Communication Research Methods

Start with research questions

The quiz Public relations research is a starting point for exploring the collection. Its questions cover complete data and selections from that data, stages in the research process, and types of non-probability sampling. Try the questions to see which terms you recognize, then return to the concepts you want to study further.

The notes on research and investigation skills offer another starting point. They introduce scientific methodology for journalism, including identifying an idea. Together, the quiz and notes offer different ways to approach the research concepts listed on this page.

Use the maps alongside the quiz

The Interviewing mind map covers preparation, including background research, objectives and deciding who to interview. It also lists aspects of interviews such as opinions, feelings, goals and feedback. Study the map after the quiz to explore a way of gathering information in more detail.

For content analysis, the Content Analysis map introduces qualitative approaches, discourse analysis and the use of mass communications as data. Another map describes content analysis as a systematic technique using predetermined categories. Compare their explanations, then return to the quiz questions about data and sampling. The maps and quiz cover different concepts, so use them to build connections rather than expecting every quiz answer to appear in a map.

Explore the wider collection

The flashcards include material on dramaturgy, performance ethnography, frames and impression management. Another deck covers historical, policy and case analysis. These give university students and teachers further concepts to explore alongside the maps and quiz.

This topic sits within a wider unit in Communication and journalism. The resources bring research questions, methods and related concepts together in different formats, making the topic a useful place to explore that unit. Choose a map or deck to continue studying.