This document provides instructions for a research assignment. Students are asked to choose a communication topic from a list provided and design a research study applying one or more research methods covered in class. They must write a 2 page paper answering questions about introducing their topic, conducting a literature review, research purpose, unit of analysis, research question, research design, variables, data collection, important elements of a proposal, feasibility, and challenges of the study. The paper should follow standard formatting guidelines and demonstrate understanding of research design elements discussed in class.

1. CM208: Research
Unit 9 Assignment
Throughout the class you have discussed a variety of research
methods, both quantitative and qualitative (participant
observation, qualitative interviewing, social text analysis). For
the Unit 9 Assignment, it is time to apply that information to a
topic and design a research study. You do not have to complete
the study; you are just creating a plan for a study by answering
the questions below.
For the Assignment this week you have a list of topics to choose
from. Choose a sample communication topic provided (or one of
your own with instructor approval) and design a research study
using one (or more) of the research methods discussed in the
text. You can use one method or combine methods.
In order to complete the Assignment on your research plan,
provide answers to the questions below. For more information
on what to include for each question, the elements of a research
design are discussed in detail in Chapter 2 of the text.
Be sure to answer each question with detail and explanations:
1. an introduction to your topic
2. how you would conduct a literature review (the process you
would use and generally where you would go for information)
3. your research purpose
4. the unit of analysis

2. 5. your research question or hypothesis
6. the research design
a. the specific research method (or methods) you will use
b. the variables
c. how you will conduct the research/ collect the data
7. the important elements to be included in the research
proposal
8. a wrap up of research design
a. Is it feasible?
b. What are the challenges to this study?
c. How well would it work to gather the data needed for the
purpose and topic?
d. Provide any last thoughts on your research design.
Choose one of the topics below to complete this Assignment (or
another topic of your choice with instructor approval).
· The correlation between communication apprehension and
success in employment interviews
· Longitudinal study of the correlation between children's
television viewing and reading in the home
· Older adults have larger companionship networks than
younger adults (even with the advent of social networks such as
MySpace or Facebook on the Internet)

3. · Males and females differ in the frequency with which they
request advice from others
· The more television viewers watch, the more fearful they are
of the world
· Couples who are high in mutual negativity will have a greater
likelihood of splitting up than couples who are low in mutual
negativity
· How many students out of high school are ready for college
classes
· Determine public opinion on a political candidate
· Exposure to a positive work environment increases
productivity
· Are messages characterized by a masculine style more
persuasive than messages characterized by a feminine style
· Are the stories told by employees (narratives) an indicator of
organizational loyalty
· The portrayals of families on prime time TV
· Is going to the movies a gendered activity (is one gender more
likely to attend movies than the other)
· What skills are necessary to move up in your company
· Analyze a well known speech such as Abraham Lincoln's
Gettysburg address or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a
dream" speech

4. Preparing Your Assignment
· Include identifying information: name, date, course,
assignment, page numbers.
· The body of your paper should be between 500 and 600 words,
or about two pages.
· Use one-inch margins on all sides of the paper.
· Use a 12-point font such as Times New Roman or Arial.
· The paper will be based on your thoughts and, therefore, will
not require outside citations. However, if you do cite outside
references (including the text), you will have to provide the
source information. In addition, Assignments should
demonstrate careful proofreading.
Unit 9 Project
Total Points = 120
Possible Points
Points Earned
Comments
Content 80%
· Paper is 500 – 600 words (about 2 pages) and addresses one of
the topics listed in the directions and includes all areas for that
topic including:
· an introduction to your topic
· how you would conduct a literature review (the process you
would use and generally where you would go for information)
· your research purpose

5. · the unit of analysis
· your research question or hypothesis
· the research design
1) the specific research method (or methods) you will use
2) the variables
3) how you will conduct the research/ collect the data
· the important elements to be included in the research proposal
· a wrap up of research design
1) Is it feasible?
2) What are the challenges to this study?
3) How well would it work to gather the data needed for the
purpose and topic?
4) Provide any last thoughts on your research design
· All key elements of the assignment are covered in a
substantive way
· Content is comprehensive, accurate and persuasive
· Includes elements from the text
· Major points are stated clearly, are supported by specific
details, examples, and/or analysis and are organized logically.
96 points

6. Readability/ Style 10%
· Sentences are clear, concise, well-constructed, consistently
strong and varied.
· Sentence transitions are present and maintain the flow of
thought.
12 Points
Mechanics 10%
· Rules of college grammar, word usage and punctuation are
followed.
· Spelling is correct.
· Any References used follow APA guidelines (sources are not
required)
12 Points
Note: Proper intext citations are (author, year, page number) for
direct quotes.
Throughout the class you have discussed a variety of research
methods, both quantitative and qualitative (participant
observation, qualitative interviewing, social text analysis). For
the Unit 9 Assignment, it is time to apply that information to a
topic and design a research study. You do not have to complete
the study; you are just creating a plan for a study by answering
the questions below.
For the Assignment this week you have a list of topics to choose

7. from. Choose a sample communication topic provided (or one of
your own with instructor approval) and design a research study
using one (or more) of the research methods discussed in the
text. You can use one method or combine methods.
In order to complete the Assignment on your research plan,
provide answers to the questions below. For more information
on what to include for each question, the elements of a research
design are discussed in detail in Chapter 2 of the text. Be sure
to answer each question with detail and explanations:
an introduction to your topic
how you would conduct a literature review (the process you
would use and generally where you would go for information)
your research purpose
the unit of analysis
your research question or hypothesis
the research design
the specific research method (or methods) you will use
the variables
how you will conduct the research/ collect the data
the important elements to be included in the research
proposal
a wrap up of research design
Is it feasible?

8. What are the challenges to this study?
How well would it work to gather the data needed for the
purpose and topic?
Provide any last thoughts on your research design.
Choose one of the topics below to complete this Assignment (or
another topic of your choice with instructor approval).
The correlation between communication apprehension and
success in employment interviews
Longitudinal study of the correlation between children's
television viewing and reading in the home
Older adults have larger companionship networks than
younger adults (even with the advent of social networks such as
MySpace or Facebook on the Internet)
Males and females differ in the frequency with which they
request advice from others
The more television viewers watch, the more fearful they are
of the world
Couples who are high in mutual negativity will have a greater
likelihood of splitting up than couples who are low in mutual
negativity
How many students out of high school are ready for college
classes
Determine public opinion on a political candidate

9. Exposure to a positive work environment increases
productivity
Are messages characterized by a masculine style more
persuasive than messages characterized by a feminine style
Are the stories told by employees (narratives) an indicator of
organizational loyalty
The portrayals of families on prime time TV
Is going to the movies a gendered activity (is one gender
more likely to attend movies than the other)
What skills are necessary to move up in your company
Analyze a well know speech such as Abraham Lincoln's
Gettysburg address or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a
dream" speech
Preparing Your Assignment
The body of your paper should be between 500 and 600 words,
or about two pages.
Use one-inch margins on all sides of the paper.
Use a 12-point font such as Times New Roman or Arial.
The paper will be based on your thoughts and, therefore, will
not require outside citations. However, if you do cite outside
references (including the text), you will have to provide the
source information. In addition, Assignments should
demonstrate careful proofreading.