COMM 155: QUANTITATIVE COMMUNICATION INQUIRY
F. VARONA FALL 2008
QUANTITATIVE COMMUNICATION INQUIRY DIAGNOSIS PAPER
PURPOSE: The purpose of this assignment is to develop awareness of communication issues (topics) that need to be researched in our communities, organizations, personal relations, etc. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to identify three (3) communication issues (topics) that you think need to be researched. (Examples will be provided in class when paper is assigned)
TOPIC AND CONTENT: The issues or topics to be addressed in this paper can be related to: 1) communication strengths, 2) communication weaknesses, and/or 3) communication needs. These communication issues may be related to current or past communication experiences.
STRUCTURE of the Paper:
1. Start with a very brief opening statement on the purpose of the paper and preview main points.
2. Description of the Organization
3. Identify and discuss the first major communication topic (1 and 1/2 pages; 5 points):
1. Why is this is an important comm. issue to be researched? Give one or reasons.
2. What specific aspects of the topic should be researched ? Give me one or two.
3. What method should be used to conduct this research? (Survey, Experiment,Observation,etc.) and why?
4. Who should conduct this research (A external consultant, a manager, a trained employee) and why?
5. Who should be involved in the research and how many (the sample: subjects or participants) and why.
4. Identify and discuss the second major communication topic (1 and 1/2 pages; 5 points)
The same five questions
5. Identify and discuss the third major communication topic (1 and 1/2 pages; 5 points)
The same five questions
6. Brief conclusion
HOW TO DISCUSS each COMMUNICATION TOPIC that needs to be researched: (Discuss the following issues)
1. Why it is an important comm. issue to be researched (Provide 2 or 3 major reasons or benefits)
2. What specific aspects of the topic should be researched (address 2 or 3)
3. How this research should be conducted using quantitative methods: the method you think is more
appropriate(Survey, Experiment, Observation, Content Analysis, or Interaction Analysis).
(See textbook chapters 8 to 10).
4. By whom should this research be conducted and why.
5. Who should be involved (the sample: subjects or participants) and why.
To identify and analyze these three communication TOPICS you must: First, reflect on your personal communication experiences in any given context (personal relationships, group, organization, at work, etc.). Second, identify the three most important topics from those experiences that need to be research. And third, conduct some interviews in the community u organization with people that should participate in the research as subjects (the sample). (Examples will be provided in class when paper is assigned)
To collect information for this paper you must CONDUCT 4 INTERVIEWS in the community u organization with people that should participate in the research as subjects (the sample). Before conducting the interviews you MUST DEVELOPED AN INTERVIEW GUIDE. The questions of this interview guide are the 5 provided above under "HOW TO DISCUSS...
You must support the content of your paper with the 3 (three) sources (people you interviewed as described above) These sources must be properly cited in the text and listed in the REFERENCE section at the end of the paper in page 6. In order to get a good grade on this paper, try to answer the questions thoroughly, creatively and in depth. If you have any questions concerning this assignment, please see me.
This paper is 5 pages, typed, 1.5 lines spaced. It is worth 15 points.
This paper is due:_______________________
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