Communication Research Methods in Postmodern Culture Book

Preface xi

Section I Foundations 1

Chapter 1 Introduction 3

A Backward Glance 4

A Postmodern Primer 6

What Is Communication? 9

Why Research? 9

Communication Research 11

Evaluating and Restructuring Our Research Practices 14

Postmodernism and Communication Research 15

Review Questions 17

Suggested Activities 17

Chapter 2 Knowledge, Culture, and Research 18

Some Important Philosophy 18

Some Essential History 20

Additional Factors to Consider 23

What About Communication Research? 24

A New Research Outlook 25

Postmodern Application of Research Results 29

The Communication Process 30

Research Ethics 31

Federal Regulations 33

Review Questions 34

Suggested Activities 34

Chapter 3 Getting Started 35

Basic Terminology 35

Research Guidelines 38

Review Questions 40

Chapter 4 Designing a Research Study 41

The Flowchart Process 41

Discuss the Problem 43

Search the Literature 43

Revise the Research Question(s) 46

Select a Research Method 47

Develop a Detailed Plan 47

Handle the Logistics 47

Execute the Project 49

Organize and Analyze Study Results 50

Address the Research Question(s) 50

Evaluate the Study 50

Write the Report 50

Review Questions 51

Section II Methodologies 53

Chapter 5 Focus Group Research 55

A Postmodern Perspective 57

Advantages and Disadvantages 57

Basics 58

Logistics 59

Conducting the Session 61

Solving Potential Problems 62

Analyzing the Data 62

Addressing the Research Questions 64

Evaluating the Study 65

Writing the Study 65

Review Questions 65

Suggested Activities 65

Chapter 6 Survey Research 66

Definition and Uses 66

A Postmodern Perpective 67

Issues and Problems68

Basics 71

Some Sampling Techniques 74

Types of Surveys 76

Telephone Survey 76

Mail Survey 82

Other Types of Surveys 84

Analyzing the Data 87

Addressing the Research Questions 92

Evaluating the Study 92

Writing the Report 92

Review Questions 92

Suggested Activities 93

Chapter 7 Historical Research 94

Definition and Uses 95

A Postmodern Perspective 96

Basics 97

Using Quality Sources 97

Developing a Detailed Plan 100

Logistics 102

Data Gathering 105

Analyzing the Data 107

Addressing the Research Questions 108

Evaluating the Study 108

Writing the Report 108

The Case Study Method 109

A Brief Overview 109

The Case Study Process 109

Review Questions 110

Suggested Activities 110

Chapter 8 Oral History by Kim Golombisky 111

A Postmodern Perpective 113

Definitions and Uses 113

Issues and Problems 119

Design 125

Execution 130

Analysis 131

Review Questions 133

Suggested Activities 133

Chapter 9 Text Analysis 135

Part I Content Analysis Timothy E. Bajkiewicz 136

Historical Development and Method Importance 136

Definition and Uses 137

A Postmodern Perspective 139

Advantages and Disadvantages 140

Basics 142

Unitizing 142

Sampling 144

Recording/Coding 145

Analysis 149

Conclusion 150

Part II Reader-Response 150

Reader-Response Assumptions 151

Reader-Response Approaches 151

The Reader-Response Process 151

Data Organization and Analysis 155

Addressing the Research Question 156

Evaluating the Study 156

Writing the Report 156

Part III Deconstruction 157

What Is Deconstruction? 157

Can Deconstruction Be a Research Method? 158

Deconstruction as Research Method 158

Deconstruction Assumptions 158

Deconstruction a Text 159

What About Logistics? 162

Addressing the Research Question 162

Evaluating the Study 162

Deconstruction in Action: An Example 162

Summary of Findings 165

Review Questions 166

Suggested Activities 166

Chapter 10 Feminist Methodology Kim Golombisky 167

A Postmodern Perspective 168

Definitions 169

Feminism 169

Feminist Methodology 169

Feminist Research Methods 171

Uses 176

Problems and Issues 178

Implementation 187

Review Questions 188

Suggested Activities 188

Section III Writing A Research Report 191

Chapter 11 Writing Style 193

What Is Writing Style? 193

Scholarly Style 194

APA Style 198

MLA Style 201

Chicago Style 203

Chapter 12 Report Format 206

Why Write a Report? 206

Who Is the Audience? 207

The Traditional Format 208

A Specialized Format 208

A Section-by-Section Explanation 210

Some Likely Variations 214

Section IV Applications 215

Chapter 13 An Individual Research Proposal 217

The Individual Research Proposal 217

Your Research Proposal Topic 220

The Individual Research Project 223

Chapter 14 A Group Research Project 224

Procedure 224

Group Evaluation 228

References 229

Index 239