CONDUCTING ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION INQUIRY

Service Learning Team Research Project- Engagement Unit

The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with the opportunity of integrating theory and practice through reflection and action. Therefore, you goal as a team is to learn how to conduct quantitative or qualitative communication inquiry. The process entails the following tasks: gathering, analyzing, interpreting data, and developing an action plan to improve communication.

Each team selects:
1) A Specific Issue or Topic to be researched. (Each team is free to select the topic)
2) A Specific Sample from a Community Organization
3) Complete the following tasks:

I.  Introduction: Purpose and Preview the main points of the research report and Table of Content. (1 page)

II. Research Proposal: 1. Purpose of the intervention and Research Question or Hypothesis; 2. Topic and Focal Areas (5); 3. Methods for gathering, analyzing data, and participants (sample); 4. Calendar (completion dates); 5. Benefits for the Organization. (1 page)

III. Literature review on the topic selected (2 pages) This literature research should be based on the reading of two (2) quantitative communication articles related to the topic of your research project discussed using quantitative method.Discuss the four (4) most important insights (related to literature review, research questions, methods, findings, and/or conclusions) that you have gained after reading the two (2) articles). What are the insights that you consider to be most relevant for you to have a better understanding of the issue and to guide the design of the course of action for improving communication and promoting social change.

IV. Description of the sample: (1/2 of a page) First, Indicate the type of Non-Probalility Sampling you are going to use and why. Second, Describe the sample you used for this study (how many subjects and some of their characteristics: education, sex, cultural background, tenure, and position). The information should be collected by the DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS (5-7 questions) that go at the end of your Questionnaire or Interview Guide.

V. Description of the organization (1/2 of a page) Describe briefly the organization or department in which you are conducting this study (Type of Org., Mission, Number of Members and Cultural Background, Org. Structure (Chart), Location).

VI. Description of the research methods (1 page)

1. Describe of the method you are going to use for collecting data: You can select one of these methods:

a) Interviews: Describe the INTERVIEW GUIDE you are going to use for collecting data.

(Description should include: Names and definitions of each Focal Area and number of questions for each Focal Area)

The Interview Guide should have 5 Focal Areas (Subtopics of the Main Topic of the research project) and under each focal area you should have 3 questions. The total number of questions for the Interview Guide should be around 15. (Instructions will be given in class).
A copy of your Interview Guide should go as an appendix after the Reference Section  
Every team member will conduct 2 interviews using the same Interview Guide: Sample of Cover Letter & INTERVIEW GUIDE

b) Questionnaire or Survey:Describe the QUESTIONNAIRE OR SURVEY you are going to use for collecting data.A copy of your questionnaire should go as appendixes after the Reference Section.

(Description should include: Names of the Dimensions or Focal Areas and number of questions for each Dimension)

The Questionnaire should have 5 Dimensions or Focal Areas (Subtopics of the Main Topic of the research project) and under each focal area you should have 5 questions. The total number of questions for the questionnaire should be 25. (Instructions will be given in class).
Every team member will be responsible for collecting 5 questionnaires using the SAME QUESTIONNAIRE :  Sample of Cover Letter & QUESTIONNAIRE 

2. Describe the method you are going to use for analyzing data: 

a) CONTENT ANALYSIS if you are using INTERVIEWS to collect data. (Download Instructions for Content Analysis)

b) STATISTICAL TESTS if you are using a QUESTIONNAIRE OR SURVEY to collect data, such as mean, standard deviation,  and percentages. (Instructions will be given in class).

VII. Research results or findings (2 pages)

In this section report the MOST IMPORTANT findings gathered through the interviews (After conducting CONTENT ANALYSIS (Download Instructions for Content Analysis) by FOCAL AREAS). Select and outline the 6 more important for each Focal Area (2 for each question).

I you used a Questionnaire report the findings based on the statistical analysis by dimensions (Use graphs to visualize findings). (Instructions will be given in class).

VIII. Conclusions (Report 4 or 5 main conclusions: one for each Dimension) (2 pages) Report the most significant learnings you have gained about the research topic based on the findings reported in the above section. Present these learnings in the form of brief conclusions. Try to integrate in conclusions, some of the issues discuss in the literature review or other sources (textbooks) if they are related. A good conclusion integrates findings and theoretical imputs in a paragraph format.

IX. Action Plan and Recommendations (2 pages). Develop an Action Plan in the form of recommendations for improving communication related to the research topic based on your conclusions. These recommendations should specify concrete actions. 

X. Major Learnings (1 page). Report 5 major learnings that you (as a team) have accomplished by conducting this Organizational Communication Intervention in a non-profit organization.

The two main sources of information in order to complete this assignment are:

A. Library research to complete the literature review.
B. Field research. Field research means that you must gather information using a questionnaire as suggested above. It is the responsibility of the group to develop a QUESTIONNAIRE BEFORE YOU CONDUCT THE RESEARCH (Instructions will be given in class).

    Every team member will be responsible for collecting 5 questionnaires using the SAME QUESTIONNAIRE
   
The REFERENCES should go in page 10 (Books, Journals)

• The WRITTEN REPORT should be 13 pages, typed, 1.5 spaced
  (Download Instructions for Table of Content of the written report)
• Print copies of a full-sentenced Presentation Outline (2 pages) for classmates.
• Please print TWO COPIES of written report (ONE for the Organization and the OTHER for the Professor)
  
  

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