Research Methods in Professional Communication

Introduces research methods in communication. It is designed to assist students in developing the necessary skills to: (a) understand methods that support professional practice in the field of professional communication; (b) critically evaluate research conducted and reported by others; c) plan appropriate research projects to address a question within an organizational context; and d) identify methodological issues and practices relevant to various research environments and inquiries. Students will learn the benefits and limitations of both quantitative and qualitative methods used in a professional context, and will learn how to apply different methods to answer a focused research question.