COMMS 207 : Communication Research Methods

Arts

2022 Semester One (1223) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Introduces students to a variety of research methods in communication studies. Students learn about the foundations of, and approaches to qualitative and quantitative methods and acquire an array of techniques to collect data, such as individual and focus group interviews, participant observation, and surveys, as well as different forms of data analysis.

Course Overview

This course introduces students to key research methods in the study of human communication. It helps students to learn about the foundations of qualitative and quantitative research methods, and to acquire an array of techniques related to data collection ( such as questionnaires, interviews, ethnographic observations) and data analysis (such as content analysis and discourse analysis). It is also designed to help students develop their own research project, applying what they learned from the course to their own exploration of communication problems in society.

This course can be divided into three larger units. The rst unit (from Week 1 to Week 4) is to familiarise students with basic concepts and knowledge related to research (or 'ways of knowing', both quantitatively and qualitatively) and the process and ethics of doing research. The second unit (from Week 5 to Week 7) introduces students to three most common ways of doing research in communication studies, focusing on producing valid and rich data for research. The nal unit (from Week 8 to Week 11) provides students with systematic ways of describing, coding, and analysing data in communication research. Week 12 is dedicated to helping students work on their final research proposal.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 60 points at Stage I in BA or BC courses

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and describe major research paradigms in communication studies (Capability 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3)
  2. Develop and demonstrate a deeper understanding about the logics of reasoning and ways of knowing in qualitative and quantitative research (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1 and 3.1)
  3. Design a qualitative or quantitative research project (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 6.3)
  4. Gain skills in crafting research questions, conducting interviews, and developing coding techniques (Capability 1.2, 3.2, 4.1 and 5.1)
  5. Critically evaluate communication research, assessing its rigour and understanding its significance and application (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 2.3, 3.1 and 4.2)
  6. Develop and demonstrate the ability to select the suitable methods for conducting communication research (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 3.2 and 5.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Reading Quizzes 10% Individual Coursework
Research Assignments 40% Individual Coursework
Research Proposal 50% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, a 12 hour tutorial, 45 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 40 hours of work on assignments and coursework.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes:

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.


Online

Attendance is expected at scheduled online activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.

The course will include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.

Where possible, study material will be released progressively throughout the course.

This course runs to the University semester and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

This course is available for delivery to students studying remotely outside NZ in 2022.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 01/11/2021 08:08 a.m.