Editing Quantitative Methods for Communication (Spring 2022)
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= Course Information = | = Course Information = | ||
:'''COM 304: Quantitative Methods for Communication Research''' | :'''COM 304: Quantitative Methods for Communication Research''' | ||
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:'''Email:''' jdfoote@purdue.edu | :'''Email:''' jdfoote@purdue.edu | ||
:'''[[User:Jdfoote/OH|Office Hours]]:''' Thursdays; 2:00–4:00pm and by appointment | :'''[[User:Jdfoote/OH|Office Hours]]:''' Thursdays; 2:00–4:00pm and by appointment | ||
:'''Graduate TA:''' Grace Lee | :'''Graduate TA:''' Grace Lee | ||
:'''Email:''' lee3416@purdue.edu | :'''Email:''' lee3416@purdue.edu | ||
:'''Graduate TA:''' Yihan Jia | :'''Graduate TA:''' Yihan Jia | ||
:'''Email:''' jia110@purdue.edu | :'''Email:''' jia110@purdue.edu | ||
<div style="float:right;"> | <div style="float:right;">__TOC__</div> | ||
= Course Overview and Learning Objectives = | = Course Overview and Learning Objectives = | ||
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I know that for many Communication majors even thinking of math and statistics is traumatic, but we will work hard to provide the resources that you need to succeed and we will take things one step at a time. You can do this! | I know that for many Communication majors even thinking of math and statistics is traumatic, but we will work hard to provide the resources that you need to succeed and we will take things one step at a time. You can do this! | ||
Course Description and Objectives: | |||
This course introduces students to a range of social-scientific research methods used to investigate human communication. By the end of this course, you will be able to: | This course introduces students to a range of social-scientific research methods used to investigate human communication. By the end of this course, you will be able to: | ||
# Explain the types of research questions, methods, and analyses used by scholars who conduct social-scientific studies of communication, as well as by practitioners in fields such as marketing and consumer research, political polling, etc.; | # Explain the types of research questions, methods, and analyses used by scholars who conduct social-scientific studies of communication, as well as by practitioners in fields such as marketing and consumer research, political polling, etc.; | ||
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The Software component is closely allied with the Statistics component. This component focuses on basic applications of the Statistics Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)—a powerful, but user-friendly computer program—and will give you an immediately marketable skill (something to put on the resume). This course should be of use to students with a number of goals, including those: (a) who are contemplating graduate study in communication or related fields; (b) whose current or future career may require them to answer questions by collecting and analyzing data (e.g., advertising, human relations, marketing, public relations); and (c) who want to develop their skills at critically evaluating research and knowledge claims made by “experts” on communication issues. | The Software component is closely allied with the Statistics component. This component focuses on basic applications of the Statistics Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)—a powerful, but user-friendly computer program—and will give you an immediately marketable skill (something to put on the resume). This course should be of use to students with a number of goals, including those: (a) who are contemplating graduate study in communication or related fields; (b) whose current or future career may require them to answer questions by collecting and analyzing data (e.g., advertising, human relations, marketing, public relations); and (c) who want to develop their skills at critically evaluating research and knowledge claims made by “experts” on communication issues. | ||
= Required resources and texts = | = Required resources and texts = | ||
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== Readings == | == Readings == | ||
Required texts: | * Required texts: | ||
* Salkind, N. J. (2017). Statistics for people who (think they) hate statistics (6th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage. | * Salkind, N. J. (2017). Statistics for people who (think they) hate statistics | ||
** | (6th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage. | ||
** Note: I believe that you should be fine with one edition newer or older than this one, too | |||
You also will be assigned readings from online resources; these readings are listed on the course schedule of this syllabus (below) and links are provided in each lecture’s folder on the course Brightspace site. Readings from the text and online resources will be covered in the midterm and final exams. | You also will be assigned readings from online resources; these readings are listed on the course schedule of this syllabus (below) and links are provided in each lecture’s folder on the course Brightspace site. Readings from the text and online resources will be covered in the midterm and final exams. | ||
== Technology == | == Technology == | ||
Smart phone or laptop to complete in-class Hotseat participation questions. | Smart phone or laptop to complete in-class Hotseat participation questions. | ||
= Course logistics = | = Course logistics = | ||
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The lectures sections will be led by Dr. Foote and will be Tuesdays and Thursdays in Lawson 1142. The lab sessions will be on Fridays and will be led by Grace and Yihan, the TAs of the course. | The lectures sections will be led by Dr. Foote and will be Tuesdays and Thursdays in Lawson 1142. The lab sessions will be on Fridays and will be led by Grace and Yihan, the TAs of the course. | ||
I expect you to come to the lecture sessions prepared, having read the material. It is fine to have questions | I expect you to come to the lecture sessions prepared, having read the material. It is fine to have questions--indeed, one of the goals of these sessions is to identify things that are confusing and to clear up misconceptions. | ||
== Getting Help == | == Getting Help == | ||
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= Assignments = | = Assignments = | ||
There will be multiple types of assignments, designed to encourage learning in different ways. | |||
== | == Participation == | ||
I expect you to be an active member of our class. This includes paying attention in class, participating in activities, and being actively engaged in learning, thinking about, and trying to understand the material. | |||
To make sure that everyone has an opportunity to participate and to encourage you to do the assignments, I will randomly select students to discuss readings or to explain portions of homework assignments and labs. | |||
== Discussion Questions == | |||
In order to make sure that we are prepared to have a productive discussion, you are required to submit one or two discussion questions that you think would be interesting to discuss on Monday by noon. Post your questions on the shared Google Doc at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AK4MhWLVwDuxqvTwLomN7hu4aLpo59n5qXgEap8SBNc/edit?usp=sharing; try to group similar questions together. | |||
Questions should engage with the readings and either connect to other concepts or to the "real world". Here are some good example questions: | |||
* The readings this week talked a lot about how network ties get created. I made a list of my closest friends and I realized that most of them only became friends after we happened to be in the same groups over and over again. What role does repetition have in forming ties? | |||
* I was confused by the reading on social capital. What's the difference between social capital and power? And if they are the same, then why not just call it "network power"? | |||
* Imagine you were asked to analyze the network of a big company to help them to identify people who deserve a raise. What measures would you use to identify them? What would you not use? | |||
Some weeks will also include more practical homework (mostly data manipulation and visualization in R). On those weeks, portions of our discussions will center around going over homework questions and identifying places where folks are still confused. | |||
== Homework/Labs == | == Homework/Labs == | ||
There will be a number of homework assignments. At the beginning of the class, these will be designed to help you to grasp foundational network concepts. As the class progresses, more and more of them will be analyzing and visualizing networks in R. | |||
== | == Exams == | ||
There will be | There will be one take home exam. It will assess your understanding of core communication and social networks concepts. | ||
== | == Final Project == | ||
Students will work on a [[/Final project|Final Project]] that explains how network analysis and a network approach can benefit an organization. | |||
A number of intermediate assignments through the semester will help you to gain the skills and data necessary to be successful. | |||
= Grades = | |||
This course will follow a "self-assessment" philosophy. I am more interested in helping you to learn things that will be useful to you than in assigning grades. In general, I think that my time is much better spent in providing better feedback and in being available to work through problems together. | |||
The university still requires grades, so you will be leading the evaluation of your work. This will be completed with me in three stages, at the end of weeks 5, 10, and 16. In each stage, you will use [[Self Assessment Reflection|this form]] to reflect on what you have accomplished thus far, how it has met, not met, or exceeded expectations, based both on rubrics and personal goals and objectives. At each of these stages you will receive feedback on your assessments. By the end of the semester, you should have a clear vision of your accomplishments and growth, which you will turn into a grade. As the instructor-of-record, I maintain the right to disagree with your assessment and alter grades as I see fit, but any time that I do this it will be accompanied by an explanation and discussion. These personal assessments, reflecting both honest and meaningful reflection of your work will be the most important factor in final grades. | |||
We will use the following rubric in our assessment: | |||
* 20%: class participation, including attendance and participation in discussions and group work | |||
* 20%: Labs and homework assignments | |||
* 25%: Exam | |||
* 35%: Final Project | |||
The exam will be graded like a normal exam and the score will make up 25% of your grade. For the rest of the assignments (and the other 75% of your grade), I will provide feedback which will inform an ongoing conversation about your work. | |||
My interpretation of grade levels (A, B, C, D/F) is the following: | |||
A: Reflects work the exceeds expectations on multiple fronts and to a great degree. Students reaching this level of achievement will: | |||
* Do what it takes to learn the principles and techniques of social networks, including looking to outside sources if necessary. | |||
* Engage thoughtfully with an ambitious final project. | |||
* Take intellectual risks, offering interpretations based on synthesizing material and asking for feedback from peers. | |||
* Share work early allowing extra time for engagement with others. | |||
* Write reflections that grapple meaningfully with lessons learned as well as challenges. | |||
* Complete all or nearly all homework assignments at a high level. | |||
B: Reflects strong work. Work at this level will be of consistently high quality. Students reaching this level of achievement will: | |||
* Be more safe or consistent than the work described above. | |||
* Ask meaningful questions of peers and engage them in fruitful discussion. | |||
* Exceed requirements, but in fairly straightforward ways - e.g., an additional post in discussion every week. | |||
* Compose complete and sufficiently detailed reflections. | |||
* Complete many of the homework assignments. | |||
C: This reflects meeting the minimum expectations of the course. Students reaching this level of achievement | |||
will: | |||
* Turn in and complete the final project on time. | |||
* Be collegial and continue discussion, through asking simple or limited questions. | |||
* Compose reflections with straightforward and easily manageable goals and/or avoid discussions of challenges. | |||
* Not complete homework assignments or turn some in in a hasty or incomplete manner. | |||
D/F: These are reserved for cases in which students do not complete work or participate. Students may also be | |||
impeding the ability of others to learn. | |||
== Extra Credit for Participating in Research Studies == | == Extra Credit for Participating in Research Studies == | ||
If you feel like you need to earn extra credit in order to earn the grade that you would like, the course is signed up for extra credit through the Brian Lamb School of Communication Research Participation System. | |||
* Please review the instructions before you sign up for studies; to view the instructions go to https://www.cla.purdue.edu/communication/research/participation/students.html | * Please review the instructions before you sign up for studies; to view the instructions go to https://www.cla.purdue.edu/communication/research/participation/students.html | ||
* You can sign up to participate in studies by logging into http://purdue-comm.sona-systems.com/. | * You can sign up to participate in studies by logging into http://purdue-comm.sona-systems.com/. | ||
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'''Assignment Due:''' | '''Assignment Due:''' | ||
* [[/Discord Signup|Sign up for Discord]] and introduce yourself | * [[/Discord Signup|Sign up for Discord]] and introduce yourself | ||
* Take [https://forms.gle/ | * Take [https://forms.gle/ANqbnAXxivexukgB7 this very brief survey] | ||
'''Required Readings:''' | '''Required Readings:''' | ||
* | * None | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
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* Read the entire syllabus (this document) | * Read the entire syllabus (this document) | ||
'''Readings | '''Readings:''' | ||
'''Class Schedule:''' | |||
==== January 14 ==== | ==== January 14 ==== | ||
'''Lab 1 | '''Lab 1''' | ||
== Week 2: Surveys == | == Week 2: Surveys == | ||
==== January 18 ==== | ==== January 18 ==== | ||
'''Assignment Due:''' | |||
'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
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'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====January 21==== | ====January 21==== | ||
== Week 3: Descriptive Statistics == | == Week 3: Descriptive Statistics == | ||
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'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====January 27==== | ====January 27==== | ||
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'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
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====January 28==== | ====January 28==== | ||
'''Lab 3 | '''Lab 3''' | ||
== Week 4: Z-scores and correlation == | == Week 4: Z-scores and correlation == | ||
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====February 1==== | ====February 1==== | ||
''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====February 3==== | ====February 3==== | ||
'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====February 4==== | ====February 4==== | ||
'''Lab 4 | '''Lab 4''' | ||
== Week 5: Reliability and Validity == | == Week 5: Reliability and Validity == | ||
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'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====February 10==== | ====February 10==== | ||
'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
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'''Lab 5: Scatterplots and correlation''' | '''Lab 5: Scatterplots and correlation''' | ||
== Week 6: Sampling == | |||
== Week 6: Sampling | |||
====February 15==== | ====February 15==== | ||
''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
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'''Lab 6: Reliability and Cronbach's alpha''' | '''Lab 6: Reliability and Cronbach's alpha''' | ||
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==== March 1 ==== | ==== March 1 ==== | ||
'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====March 3==== | ====March 3==== | ||
'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
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'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
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'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====March 11==== | ====March 11==== | ||
'''Lab 9 | '''Lab 9''' | ||
====SPRING BREAK MARCH 14-18==== | ====SPRING BREAK MARCH 14-18==== | ||
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'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
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'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====March 25==== | ====March 25==== | ||
== Week 11: Significance tests == | == Week 11: Significance tests == | ||
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'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====March 31==== | ====March 31==== | ||
'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
==== April 1 ==== | ==== April 1 ==== | ||
== Week 12: t-tests == | == Week 12: t-tests == | ||
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'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====April 7==== | ====April 7==== | ||
'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====April 8==== | ====April 8==== | ||
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'''Readings (before class):''' | '''Readings (before class):''' | ||
'''Concepts:''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====April 14==== | ====April 14==== | ||
'''Readings (before class):''' | |||
''' | '''Concepts:''' | ||
====April 15==== | |||
====April | |||
== Week 14-15: Final Project == | |||
== Week 15 | |||
== Week 16: Final Exam == | == Week 16: Final Exam == | ||
= Policies = | = Policies = |