Quantitative Mass Media Research Methods
Fall 2005
Syllabus

Course Description This course is a basic introduction to quantitative research methods in mass communications including collecting data using content analysis, surveys, andexperimental. You will learn how to read and write academic research. We will discuss the responsibilities of doing academic research and basic research ethics. You will learn to use SPSS to do basic statistics procedures. A number of small individual and group research projects involving computer games will be undertaken.

Course Times:
Section 1: MWF 8am, final tentatively scheduled on 12/15 at 10:30am

Course Goals The four main goals for this course are to be able to:

1. Read and understand academic research articles
   • Be able to find and understand quantitative research articles in mass communication related academic journals.
   • Evaluate and discuss current research findings in a variety of mass media fields
2. Set up and carry out academic research projects
   • Be able to discuss basic mass comm theories
   • Define key terms in scientific research such as hypothesis and independent variable
   • Identify appropriate data collection technique(s) for a given research problem
   • Understand ethical situations that might arise in mass media research
   • Design a research project - indicating hypotheses, best data collection method, best way to analyze data
   • Conduct a simple research project using surveys and content analysis
3. Do basic statistics procedures using SPSS (including picking the right test for the given problem and data)
   • Perform simple statistical tests on a provided dataset using SPSS
   • Interpret results of statistical tests
4. Write academic research article using results of quantitative analysis
   • Write an academic research report including a literature review, methods section, statistical analysis, and complete bibliography.
   • Communicate effectively in writing and orally about quantitative research - including about statistics

There are several other goals, goals of probably every class you take at Ithaca College.

• Work collaboratively in a small group to successfully complete a multi-stage project
• Participate in your own learning, ask questions, plan how to find answers, evaluate progress

Textbook & Reference Materials:

• Understanding Research Methods by Mildren Patton
• StatSoft - online statistics textbook, good for reference
• Academic journal articles from the library's online database or from the web
• Links on our course resource web page

Grades

	95-100 A	90-94 A-
87-89 B+	83-86 B	80-82 B-
77-79 C+	73-76 C	70-72 C-
67-69 D+	63-66 D	60-62 D-
	0-59 F

Schedule
Download the schedule as a word doc here

Policies Every syllabus has a policy section. Here's ours. The key thing to remember is - treat your classmates and me with respect. That means don't be late with your assignments. And, in group tasks, pull your fair share of the job. Many of the projects are now individual projects because there have been problems with groups - people not putting in the work but expecting to get the group grade, people not communicating with their classmates, people not doing their fair share of the work. And many times, our schedules are just too hectic for group work. With individual projects, if you work best at 2am or 7am - you can get the project done without coordinating with other people.

Here are a couple of other policies. They're related to the key policy above. They're all about respect - for me, yourself, and your learning.

Attendance and Class Participation Here is the college attendance policy. I will expect you to follow it. I will take attendance each class either by calling names or passing around a sign up sheet. If you are not there when your name is called, you will be marked absent.

College Policy
Students at Ithaca College are expected to attend all classes, and they are responsible for work missed during any absence from class. At the beginning of each semester, instructors must provide students in their courses with written guidelines regarding possible grading penalties for failure to attend class. Students should notify their instructors as soon as possible of any anticipated absences. Written documentation that indicates the reason for being absent may be required. These guidelines may vary from course to course, but are subject to the following restrictions:

1. In accordance with New York State law, students who miss class due to their religious beliefs shall be excused from class or examinations on that day. Such students must notify their course instructors at least one week before any anticipated absence so that proper arrangements may be made to make up any missed work or examination without penalty. Faculty will not schedule examinations or quizzes on designated religious holidays on the calendar day following the designated holidays. Designed holidays are Rosh Hashanah (2 days), Yom Kippur, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

2. Any student who misses class due to a verifiable emergency - such as an illness requiring attention by the health center, or hospitalization, death, or serious illness of a family member, or required appearance in a court of law - shall be excused. Students may notify the Office of Student Affairs about any emergency, and that office will notify the appropriate faculty member.

A student may be excused for participation in college-authorized co-curricular and extracurricular activities such as athletic events, musical and theatrical performance, and professional conferences if, in the instructor's judgment, this does not impair the specific student's or the other students' ability to succeed in the course.

The course instructor has the right to determine if the number of absences has been excessive in view of the nature of the class that was missed and the stated attendance policy. Depending on the individual situation, this can result in the student being removed from or failing the course.

Regarding Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, falsifying academic records, and any act designed to avoid participating honestly in the learning process. Scholastic dishonesty also includes, but is not limited to, providing false or misleading information to receive a postponement or an extension on a test, quiz, or other assignment, and submission of essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior permission of the instructor. Plagiarism can involve not only written work but computer programs, photographs, artwork, films, videos, and audio recordings. Scholastic dishonesty damages both the student's learning experience and readiness for the future demands of a career. Students who violate college's rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the college. If you are at all unsure about what constitutes plagiarism or academic dishonesty, or how to give credit see me and consult the Student Handbook (see plagiarism in the index)

In a collaborative project, all students in a group may be held responsible for academic misconduct if they engage in plagiarism or are aware of plagiarism by others in their group and fail to report it. Students who participate in a collaborative project in which plagiarism has occurred will not be held accountable if they were not knowledgeable of the plagiarism.

Students with Special Needs
Special accommodations are available for students with appropriately documented disabilities. These services are confidential. To access them you must (1) register with the coordinator of Academic Support Services for Students and Disabilities and (2) request a formal accommodation plan at the beginning of each semester. See the current College Catalog under Disabilities.

Questions/Comments/Criticisms/Suggestions
If at any time something seems unclear or unreasonable to you, please make an appointment to discuss it with me. I'm open to your suggestions and comments. This class is meant to be an open forum for learning and discussion.

This page last updated 20 August 2005 by Kim Gregson

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