Course Info.

Course Number and Title

CMS 3020 Research Methods

Course Description

This course provides CMS majors with the necessary skills to conduct independent, primary, interdisciplinary research in Media and Cultural Studies. Students learn a variety of humanistic and social-scientific methodologies, which may include some or all of the following: in-depth interviewing, focus groups, archival research, content analysis, semiotics and textual analysis.

Prerequisites

CMS 2010 (C)
CMS 2015 (C)
ENGL 1102 (C)

Credit Hours

3 credit hours (3-0-3)

Course Learning Outcomes

After completing this course successfully, students will be able to

identify appropriate objects of analysis;
determine appropriate methods and procedures for investigating scholarly research
questions;
explain various theories, methods, and procedures used to study media products and
human communication;
distinguish quantitative from qualitative research methods;
interpret descriptive statistics;
explain the rhetorical functions of the component parts of journal articles;
evaluate arguments found in scholarly articles;
describe, analyze and criticize media texts;
write research papers; and,
give presentations based on primary research

Program Learning Outcomes

The goals for CMS 3020 align with goal 2 of the CMS program outcomes. By completing it successfully, students learn to

Conduct primary and secondary research on media products and communicative practices;