points for each seminar session in which you activity participate in the discussion.  To receive two points you must make at least two substantive contributions that refer to the reading (20 pts.)

Total Semester Points Possible:

TURN IT IN (Turnitin.com)
You must submit all papers for this class (excluding the APA and library assignments) to me and to Turnitin.com. Both copies of the paper are due at the start of class on the day the assignment is due. Please submit a hard copy to me and an electronic copy to turnitin.com, unless I specify an alternative.

To submit your paper to Turnitin, go to www.turnitin.com. The first time you go to the site you will click on the link “new user” and create a user profile. To this you will need the following information:

Class ID: 2157925                             Password: (given in class)

For help setting up your account and submitting papers, please review the movie at http://www.turnitin.com/static/training.html. If you have trouble with the site, please contact the folks at IT.

Once you have set up your account you can login and click on the link for this class. Then click on the correct assignment link and upload your paper. If there is a problem with you paper I will contact you.

Again, we will begin using this system on Sept. 25, 2007, when the first method analysis paper is due. I will contact you with more information about this when our account is functional.

POLICY ON CLASS ATTENDANCE

Attendance is mandatory.  If you need to miss class, it’s your responsibility to make sure any assignments that are due reach me on time to receive full credit. Do not e-mail assignments to me unless I have given your explicit permission to do so. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get any notes or handouts from a classmate.

Do not assume that I will automatically give you copies of any handouts or notes for any class unless you are present at the class. Regardless of the reason for missing class, you will not be able to make up missed class participation points.

POLICY ON INCOMPLETES

Incomplete are given at the discretion of the instructor, and only under extenuating circumstances such as a major illness, death in the family or other unexpected emergencies. In all instances, you must submit work to me so that I can submit a final grade to the registrar within four weeks of the start of the following semester/term. Information on incompletes and other grading policies is available at http://advanced.jhu.edu/policy/policy_grading.cfm

POLICY ON DISABILITIES

If you are a student with a documented disability who requires accommodations or if you think you may have a disability and want to inquire about accommodations, please contact Denise O’Sullivan , AAP Coordinator for Disabilities at 202-452-0983or dosullivan@jhu.edu

POLICY ON PLAGIARISM

Please note the words of Dr. Sarah B. Steinberg, Associate Dean, Advanced Academic Programs, which can be found in “Notice on Plagiarism” at http://advanced.jhu.edu/students/plagiarism.cfm:

“At Johns Hopkins University and in the Advanced Academic Programs we have a zero tolerance policy for plagiarism and other violations of our ethics policy. Ethics violations of any kind are taken seriously and may result in dismissal from our program. The best way you can keep yourself from committing an act of plagiarism is to be properly informed. At a minimum, please remember that any words taken verbatim from a source must be cited and contained within quotation marks. Even if you have paraphrased an idea from a source you must provide the appropriate citations. Ignorance of these principles will not be an acceptable excuse for violation of the policy.

        
Please note that we have a zero tolerance for plagiarism of any kind. You may fail a course of be dismissed from the program entirely if you are caught. Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse. For further information and assistance in determining when and how to properly cite your sources, please link to an excellent resource provided by the Eisenhower Library of Johns Hopkins University:          http://www.library.jhu.edu/researchhelp/index.html.  

An equally useful resource with clear and specific definitions of plagiarism can be found at: http://turnitin.com/research_site/e_home.html.

Finally, please take the time to review our full ethics policy, located at: http://advanced.jhu.edu/policy/code_of_responsibility_student.pdf.”

It is your responsibility to become familiar with The Johns Hopkins University ethics policy cited above, to know what is and is not a code violation, and to abide by the university’s code of ethics. Violation of the ethics policy will result on disciplinary action, including expulsion.

COURSE OUTLINE/SCHEDULE