COMS 630: Social Science Research Methods
Spring 2008, Instructor: Dr. Gi Woong Yun
Classroom: 203 West Hall
Office: 321 West Hall
Voice Mail: 419-372-8638
E-mail: gyun@bgsu.edu
Class hours: 6:30 - 9:50p T
Office Hours: TR 10 - 12:30 or by appointment
Syllabus on the Web: http://www.mediaresearchlab.org/giwoongyun/classes/mc6300/syllabus.htm

COURSE OBJECTIVES
This is a basic research methods course for those with little or no previous experience or course work in communication research. The goal of this course is to provide students with a critical framework for evaluating communication research and some hands-on experience in the process of empiriacl research. A combination of lectures and class discussions will be used throughout the semester.

SCHEDULE
Lectures will move quickly and will assume knowledge of readings assigned for that day. Lectures and readings will complement each other, rather than being redundant, so you will need to do the readings regularly. The amount of reading is moderate, but you will need to read carefully and analytically.

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION
Attendance
Attendance is the most basic responsibility of students who enroll in this course.

Participation
Your presence in the classroom means that you have to contribute to the class discussion. Read the textbook chapter assigned on the date before you come to class. Participation will take various forms including questions, case examples, etc. Class participation will be added to your final score as extra credit.

Student Conferences:
Do not hesitate to meet me in my office or call me at my office if you have any question on the course or have academic concerns. Please email (gyun@bgsu.edu) and make an appointment if you want to meet me outside my office hours.

ACADEMIC HONESTY & PROFESSIONALISM
Academic honesty
Academic honesty is the foundation of our teaching-learning relationship. BGSU Student Handbook classifies four types of academic honesty violation: Cheating; Fabrication; Facilitating academic dishonesty; Plagiarism. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated, and any student engaging in such conduct will automatically fail this course.

Professionalism
Although the score that you earn from various activities may reflect your level of intellectual achievement in this course, it is not the only determinant factor of your final letter grade. In every aspect of your interaction with the instructor or classmates, you have to be professional. Professionalism includes, but is not limited to, (1) completing tasks and readings in a timely manner, (2) submitting class projects that look professional (no spelling or grammar errors and suitable to the task), (3) taking personal responsibility for your actions (for example, the computer ate your paper is not an acceptable excuse), (4) showing courtesy to others (no chatting and sleeping, no cellular phone, no instant messaging, and PDA in sight during class), and (5) undertake all class related communications in a professional manner. The instructor reserves the right to adjust the final letter grade downward if a student deems to have violated professionalism to a substantial degree during the semester.

GRADING
Quizzes(200 points) :
There will be multiple quizzes each worth 20 points toward the final grade. Quizzes will take place at the begging of classes and they will cover material from the readings.

Assignments (200 points) :
There are multiple assignments. Each assignment is worth 40 points toward the final grade. Details on these assignments will be presented and discussed in the class. Negative points will be added to the final score for the late submission(s).

Class presentations (100 points):
All students will participate in two group presentations focusing on the results from the group projects. Groups will have 1 hour and 15 minutes to make two presentations. First presentation will be a 15 minute presentation. 15 minute presentation is intended to emulate normal conference presentation. Second presentation will be an hour long presentation. Long presentation is intended to provide an opportunity to practice long presentation for job interviews, graduate classes, professional semeniars, etc. All presentations should follow the format of an academic presentation. Groups will conduct the data analysis with the help of the instructor.

Exam 1 (200 points):
The exam 1 is in close-ended format and it will cover contents discussed in the class and readings. The syllabi for the exams are listed in the schedule that follows. The exam 1 will be administered in class during class time.

Exam 2 (200 points):
The exam 2 is in close-ended format and it will cover contents discussed in the class and readings. The exam 2 is not cumulative. In other words, you will not be tested over the contents that were covered in the exam 1.

Final Paper (200 points):
The Final Paper will be about research question development and analysis of your data. Several students will be assigned to a group and each group will submit a report. Details on the final paper will be presented and discussed in the class. Negative points will be added to the final score for the late submission.

Professionalism
You will received no deduction point if you attend and participate lectures professionally.

Grand Total: 1100 points

FINAL GRADING SCALE

A =  91 to 100 percent
B = 81 to 90 percent
C = 71 to 80 percent
F = below 70 percent

Class text and materials:
Textboook: Earl Babbie (2007). The practice of Social Research. Wadsworth. 11th edition.
Additional readings: There are numeous links from the class Blackboard system. You may need to print them.

CLASS SCHEDULE

Week01 - 01/08: Introduction, Background

Week02 - 01/15: Research Paradigms, Logic and ethics
Reading: Chap 1, Chap 2, readings in blackboard(Tankard)

Week03 - 01/22: Research Design, Research inquiry
Reading: Chapt 3, Chap 4, readings in blackboard(Popper)

Week04 - 01/29: Concept Explication, measurement and Observation
Reading: Chap 6, readings in blackboard(McLeod)

Week05 - 02/05: Reliability and Validity
Reading: Chap 5, readings in blackboard(Katzer, Ghiselli)
Assignment#1(Observation Assignment) Due

Week06 - 02/12 : Measurement, Sampling
Reading: Chap 7, readings in blackboard(Warwick)

Week07 - 02/19: Experimental Research
Reading: Chap 8, readings in blackboard(Singleton)
Assignment#2(Concept explication Assignment) Due

Week08 - 02/26: Exam 1

Week09 - 03/04: Spring Break

Week10 - 03/11: Applications of Experimental Research, Survey Research
Reading: Chap 9, readings in blackboard(Couper)

Week11 - 03/18: Survey Research, Content Analysis
Reading: Chap 11, readings in blackboard(Lombard, Snyder-Duch, & Bracken)
Assignment#3(Questionnaire Construction Assignment) Due

Week12 - 03/25 : Hypothesis Testing, Data Analysis: Univariate and Bivariate
Reading: Chap 14, readings in blackboard(McLeod)

Week13 - 04/01: Data Analysis: Analysis of Variance
Reading: Chap 16, readings in blackboard(Phillips)
Assignment#4(Research Question and Hypothesis Assignment) Due

Week14 - 04/08: Data Analysis: Analysis of Variance
No reading

Week15 - 04/15: Student presentations
Assignment#5(Data Analysis Assignment) Due

Week16 - 04/22: Exam2
Final paper due (4/28 1:00 P.M.)