Communication Research Methods

Communication Research Methods

1 Research: Concept, Nature and Scope

  1. Research: Concept and Role
  2. Growth and Development
  3. Importance of Research
  4. Research: Nature and Characteristics
  5. Purpose of Research
  6. Scope of Communication Research

2 Classification of Research

  1. Based on Design
  2. Based on Stage
  3. Based on Nature
  4. Based on Location
  5. Based on Approach
  6. Communicators
  7. Media Content
  8. Distribution
  9. Audiences

3 Defining and Formulating Research Problems

  1. Difference between a Social Problem and a Research Problem
  2. Importance of Review of Literature
  3. Questions of Relevance, Feasibility, and Achievability
  4. Research Questions, Objectives, and Hypotheses
  5. Defining the Terms of Enquiry

4 Sampling Methods

  1. Population
  2. Types of Sampling
  3. Sampling Error
  4. Non-Probability Sampling
  5. Probability Sampling
  6. Sample Size

5 Review of Literature

  1. Literature Review: Need and Importance
  2. Objectives of Review of Literature
  3. Evaluation of Material for Review
  4. Writing Review of Literature

6 Data Collection Sources

  1. Primary and Secondary Data
  2. Sources of Secondary data
  3. Sources of Primary Data
  4. How to Store and Save Your Data

7 Survey Method

  1. Salient Features
  2. Types of Surveys
  3. Data collection tools
  4. Types of Questions
  5. Designing a Questionnaire
  6. The Process

8 Content Analysis

  1. Conceptual Foundations
  2. Characteristics of Content Analysis
  3. Types of Content Analysis
  4. Process of Content Analysis
  5. Let Us Sum Up

9 Experimental Method

  1. Nature of Experimental Method
  2. Classic Experimental Research Design
  3. Process of Experimental Research
  4. Experimental Design
  5. Field Experiments
  6. Merits and Demerits of Experimental Method

10 Interview Techniques

  1. Interview: Concept and Types
  2. Informal Interviews
  3. Structured Interviews
  4. Semi-structured Interviews
  5. Unstructured (Indepth) Interviews
  6. Interviewing Skills
  7. Ethical Issues

11 Case Study Method

  1. Case Study: A Qualitative Method
  2. Research Paradigms
  3. Main Features of Case Study Method
  4. Functions of Case Study
  5. Types of Case Studies
  6. Case Study Method: Strengths and Limitations
  7. The Process of Case Study

12 Observation Method

  1. Characteristics of Observation Method
  2. Strengths and Limitations
  3. Types of Observation
  4. Process of Observation
  5. Ethical Issues in Observation

13 Semiotics

  1. Texts and the Study of Signs
  2. Classification of Signs
  3. Paradigms and Syntagms
  4. Encoding and Decoding
  5. Social Semiotics

14 Basic Statistical Analysis

  1. Introduction to Statistics
  2. Populations and Samples
  3. Scales of Measurement
  4. Frequency Distribution
  5. Measures of Central Tendency
  6. Variability

15 Data Analysis

  1. Different Research Perspectives
  2. Handling Quantitative Data
  3. Qualitative Data Analysis
  4. Drawing Conclusion Through Data Analysis

16 Report Writing

  1. Stages in Report Writing
  2. The Beginning
  3. Main Body of the Report
  4. The Final Section
  5. Effective Writing