CCT 208 Communication Research Methods

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Questions and Answers

What defines empiricism in the context of social science knowledge?

Knowledge based on authoritative sources

Knowledge based on historical traditions

Knowledge based on personal beliefs and feelings

Knowledge based on systematic observations (correct)

Which of the following methods is categorized under scientific or quantitative inquiry?

Interviews

Surveys (correct)

Ethnography

Focus Groups

Which type of hypothesis testing involves stating a relationship between two variables?

Causal Hypothesis

Descriptive Hypothesis

Comparative Hypothesis

Correlational Hypothesis (correct)

What is the goal of interpretive or inductive theory in social scientific research?

To provide plausible interpretations of social data Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about social scientific inquiry is true?

Different questions require different methods. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of knowledge does epistemology address?

The sources and types of knowledge Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a valid hypothesis?

It must propose a relationship between different variables. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is essential for a theoretical construct in quantitative or deductive theory?

It must be capable of being measured. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of a quantitative methodology?

It aims for unbiased and replicable knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What does conceptualization involve in research?

Refinement and specification of abstract concepts. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a dimension of Communication Apprehension?

Emotional Dimension Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of indicators in research?

To indicate the presence or absence of concepts. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is essential for ensuring that a method of data collection is clear?

Replicability Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a variable in research?

Any entity that can take on different values. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'sampling' refer to in research design?

The selection of participants for the study. Signup and view all the answers

In terms of Communication Apprehension, which indicator would be classified as a physical symptom?

Faster Heartbeat Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Research Orientations CCT 208

Communication Research Methods course, CCT 208, is offered.
Note-takers are needed to support students with disabilities.
Note-takers are responsible for taking detailed notes (online and in-person lectures and pre-recorded sessions) and uploading them to a database weekly.
To register, log in to https://aims.utm.utoronto.ca/user/NotetakingNotetakers/default.aspx.
Upload typed or handwritten notes to the database after each class; scan handwritten notes.

How Do We Know What We Know?

Ways of knowing include experience, authority, tradition, and intuition.
Many of these rely on cognitive logic processes, which can be flawed.
Epistemology is a question of how we know what we know.
Necessary and sufficient conditions for knowledge must be determined.

Knowledge in social science is based on that which can be reliably observed.
Epistemology focuses on what counts as knowledge in social science.

Different research questions require different methods.
Scientific/Quantitative methods include surveys and experiments.
Interpretive/Qualitative methods include interviews, focus groups, and ethnography/participant observation.

Quantitative/Deductive theory aims to create testable and falsifiable hypotheses.
Theoretical constructs in quantitative theory must be observable.
Interpretive/Inductive theory seeks plausible interpretations of social data.

Hypotheses Testing

Hypotheses propose relationships between variables.
Hypotheses commonly take the form of H1 (X is related to Y) or H2 (Group A will differ from Group B on X).
Examples include communication apprehension affecting public speaking grades or social media use affecting mediated activity time.

Quantitative Methodology

A quantitative methodology aims to produce unbiased and replicable knowledge.
Methodologies produce quantifiable results, ideally generalizable.

Elements of Quantitative Research

Understanding what is being studied (conceptualization).
How the study will be conducted (operationalization).
Who is participating (sampling).
Clarity of data collection methods (replicability).
Confidence in findings.

Variables

Variables are entities that take on different values.
Variables are the building blocks of research design.

Conceptualization

Refines and specifies abstract concepts.
Conceptualizations are working agreements, not dictionary definitions.

Language - The Problem

Key concepts in communication studies (e.g., love, leadership, satisfaction, control, culture, etc.) can be problematic because language can create confusions and limitations in communication.

Conceptualization, Indicators, and Dimensions of Communication Apprehension

Examples of indicators and dimensions of Communication Apprehension include Nervousness, Butterflies in Stomach, Worry, Speechlessness, Fear, Hives/Blotchy Skin, Disfluencies, Clammy Hands, Sweaty, Faster heart beat, Filled Pauses.
This concept has cognitive and behavioral dimensions.

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Description

This quiz covers key concepts in communication research methods explored in CCT 208, including note-taking duties for students with disabilities and the foundational elements of epistemology. Delve into how we understand knowledge and the implications for social science. Test your understanding of these fundamental principles.