Communications Research Module

Starting Your Research

• Research is an in-depth investigation of a specific phenomenon, involving formulating targeted questions, applying discipline-specific theories, and collecting and interpreting data to generate new knowledge within a field.
• The term "research" can be used as a verb, meaning "to search or investigate exhaustively," or as a noun, referring to a "studious inquiry or examination" or a "careful or diligent search."

Why Do Research?

• Participating in a research project helps students develop their skill set, find their strengths, and prepare for a professional or academic career.
• Research is integral to holistic growth as an undergraduate student.
• Outside academia, research informs policy, such as the creation of the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine effectiveness studies.

Beginning the Research Process

• According to Solis (2021), research begins with articulating your research problem, which can be a source of anxiety for students and researchers alike.
• There are four key steps in developing your research problem:
• Select a research topic, considering your interests, research goals, approach, paradigms, and theories.
• Determine topic relevance by asking questions such as "Is it worth the research effort?" and "Can the results of the study be generalized?"
• Review the literature to refine your research topic and finalize your research problem and objectives.
• State the research problem by writing a research question, objectives, and hypothesis (for quantitative studies).

This module covers the basics of research, its importance, and how to start a research project in the field of communication. It explains what research is and how it's applied in communication studies.