1. Building a Research Project

2. Selecting a Narrow Research Topic Reflect on personal communication experiences. Reflect on personal communication experiences. Browse communication journals. Browse communication journals. Narrow topic into a researchable scope. Narrow topic into a researchable scope.

3. Conducting a Literature Review A literature review provides the argument for your research questions or hypothesis by providing a comprehensive survey of your topic of interest. A literature review provides the argument for your research questions or hypothesis by providing a comprehensive survey of your topic of interest. Scholarly journal articles (primary sources) are most relevant to your literature review. Scholarly journal articles (primary sources) are most relevant to your literature review. Books and book chapters (secondary sources) are useful for providing an overview of the area of study. Books and book chapters (secondary sources) are useful for providing an overview of the area of study.

4. Searching the Literature Identify the key words used to describe your area of study. Identify the key words used to describe your area of study. Avoid too narrowly defining the population of interest – cast a wider search net. Avoid too narrowly defining the population of interest – cast a wider search net. If your study idea has been done, consider replicating that project or using a different method to examine the same finding (triangulation). If your study idea has been done, consider replicating that project or using a different method to examine the same finding (triangulation). Examine gaps in the research literature. Examine gaps in the research literature. Examine inconsistent or contradictory findings. Examine inconsistent or contradictory findings.

5. Types of Research Reports Proprietary Reports Proprietary Reports Working Papers Working Papers Conference Papers Conference Papers Short (or Brief) Research Note Short (or Brief) Research Note Scholarly Journal Article Scholarly Journal Article Book Chapter in Edited Volume Book Chapter in Edited Volume

6. The Quantitative Research Report The Title The Title The Byline The Byline The Abstract The Abstract The Introduction The Introduction Method Method Results Results Discussion Discussion References References

7. The Qualitative Research Report Due to publishing constraints the organization will often take the same form as the quantitative research report (introduction, method, results, discussion, and references). Due to publishing constraints the organization will often take the same form as the quantitative research report (introduction, method, results, discussion, and references). The form of the quantitative report is an awkward fit for qualitative research. The form of the quantitative report is an awkward fit for qualitative research. The introduction will include a discussion of the merits of the particular community or setting of interest. The introduction will include a discussion of the merits of the particular community or setting of interest. Research questions tend to be general in nature. Research questions tend to be general in nature. The “results” and “discussion” are often integrated due to the subjective stance of the qualitative researcher. The “results” and “discussion” are often integrated due to the subjective stance of the qualitative researcher. Qualitative research is typically presented in a narrative form. Qualitative research is typically presented in a narrative form.

8. van Maanen’s (1988) Genres of Narrative Tales The Realist Tale The Realist Tale The Confessional Tale The Confessional Tale The Impressionist Tale The Impressionist Tale

9. Reading Research Reports Evaluate a study using criteria appropriate to the way of knowing positioned in the report. Evaluate a study using criteria appropriate to the way of knowing positioned in the report. Avoid rejecting a study’s finding due to its imperfections – no study is perfect. Avoid rejecting a study’s finding due to its imperfections – no study is perfect. Avoid confusing form with substance – quantitative and qualitative reports will “look” different, but are both rigorous and scientific. Avoid confusing form with substance – quantitative and qualitative reports will “look” different, but are both rigorous and scientific.

10. Determining Your Purpose Exploration Exploration Description Description Causal/Functional Explanation Causal/Functional Explanation Understanding Understanding

11. Determining Your Unit of Analysis Individuals Individuals Groups Groups Organizations Organizations Social Artifacts Social Artifacts

12. Formulating Questions and Designing Your Study The research questions/hypotheses are driven by your literature review and purpose. The research questions/hypotheses are driven by your literature review and purpose. The research design emerges directly from your research questions/hypotheses. The research design emerges directly from your research questions/hypotheses. You need to determine the role of time in your design. You need to determine the role of time in your design. –Cross-sectional Studies –Longitudinal Studies You need to determine the role of context in your design. You need to determine the role of context in your design. –Field Dependent Research –Field-Independent Research