The Nature of Communication Inquiry

The Nature of Communication Inquiry Introduction to Communication Research School of Communication Studies James Madison university Dr. Michael smilowitz

What Is Research? According to Reinard (1998), research is not: Although library work is an important part of the process. Library work Although statistical analysis can be part of the process. Statistics Observation Although observation can be part of the process. Library work, statistics, and observation are some of the tools of scholarship.

Research Defined: The systematic effort to secure answers to questions (Reinard, 1998). Not any type of question …instead, research addresses questions of significance.

Research Defined: What is meant by the term “questions of significance”? A question is significant to the extent that its answer is of worth to more rather than fewer people. Answers are worthy to the extent they affect people’s lives. Significant questions deal with important issues and invite answers that provide explanations. The systematic effort to secure answers to questions (Reinard, 1999). Not any type of question …instead, research addresses questions of significance.

Research Defined: What is meant by the term “questions of significance”? A question is significant to the extent that its answer is of worth to more rather than fewer people. Answers are worthy to the extent they affect people’s lives. Significant questions deal with important issues and invite answers that provide explanations. Examples of mundane questions: Have you seen my keys? Did you make it to school on time today? What was I supposed to do in class? What sort of stuff are they serving in D-Hall now? Do you want to go out with me? All of these examples can be very important questions to the person asking the question, but they deal only with the ordinary issues of every day life. Examples of significant questions: Does communicating personal information increase feelings of trust? Do groups communicate differently during stages in their development? Does the interaction between co-workers better account for their behavior than their interaction with their supervisors? Is an organization’s public image better served by many appeals to specialized audiences or to fewer appeals to more generalized audiences? The systematic effort to secure answers to questions. Not any type of question …instead, research addresses questions of significance.

Research Defined: What is meant by the term “questions of significance”? A question is significant to the extent that its answer is of worth to more rather than fewer people. Answers are worthy to the extent they affect people’s lives. Significant questions deal with important issues and invite answers that provide explanations. Examples of mundane questions: Have you seen my keys? Did you make it to school on time today? What was I supposed to do in class? What sort of stuff are they serving in D-Hall now? Do you want to go out with me? All of these examples can be very important questions to the person asking the question, but they deal only with the ordinary issues of every day life. Examples significant questions: Does communicating personal information increase feelings of trust? Do groups communicate differently during stages in their development? Does the interaction between co-workers better account for their behavior that their interaction with their supervisors? Is an organization’s public image better served by many appeals to specialized audiences or to fewer appeals to more generalized audiences? • See the differences between mundane questions and significant questions? • Mundane questions are important to one or a few individuals for their own immediate (short term) needs. • Significant questions ask for answers that benefit many more people as they plan and choose their behaviors. The systematic effort to secure answers to questions. Not any type of question …instead, research addresses questions of significance.

Research Defined: The systematic nature of research is also an important defining characteristic. The systematic effort to secure answers to questions (Reinard, 1998). Not any type of question …instead, research addresses questions of significance.

Research Defined: The systematic nature of research is also an important defining characteristic. • We are all accustomed to doing research -- but not doing research systematically. • Before signing up for a class … ask about the professor. • Meet someone new … ask friends about the person. • Deciding what school to go to, what car to buy, where to go on vacation? Ask around. The systematic effort to secure answers to questions (Reinard, 1998). Not any type of question …instead, research addresses questions of significance.

Research Defined: The systematic nature of research is also an important defining characteristic. Generally, we make decisions on information that we find by coincidence (chance) rather than deliberation (careful choice). We are, in Heider’s terms, naïve psychologists. Research, done systematically, leads us to information that goes beyond our personal hunches, or the biases of others. The systematic effort to secure answers to questions (Reinard, 1998). Not any type of question …instead, research addresses questions of significance.

Research Defined: The systematic nature of research is also an important defining characteristic. • What is meant by systematic? • A process is said to be systematic when it is: • Well ordered (follows a clearly defined sequence) • Deliberate (each element of the process is carefully chosen and completed for its contribution to the total process). The systematic effort to secure answers to questions (Reinard, 1998). Not any type of question …instead, research addresses questions of significance.

Another Definition of Research Research is a process for producing claims that must be taken seriously.

The term process implies that research is an activity involving a series of steps for accomplishing a particular goal or end product. Another Definition of Research Research is a process for producing claims that must be taken seriously. The end products of research are statements we expect others to accept. Another word for claim is proposition. Researchers claim that their propositions are valid statements and others should regard these propositions as worth knowing.

The term “seriously” is very important to this definition of research. Research is done to ensure researchers’ credibility with their audiences. When it is clear to an audience that the claims of the researcher were developed carefully, with rigor and acceptable evidence, an audience cannot simply dismiss the researcher. The term process implies that research is an activity involving a series of steps for accomplishing a particular goal or end product. Another Definition of Research Research is a process for producing claims that must be taken seriously. The end products of research are statements we expect others to accept. Another word for claim is proposition. Researchers claim that their propositions are valid statements and others should regard these propositions as worth knowing.

What’s necessary for “being taken seriously”? Based on Reinard (1998), researchers seeking good answers to significant questions must meet the following five challenges. • 1. The need to think in an orderly way. • Researchers must learn to think rigorously and critically. Through out the research process its necessary to separate the relevant from the irrelevant, the observable from the unobservable, and the valuable from the worthless.

What’s necessary for “being taken seriously”? Based on Reinard (1998), researchers seeking good answers to significant questions must meet the following five challenges. • 2. The need to write clearly. • Research is done to communicate its results to others. Researchers must learn the prescriptions for reporting research correctly, for writing clearly, and for providing ample evidence

What’s necessary for “being taken seriously”? Based on Reinard (1998), researchers seeking good answers to significant questions must meet the following five challenges. 3. The need to set aside prejudice in light of the data. Although researchers often begin the process with some “answers” already in mind, the commitment to research requires that the data ultimately decides the researchers conclusions.

What’s necessary for “being taken seriously”? Based on Reinard (1998), researchers seeking good answers to significant questions must meet the following five challenges. 4. The need to stay organized and follow instructions. Researchers are expected to follow the rules of reseach. Following the rules does not mean you give up your creativity -- only that you are will will to put the results of your creativity to the agreed upon tests.

What’s necessary for “being taken seriously”? Based on Reinard (1998), researchers seeking good answers to significant questions must meet the following five challenges. • 5. The need to conduct ethical research. • There are many ethical challenges, all of which are important. For now, realize that researchers must be honest in their procedures and reporting, committed to not harming their subjects, and prepared to defend the social value of their research.

Basic Research The motive for the research is to better understand phenomena regardless of any immediate commercial service of product. Sometimes called “pure science” because the value is in its contribution to knowledge, rather any economic payoffs. Applied Research The motive for the research is develop new products or services for commercial gain, to solve practical problems, or gather information for improving the productivity and efficiency of existing programs. Identifying the characteristics of a target audience is an example of applied research. Basic versus Applied Research Often times, research is distinguished based on the contrasts of basic and applied research.

Basic Research The motive for the research is to better understand phenomena regardless of any immediate commercial service of product. Sometimes called “pure science” because the value is in its contribution to knowledge, rather any economic payoffs. Applied Research The motive for the research is develop new products or services for commercial gain, to solve practical problems, or gather information for improving the productivity and efficiency of existing programs. Identifying the characteristics of a target audience is an example of applied research. Basic versus Applied Research Often times, research is distinguished based on the contrasts of basic and applied research. • Some communication scholars argue that the distinction between basic and applied research may not be as meaningful to the study of communication as it is to investigations into other phenomena. • The argument claims that people communicate to solve practical problems in everyday situations. Therefore, the even the most basic research has immediate practical applications.

The Nature of Communication Inquiry