ADJUSTED - last updated 5/3/16

IMPACT ON SEMESTER GRADING:     The lower grade will be dropped from the grade computations: Midterm via Final. Adjusted

> ADVANCE QUESTION:    click for link to Comm Dept Outcomes Assessment questions. 

Complete & bring in as HARD COPY to exam session. 5 automatic points added to test score simply for completion of both questions. Additional 0-5 quality points possible.

>

> WHAT YOU SHOULD STUDY:  {THIS IS A RANDOM (& therefore incomplete) LIST OF SUGGESTED ITEMS}

•     Communication Research (e.g.  reading & conducting original Communication Studies-based investigations, etc) , 

•     Scholarly Research Culture (e.g.positivist-vs-naturalist, research question -vs-hypothesis, ethnography -vs-content analysis-vs-survey, etc, reliability-validity, bias, structuring a research study, a literature review-vs- a review of the literature, etc.) ,

•     Communication Studies (e.g. Metacommunication, Uncertainty Reduction Theory, Implicit Personality Theory, Stereotype-Prejudice-Bias ,  High context/Low context, , Edward T. Hall,   Proxemics, Kinesics ,  Systems Theory, basic communication definitions,  Anna Deveare Smith, Performance Research,)

NOTE --- Remember, this course attempts to examine various factors about Communication Studies, in general , and Communication Research, in particular.  You should think about the various units in the course content as interrelated and conceptual. This means that knowing specific terms and their definitions is only  the beginning of  demonstrated knowledge in this area. Also, you should be prepared to synthesize various concepts and apply them to the explanation of human communication behaviors. Be aware that these expectations will require critical thinking skills & attention to detail.

 

As mentioned above, all chapters [both textbook & EReserve]  are relevant but the emphasis is on material covered in the second half of the semester: 5, 6, 11, 15, 16)--as well as the notes relating to these areas. Of course, you should be familiar with the various methodologies. In addition, some questions will be taken from general research principles covered earlier in the semester. Also remember that many of our discussions dealt with Communication-specific concepts not necessarily connected to research. You WILL be able to refer to your textbooks while completing the test  {however, this can slow you down if you are not well prepared}   

In-class questions will be primarily of the Short answer, & brief Essay variety. Some terminology &/or multiple choice questions  also may be included. Be prepared to explain, to analyze, to compare and to contrast.

I will NOT use the same exact wording as in the books & I expect you to use your own words in your answers. Although you will have access to your textbook, Iremember your time is limited.  

 

It is expected that most people will be able to complete the test in 55-75 minutes. The exam session is 2 hours long.

There are two options for taking: 

♦ to be done via paper (I'll supply) & pen       

   /OR/        

 ♦ to be done on your laptops. You will e-mail your answers to me before leaving the room.

Review the handouts  & online materials  that have been used for class activities (including any online quizzes - all of which now should be indicating the  correct answers). These items  highlight the concepts/terms from the course that your professor has emphasized. As you review your readings, also make use of the chapter boxes, conclusions & end-of-text glossary, etc.   

If you are unsure about how to access past quizzes, instructions are listed in the left column on my web page. Blackboard was recently upgraded but the procedure might still work.

  

 from the past, from this & other courses:

Below are various samples of questions I have asked in the past in other courses. These may (or may not) pertain to your current textbook and may (or may not) turn up on the current test.  I've cut & pasted items from previous tests. In any case, these samples will give you an idea of how multi-faceted, and application-based my questions can be.

 ----- Some Sample Objective-type Questions -----

[M.C.] 1. By using the word, "theoretical",  the journal article's authors are saying that their study: a) is based on the comparison of axiomatic relationships  that have never been put together before  b) is based on previously established explanations of how things work in  social interactions  c) is based on a true experimental design  d) is based on pure speculation but applied the Toulmin (argumentation) model

[F.I.] 2. Although most people are aware of the random sampling concept for gathering subjects for an  experiment  in order to achieve objective results, few realize thath onjectivity can be forther maximized by using  ____________________, using a non-purposive, non parametric method for deciding who does  what  within the experiment.

[M.C.] 3. We use our past experiences & frames of reference in order to help us make assessments about current people and situations. When we use such past information to DEFINE a behavior via a particular person's demonstration of it, we are: a) prototyping b) personally constructing c) stereotyping d) scripting

[T/F] 4. "Attraction" is  a step in the development of human relationships that often occurs AFTER the performance of affinity seeking and/or uncertainty reduction behaviors by communicators. <TRUE|FALSE>

[MC] 5.   Which of the following would not be considered a critical studies methodology?

a.      Feminist criticism.

b.      Dramatistic criticism.

c.      Marxist criticism.

d.      Cultural criticism.

[Mtch] 6.   Match the best choice for a method of describing, evaluating, and reforming social structures with the claims from published research that follow:

a.      Carnival criticism

b.      Feminist criticism

c.      Marxist criticism

d.      Psychoanalytic criticism

e.      Universal pragmatics

_____ i. "Insofar as its central category is the dynamic unconscious,           represents a theory of an inside, or interiority that has largely been ignored, and sometimes attacked, in favor of defense of surfaces and exteriorities (e.g., fantasy themes and rhetorical visions, rational argument in idea speech situations, and so on)" (Gunn, 2004, QJS, p. 501).

_____ ii. "Governor Jesse Ventura's discourse and symbolic actions used references and images that associated him with the . . . fool's role to protest against the prevailing political system" (Janak, 2006, CS, p. 197).

_____ iii. " . . the hegemonic potential of that coverage is profound; packaged as progress, equality, and power, the mediated contemporary female athlete instead delivers highly traditional female sexuality." (Shugart, 2003, WJC, p. 27).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 ----- Some Sample Short Answer/Essay-type Questions -----

    1. Professor Peterson  is a Communication Professor who is particularly curious about how groups handle conflict in subtle, not-always-obvious ways. What are 4 recommendations that you would make to the Professor for structuring this research project? Support your choices.  You can address such research issues as overall approach, possible Research Question/Hypothesis,  methodology, etc.

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    2. I recently encountered the attached research "quantoid/factoid" in the newspaper. Should I believe these statistical findings? Why or why not? (explain by using appropriate "vocabulary" )

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    3. This semester, the research methodology that seemed to surprise the most people was Performance Research, as evidenced by the work of Anna Deveare Smith who used rather familiar means to gather content  but utilized her backgrounds in acting, performance, and teaching -- all of which give her a strong ability to use this type of research in her sociological and listening-based projects. 

I also have mentioned a colleague who had his ethnography & conversation analysis students do the same kind of thing and present the memorized monologues in class.

 Can such a technique be of any use to the average Comm. student and/or Comm. researcher who does not have such training? Support your answer. Your answer should also indicate that you understand the components of this particular methodological approach.

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   4.  Every semester, some of the research projects  end up with disproved hypotheses and/or only partially supported research questions.  If you had to do it again, would you use a different paradigm for your research project  (e.g. discovery instead of interpretive?  // critical instead of discovery, etc. ?

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  5.   In all the scholarly models that are based on Toulmin's approach to argumentation, it's easy to know what "claim" means & what "evidence/data" means. However, what's the role of the "warrant"? 

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  6. If you had it to do all over again, what are two specific alternate research methods that could be effective for investigating your research topic this semester? Explain the rationale for your choice & discuss whether such a change in method would require any changes in R.Q./H.

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7. Define the "IPT Process" in reference to the study of human communication. Support your answer by applying it to a specific current event.

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8.  Slide for  an ADVANCE QUESTION for S'13

Do you understand what this image is telling you about the correlation?

1. Even a non-quantitative researcher needs to know something about statistics. See the slide below which was created by your textbook's  authors to accompany the discussion of Inferential Statistics.

       What is a Correlation Coefficient & why do you think they chose this particular kind of visual representation to represent the results (as opposed to a bar chart or a pie chart, etc. )

na for this semester: halo/horn effects /  Chronemics

Test is Mandatory:   This is the default position & applies to most people.

Test is Optional under certain circumstances: You do NOT have to take this test if ALL 3 factors apply to you:

 [a] if your midterm grade was B+ [3.5] or higher                 

AND

 [b] if you have completed 3 online quizzes ( by 5/6/13) AND your weighted score average is  75% or higher

AND

 [c]  You have no more than 3 class absences.