The Illustrated Guide to the Mass Communication Research Project

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Chapter One: Getting Started
	What This Book Offers: HELP!
	More…
	What’s in It for You?
	Developing a Research Mindset
	Activities
	Connect with Me
Chapter Two: Finding a Research Topic You Like
	How to Find a Research Topic
	Step 1: What’s Your Passion?
	Step 2: Link Your Passion Pick to Other Interests
	Step 3: Preliminary Research: What’s Being Said About Your Topic?
	Step 4: Formulate Tentative Questions About Your Topic
	Moving On
	Activities
	Resources
	References
Chapter Three: Determining Your Research Approach
	Ways We Acquire Knowledge
	Your Research Framework
	What Kind of Researcher Are You?
	Step 1: Your Ontological View
	Step 2: Your Epistemological View
	Step 3: Your Axiological View
	Step 4: Your Methodological View
	Step 5: Your Research Method
	How This Relates to Qualitative and Quantitative Research
	Activities
	Resources
	References
Chapter Four: Thinking Ethically
	Ethical Research
	Researcher Misconduct
	Protecting Human Participants
	Online Research Ethics
	Academic Writing Examples
	Activities
	Resources
	Videos
	References
Chapter Five: Writing a Literature Review
	Literature Review’s Purpose
	Getting Ready to Commit
	Organizing It: A Literature Review’s Structure
	Finding Solid Sources
	Keyword, Phrase, and Subject Searches
	Search Aids
	Writing It
	Academic Writing Examples
	Activities
	Resources
	References
Chapter Six: Writing a Research Question and Hypothesis
	Research Questions and Hypotheses
	Writing a Research Question
	Writing a Hypothesis
	Academic Writing Examples
	Activities
	Resources
	References
Chapter Seven: Choosing a Research Method
	The Method Section
	Popular Research Methods
	What Goes in a Method Section?
	Observation
		What Is Observational Research?
		Why Choose Observation?
		How to Set Up an Observation Project
		Academic Writing Examples
		Activities
		Resources
		References
	In-Depth Interview
		What Is In-Depth Interview Research?
		Why Choose In-Depth Interviews?
		Online Interviews
		How to Set Up an In-Depth Interview Project
		Academic Writing Examples
		Activities
		Resources
		References
	Focus Group
		What Is Focus Group Research?
		Why Choose a Focus Group?
		Online Focus Groups
		How to Set Up a Focus Group Project
		Add a Survey
		Add Focus Group Activities
		Technology Considerations
		Academic Writing Examples
		Activities
		Resources
		References
	Case Study
		What Is Case Study Research?
		Why Choose a Case Study?
		How to Set Up a Case Study Project
		Academic Writing Examples
		Activities
		Resources
		References
	Content Analysis
		What Is Content Analysis Research?
		Why Choose a Content Analysis?
		How to Set Up a Content Analysis Project
		Qualitative Content Analysis
		Quantitative Content Analysis
		How to Set Up a Quantitative Content Analysis Project
		Academic Writing Examples
		Activities
		Resources
		References
	Survey
		What Is Survey Research?
		Why Choose a Survey?
		Online Survey Considerations
		How to Set Up a Survey Project
		Academic Writing Examples
		Activities
		Resources
		References
	Experiment
		What Is Experimental Research?
		Why Choose an Experiment?
		Experimental Design Options
		How to Set Up a True Experiment Project
		Academic Writing Examples
		Activities
		Resources
		References
Chapter Eight: Writing the Results
	Qualitative Data Analysis
		Making Sense of Qualitative Data
		Qualitative Approaches
		Reflexive Thematic Analysis
		How Reflexive Thematic Analysis Works
		Directed Qualitative Content Analysis
		How Directed Qualitative Content Analysis Works
		Inductive and Deductive Quality Checks
		Academic Writing Examples
		Activities
		Resources
		References
	Quantitative Data Analysis
		Making Sense of Quantitative Data
		Getting Started
		Characteristics of Numerical Data
		Levels of Measurement
		Options for Analyzing Numerical Data
		When You Have Nominal (Categorical) Level Data
		When You Have Ordinal (Rank-Ordered) Level Data
		When You Have Interval or Ratio (Continuous) Level Data
		Data Visualization Considerations
		Academic Writing Examples
		Activities
		Resources
		References
Chapter Nine: Writing the Discussion Section
	The Discussion Section
	How to Write the Discussion
	Academic Writing Examples
	Activities
	Resources
	References
Chapter Ten: Formatting the Paper
	Formatting Your Paper
	American Psychological Association Style
	Formatting at a Glance
	Abstract
	References
	Tables and Figures
	Supplemental Information/Appendices
	Academic Writing Examples
	Activities
	Resources
	References
Chapter Eleven: Presenting Your Research
	Beyond the Research Paper
	Spoken Research Presentations
	Poster Presentations
	Research Conference Presentations
	Publishing Options
	Activities
	Resources
	References
Index