Communication Research Strategies and Sources

by Rubin, Rebecca B.; Rubin, Alan M.; Piele, Linda J.

• ISBN13: 9780534561697
• ISBN10: 0534561691
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-08-10
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Write more effective research papers with COMMUNICATION RESEARCH! Designed to teach you how complete communication research and successfully use literature and other sources in writing effective papers, this communication text provides you with the skills you need to succeed. The research process is demystified through the coverage library skills, scholarly writing, and the latest research technology tools. Exercises and examples found in each chapter help you apply what you have learned.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xi
Introduction	p. xiii
Communication Research Strategies	p. 1
Studying Communication	p. 3
The Communication Discipline	p. 3
Structure of the Field	p. 5
Structure of Professional Communication Organizations	p. 7
Activities	p. 8
Publications	p. 9
Types of Associations	p. 9
Communication Research Projects	p. 11
Academic Pursuits	p. 12
Professional Pursuits	p. 13
Summary	p. 13
References	p. 14
Examples	p. 14
Exercises	p. 15
Searching the Communication Literature	p. 17
Becoming Familiar With Your Library and Its Services	p. 18
Search Strategy Outline	p. 20
The Topic	p. 21
Selecting, Narrowing, and Adjusting a Topic	p. 21
The Search	p. 26
Preparing for the Literature Search	p. 26
Deciding What Type of Search to Do	p. 29
The Results	p. 31
Evaluating and Summarizing Information	p. 31
Documenting the Search Process	p. 35
Tips on Searching the Literature	p. 38
Writing	p. 38
Summary	p. 40
References	p. 41
Examples	p. 41
Exercises	p. 43
Using the Internet for Communication Research	p. 46
Research and the World Wide Web	p. 47
Gaining Access to the Internet	p. 48
Internet Addresses	p. 49
Browser Basics	p. 50
Troubleshooting	p. 51
Evaluating Internet Sources	p. 52
Finding Resources on the World Wide Web	p. 53
Communicating on the Internet	p. 58
E-mail	p. 58
Electronic Discussion Groups	p. 58
Usenet Newsgroups	p. 60
CIOS/Comserve	p. 61
Ethical Issues	p. 61
Summary	p. 62
References	p. 62
Examples	p. 63
Exercises	p. 64
Using Computers to Search Electronic Databases	p. 66
Differing Technological Environments	p. 66
Varieties of Computerized Databases	p. 67
Bibliographic Databases	p. 67
Directory Databases	p. 68
Source Databases	p. 68
How to Search Computerized Databases	p. 69
Standard Search Features	p. 70
Controlled Vocabulary Versus Key-Word Searching	p. 70
Boolean Operators	p. 72
Parentheses	p. 74
Alternatives to Boolean Operators	p. 75
Proximity Operators	p. 75
Phrase Searching	p. 76
Field-Specific Searching	p. 76
Truncation	p. 78
Word and Phrase Indexes	p. 78
Creating and Reusing Sets	p. 79
Search Strategies: Boolean Searching	p. 79
Natural Language Searching	p. 81
Search Strategies for the World Wide Web	p. 82
Using Your Search Results	p. 84
Mediated Searching	p. 85
Summary	p. 85
References	p. 86
Examples	p. 86
Exercises	p. 87
Communication Research Sources	p. 91
General Sources	p. 93
Handbooks	p. 93
Textbooks	p. 96
Encyclopedias	p. 97
Annual Reviews and Series	p. 98
Selected Sources	p. 100
Handbooks	p. 100
Textbooks	p. 102
Encyclopedias	p. 104
Annual Reviews	p. 106
Series	p. 106
Examples	p. 107
Exercises	p. 108
Access Tools	p. 110
Bibliographies	p. 111
Guides to the Literature	p. 113
Legal Research	p. 115
On-line Search Strategies: Finding Additional Bibliographies and Guides	p. 116
Bibliographies on the World Wide Web	p. 116
Periodical Indexes	p. 117
Discipline-Based Periodical Indexes	p. 120
General and Interdisciplinary Periodical Indexes	p. 123
Locating Book Reviews	p. 125
Citation Indexes	p. 125
Media Indexes	p. 126
Selected Sources	p. 129
Bibliographies	p. 129
Guides to the Literature	p. 130
Periodical Indexes and Abstracts	p. 132
Media Indexes	p. 134
Examples	p. 137
Exercises	p. 138
Communication Periodicals	p. 140
Scholarly Journals	p. 140
Professional and Trade Magazines	p. 145
Selected Sources	p. 147
Scholarly Journals	p. 147
Professional and Trade Periodicals	p. 152
Electronic Journals	p. 153
Examples	p. 154
Exercises	p. 155
Information Compilations	p. 157
Collections and Archives	p. 158
Speech Collections	p. 158
Media Collections	p. 159
Legal Collections	p. 162
Measurement Collections	p. 163
Statistical Sources	p. 164
U.S. Government Publications	p. 166
Yearbooks	p. 170
Directories	p. 171
Dictionaries	p. 173
Manuals	p. 174
Selected Sources	p. 174
Collections	p. 174
Statistical Sources	p. 177
U.S. Government Publications	p. 178
Yearbooks	p. 180
Directories	p. 181
Dictionaries	p. 183
Manuals	p. 185
Examples	p. 186
Exercises	p. 187
Communication Research Processes	p. 191
Designing the Communication Research Project	p. 193
The Research Process	p. 193
Descriptive and Explanatory Research	p. 194
Research Stages	p. 194
Approaches to Communication Research	p. 197
Message- or Artifact-Oriented Research	p. 197
People- or Behavior-Oriented Research	p. 205
Research Ethics	p. 210
Summary	p. 211
Selected Sources	p. 212
Comprehensive Texts	p. 212
Content Analysis	p. 212
Design and Measurement	p. 213
Media Research	p. 213
Qualitative and Applied Research	p. 214
Rhetorical and Media Criticism	p. 215
Statistics	p. 215
Survey Research	p. 216
Exercises	p. 217
Writing Research Papers	p. 218
Basic Elements of Good Writing	p. 218
Tense and Agreement	p. 218
Voice	p. 219
Transitions	p. 220
Grammar	p. 220
Paragraph Structure	p. 220
Quoting and Paraphrasing	p. 220
Style	p. 222
Writing Formats	p. 224
Proofreading	p. 226
Proofreading Checklist	p. 226
Proofreading Symbols	p. 226
Submitting Manuscripts	p. 227
Summary	p. 229
References	p. 229
Exercises	p. 230
Preparing Research Projects	p. 232
Abstracts	p. 232
Format	p. 233
Steps	p. 233
Literature Reviews	p. 234
Format	p. 235
Steps	p. 237
Critical Papers	p. 238
Steps	p. 238
Research Prospectuses	p. 239
Format	p. 239
Steps	p. 241
Original Research Reports	p. 242
Format	p. 242
Steps	p. 243
Summary	p. 245
References	p. 246
Exercises	p. 246
Conducting a Research Study	p. 247
Conceptualization	p. 247
Computer Search	p. 249
Model	p. 250
Questionnaire	p. 250
Procedure	p. 253
Analysis	p. 254
Epilogue	p. 255
References	p. 255
APA Style Basics	p. 257
Social and Psychological Antecedents of VCR Use	p. 269
Glossary	p. 277
Subject Index	p. 291
Source Index	p. 299
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