Autumn 2013

COMM 7789 Survey Research Practicum (Kosicki)

The Survey Research Practicum introduces the Total Survey Error approach to the study and practice of survey research and encourages practical, hands-on experiences.  TSE is an important theoretical advance in that it provides a framework for consideration of all the types of errors that relate to survey research – e.g., measurement error, nonresponse error, coverage error, and sampling error. TSE is a perspective for understanding, measuring and limiting these and other types of errors and balancing this with consideration of the costs involved. In this way, TSE provides practical guidance to survey researchers about the most cost-effective ways to achieve the best quality survey data.

The course will meet twice weekly to discuss survey methodology, covering such topics as:

• Survey conceptualization/design and total survey error
• Interviewer training, supervision, and verification
• Questionnaire development and refinement
• Appropriate sample designs and execution
• Respondent selection and control
• Nonresponse and the issue of response rates
• Item editing and coding
• Sample weighting
• Benefits and limits of self-administered Internet-based surveys
• Dissemination and use of survey findings
• Locating and using high-quality secondary data for analysis
• Survey-based experiments
• Problems and opportunities of alternatives to survey research such as administrative data and computational social science

This course is one of two required courses in the Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Survey Research (GISSR). Students in that program, which is available to any graduate student at Ohio State University, can earn a certificate in survey research. The registrar documents this achievement on your university transcript.

COMM 7813 Public Opinion and Communication (Holbert)

COMM 7870 Media, Campaigns and Health (Slater)

This graduate class in health communication research, communication interventions and related media and health issues is designed to be appropriate for masters as well as Ph.D. students.  The class provides the  foundations for conducting both health communication/promotion research and fundable theory-based interventions.  The major class assignment is the development of either a proposal for original research or a proposal for a communication-based intervention (other kinds of assignments can be negotiated if consistent with class objectives and with the students' academic goals e.g. if the student has relevant projects currently underway, data available for analysis, etc.).  Students from varied backgrounds with an interest in communication, media, health, and/or behavior change are welcome, and are encouraged to contact the professor with questions.  A draft syllabus is available.

COMM 8801 Special Topics in Communication Research Methods (Ewoldsen)

This seminar will cover methods for measuring cognitive processes and representations with an emphasis on the pragmatics of using the different methodologies, the theoretical assumptions underlying the different methodologies, and special issues involved in data analysis.  A partial list of topics will include explicit memory measures (recognition, recall), signal detection theory (d' and a'), clustering measures of memory, implicit memory measures (such as word fragment completion), dissociation procedures, reaction time measures (standard RT, response deadline, secondary task reaction times, priming procedures, implicit measures), analysis of RT data, and measures of mental representation (multidimensional scaling, cluster analysis).

COMM 8930 Special Topics in Interpersonal Communication (Powers)

This course is structured to present you with four complementary approaches to the study of nonverbal communication: (1) foundational approaches that focus on evolutionary forces, physiological aspects, lifespan development, and social/cultural effects; (2) channels of nonverbal communication, how they are measured, and under what circumstances they differ between individuals and groups; (3) functions of nonverbal communication in generating and regulating social interaction; and (4) application of nonverbal communication research to applied contexts. The goals of the course are to provide you with the major theories to be able to describe and predict how nonverbal communication affects our self-presentation, health, attitudes, interactions, and relationships, and to be able to use these theories to develop your own research proposals in your areas of interest.

COMM 8940 Special Topics in Mass Communication (Knobloch-Westerwick)

This course provides an introduction to influential and current theory and research in media psychology. Media psychology is an interdisciplinary field devoted theoretically-oriented, empirical research that is at the intersection of psychology and media/mediated communication. Research topics include media selection, uses, processes, and effects. In contrast to related research in the communication science tradition, media psychological work draws heavily on psychological theorizing and methodology. Select areas from communication science have been elaborated on by media psychologists (i.e., cultivation approach/chronic exemplar accessibility), and for some phenomena such as relating to media characters, conceptualizations in communication science and media psychology differ (i.e., parasocial interaction vs. empathy and affective disposition).

Throughout the course, we will examine how media users choose, process, and respond to media messages and how they are affected by them and also possibly seek to be affect by media exposure—through media-psychological lens. Readings and class meetings will address key theories and current research in media psychology.

Spring 2013

COMM 7713 Political Communication (Nisbet)

This course is an upper-level graduate seminar providing an overview of theories and research about political communication. The seminar will focus on major paradigms of, research trends in, and special topics about political communication.

COMM 7840 Mass Communication & the Individual (Moyer-Guse)

This course provides an introduction to prominent theory and research on media use and effects at the individual level. Our purpose is to explore the major theoretical perspectives pertaining to the social and psychological effects of media on viewers and the ways that viewers select, understand, interpret, and react to media content. Specifically, we will examine how and why individuals choose media, how they process media messages, and the intended and unintended effects of this media use. We will focus on research conducted within a social scientific framework. Our readings and class meetings will be guided by the major theoretical approaches in this area. Within the context of these theories, we will read empirical studies across a variety of media topics (e.g., media violence, health, political, entertainment media, news media, etc.)

COMM 7950 Communication & Diversity (Appiah)

Advertisers, marketers, pollsters and the like spend millions of dollars each year to persuade audiences on what to buy, what to think, what to feel, and whom to trust. These strategic communication techniques have particular relevance today as new media and interpersonal communication converge to provide more creative ways to transmit persuasive messages. In a world that is becoming increasingly more diverse in terms of age, race, gender, social status, physical abilities, and religious beliefs, there is a pressing need to more fully understand: 1) how to design effective persuasive messages; and 2) how diverse audiences are likely to respond to such messages. There is much interest among scholars, practitioners and students to better understand, theoretically and practically, how persuasive communication messages impact a variety of audiences.

COMM 8940 Special Topics in Mass Communication (Ewoldsen)

This course will focus on social cognitive and cognitive approaches to the study of communication. There will be a heavy focus on how people comprehend and understand their social world. The content of the course should be applicable to both media and interpersonal scholarship.