Introducing Communication Research: Paths of Inquiry

Introducing Communication Research: Paths of Inquiry teaches students the basics of communication research in an accessible manner by using student-focused real-world examples, engaging application exercises, and up-to-date resources. Donald Treadwell guides readers through the process of conducting communication research and presenting findings for a diversity of audiences, and the book emphasizes the Internet and social media as both topics of, and tools for, communication research. The Fifth Edition adds new pedagogical features, a new social media and big data section in each method chapter, coverage throughout of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and particularly in relation to reporting and presenting research; and references the latest research and data sources related to changes in communication brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Included with this title: LMS Cartridge: Import this title’s instructor resources into your school’s learning management system (LMS) and save time. Don′t use an LMS? You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Foundations: The Ideas That Shape Our Research Chapter Overview Getting Started in Research: Assumptions and Decisions Starting With Basic Beliefs and Perspectives General Questions Behind Communication Research Looking Ahead: Web Worlds, Fuzzy Boundaries and Artificial Intelligence Examples and Insights: “Better Than Sex” Chapter 2: Getting Started: From Inspiration to Implementation Chapter Overview The Relationship Between Theory and Observations Starting With a Model or Theory Starting With “5W+H” Questions Starting With a Focus Operationalizing Constructs Starting With a Purpose Starting With the Work of Others The Unavoidable Decisions Examples and Insights: Facing a Meta/Facebook Furor With Further Findings Chapter 3: Ethics: Our Responsibilities as Researchers Chapter Overview Introduction: Some Ethical Decisions Ethics Issues in Communication Research Some Classic Ethical Positions Two Brief Histories—or Why We Care About Research Ethics Contemporary Codes of Ethics Regulations Peer Review and Institutional Review Boards What Should I Call You? The Ethics of Involvement The Internet and Research Ethics Informed Consent and Debriefing on the Internet Examples and Insights: Making Consent Forms Shorter Chapter 4: Resources: Reading, Recording, and Reviewing Research Chapter Overview Library Research: Why Bother? Finding Relevance Finding Quality Search Strategies and Techniques The Literature Review: Writing Your Search Results Examples and Insights: Predatory Journals Chapter 5: Measurement: Research Using Numbers Chapter Overview What Do Your Head Size, Attitudes, and Readability Have in Common? Research NOIR To NOIR Is Not Enough: Reliability and Validity Two Common Measurement Scales Communication Research Measures as a Work in Progress Examples and Insights: Off-the-Shelf Communication Research Measures Social Media, Big Data, and Measurement Chapter 6: Sampling: Who, What, and How Many? Chapter Overview Introduction Nonprobability Sampling Probability Sampling How Big Does My Sample Have to Be? Selecting a Sampling Frame Special Population Sampling The Future of Sampling Examples and Insights: Student Participation Social Media, Big Data, and Sampling Chapter 7: Statistics: Choosing and Using Quantitative Tools Chapter Overview Introduction But First—Data Cleanup and Categorization Describing Data: Descriptive Statistics Inferential Statistics Assessing Results Accept or Reject My Findings? Examples and Insights: Evaluating Quantitative Studies Big Data: Analysis Chapter 8: Surveys: Putting Numbers on Opinions Chapter Overview Introduction: Advantages and Disadvantages of Surveys Types Of Surveys Survey Methods Writing, Introducing, and Formatting Survey Questions Survey Wording: “If It Can Be Misinterpreted, It Will Be” Web and Mobile Survey Design Improving Survey Response Rates Using Other People’s Surveys Examples and Insights: Assessing Survey Credibility Big Data and Surveys Chapter 9: Experiments: Researching Cause and Effect Chapter Overview Introduction: Advantages and Disadvantages of Experiments Field Experiments and Ex Post Facto Designs Designing for Control Factorial Designs Between-Subjects and Within-Subjects Design Time Series Analysis Validity and Experimental Design Examples and Insights: Researching Selfies Big Data and Online Experiments Experiments Revisited Chapter 10: Content Analysis I: Quantitative Understanding of Words and Images Chapter Overview Introduction: Advantages and Disadvantages of Content Analysis A Basic Content Analysis Content Analysis of Human Interaction Coding and Latent Content Content Analysis as Quantitative and Qualitative Computer Analysis of Content Examples and Insights: Predictions From Social Media Big Data and Content Analysis Getting Started Chapter 11: Content Analysis II: Qualitative Understandings of Words and Images Chapter Overview Introduction: Advantages and Disadvantages of Qualitative Analyses of Content Rhetorical Analyses Narrative, Fantasy, Discourse, and Conversation Analyses Semiotics and Metaphor Critical Analyses Visual Rhetorical Analyses Examples and Insights: Qualitative Content Analysis and Qualitative Content Analysis Social Media, Big Data, and Multimodal Analysis Chapter 12: Observation: Qualitative Understandings of Behaviors and Attitudes Chapter Overview Introduction: Advantages and Disadvantages of Qualitative Methods Qualitative and Quantitative: Similarities and Differences Researcher–Participant Relationships Watching and Listening Methods Making Sense of Qualitative Data Examples and Insights: Reflexivity and Social Media Research Social Media, Big Data, and Qualitative Research Chapter 13: Now What? Reporting and Presenting Research Results Chapter Overview Introduction The Publics of Research The Voices of Research Disseminating Research Findings Visualizing Research Results Examples and Insights: Researching the Impact of Presentation Media and Audience Interaction Social Media, Big Data, Visualization, and Artificial Intelligence

About the Author :
Donald Treadwell earned his master’s degree in communication from Cornell University and his PhD in communication and rhetoric from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He developed and taught communication research classes in classroom and online settings and also taught courses in organizational communication, public relations, and public relations writing. He is the coauthor of Public Relations Writing: Principles in Practice (2nd ed., Sage, 2005). He has published and presented research on organizational image, consumer response to college names, health professionals’ images of AIDS, faculty perceptions of the communication discipline, and employers’ expectations of newly hired communication graduates. His research appears in Communication Monographs, Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, Public Relations Review, Journal of Human Subjectivity, and Criminal Justice Ethics. He is professor emeritus, Westfield State University, and has international consulting experience in agricultural extension and health communication.  

Review :
Praise for the previous edition: "Introducing Communication Research is the one-stop shop for teaching communication research. It covers every fundamental an undergraduate or graduate student needs to know in a remarkably accessible style." "This text is distinct in that it makes a large, complex topic very easy to break down for students of all abilities!"