Communication: Academic & Research Writing

• Communication for Academic and Work Purposes encompasses topics 8-9, weeks 8-9 of purposive communication.

Communication for Academic Purposes

• Academic communication involves research, discourses, discussions in the academe, pedagogy, teaching, and forms of communication in academic work.

Academic Writing

• Academic writing is structured, cohesive, and precise/scholarly

Research Writing

• Research is a common form of academic writing and communication.
• Research is a scientific investigation to uncover crucial answers to questions.
• Research uses various methods and serves as a measure of academic success and competence.

Research Format

• A research contains an introduction
• A research contains methods
• A research contains results
• A research contains a discussion

Chapter 1 - The Problem and its Background

• Chapter 1 contains the background of the study, statement of the problem, significance and scope of the study, literature review, and conceptual/theoretical framework.

Background of the Study

• Begin with an introduction of the chosen topic/problem to give an overview of the research area and general nature of the topic.
• Relate the background to the field of inquiry by presenting and describing the logical development of the research problem/topic area for reader comprehension.
• State the rationale of the study to motivate its pursuit.

Statement of the Problem

• State the objectives or research questions, including subsidiary questions, clearly and explicitly.
• The problem statement provides the underlying rationale for the thesis/dissertation, acting as an invitation by telling the reader what the problem is, what it is all about, and why the study is needed.
• Begin with a sentence or two stating the study's general objective/purpose, followed by specific questions/objective that expand/specify the coverage of the general goal.

Significance of the Study

• The significance of the study is included in the intro and provides details on the study's contributions and beneficiaries.
• It includes an explanation of the work's importance and potential benefits.

Scope and Delimitation

• The Scope of study explains what information is being analyzed with its limitations regarding sample size, time, and geographic area.
• Delimitation describes the scope of study explaining why certain subject aspects were chosen and others excluded.
• Also mentions the research method used as well as certain theories applied to the data.

Literature Review

• The literature review concisely summarizes current evidence on the topic and any gaps in evidence in your own words.
• The review demonstrates consideration of the cumulative worth of the body of the thesis/dissertation.
• Literature review strings together quotes and citations from various documents and research.
• Synthesis combines two or more elements (findings of literature) to form a new whole (conclusion drawn from findings).

Conceptual Framework

• Concepts are ideas or abstractions from observed events/situations.
• Theories are sets of interrelated concepts, constructs, definitions, and propositions.
• Theories present a systematic view of the phenomenon (observable fact) by specifying relationships among variables to explain and predict it.
• Conceptual/theoretical framework presents concepts and theories behind the study.
• The framework can be presented in a diagram showing research problem/topic area, variables (dependent, independent, intervening), and their relationships.

Chapter 2 - Methods

• Chapter 2 contains the research design, locale, participants, instrument, data gathering procedure, data analysis, and potential ethical issues.

Research Design

• The quantitative/qualitative research method is specified and described, including experimental, quasi-experimental, descriptive, correlational, ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, critical social theory, historical research, case studies, narrative analysis, and descriptive qualitative studies.
• Discuss the appropriateness of the research method in your study and why it is best to investigate the problem and address research questions.

Research Locale

• This section notes the geographic setting of the study.
• Important features of present day are included
• Also notes the target population.

Participants of the Study

• Describe the procedure/technique for selecting participants, which could include systematic sampling, stratified sampling, or cluster sampling.
• Participants are described by their demographics like sex and age.
• Tables or figures may be used to present demographic characteristics

Research Instrument

• Variables should be measured or observed, particularly measurement of the dependent variable in experimental research
• Include data gathering materials
• Include the types of items and responses, scoring procedure, and evidence of the instrument's reliability/validity.

Data Gathering Procedure

• Describe the phases of data gathering procedure and the exact steps for each phase during the research.
• A flow chart or diagram may help visualize the order of activities you will undertake during the study, including selecting/training research assistants, recruiting/contacting participants, assigning participants to groups, administering instruments (including pretesting), interviewing participants, and ethical procedures.
• Enumerate activities undertaken to complete the study
• Describe each activity to help other replication attempts

Data Analysis

• Discuss the procedures for scoring, recording/encoding, and analyzing data to address the research problem(s).
• If using a special form for recording/accumulating data, place an example in the appendix section.
• For phenomenological study, describe the sophisticated ways in which data is processed and analyzed.
• If applying statistical tests, identify the specific descriptive and/or inferential statistics to be used.

Potential Ethical Issues

• Ethical norms include issues such as honesty requirements, informed consent, data anonymization/storage, right of data access for participants, and confidentiality for those undertaking the research.

Communication in the Workplace

• Workplace communication helps to establish and maintain working relationships in organizations.

Categories of Workplace Communication

• Internal and external communication
• Upward communication
• Downward communication
• Lateral communication

Importance of Communication in the Workplace

• Creates Job Satisfaction
• Lessens Conflict
• Increases Productivity
• Nurtures Relationships
• Maximizes Resources

Genres of Communication Across Professions

• Business Letters
• Memoranda
• Minutes of the Meeting
• Social Media & Email