UGA Graduate Bulletin Course Description:
"Research traditions in mass communication, with emphasis on historical developments within the field and intellectual perspectives of mass communication researchers. Major research streams and methodologies are introduced, discussed, and critiqued."

Professor's Addendum:
JRMC 8000 introduces students to the discipline of mass communication, including its origins in the early part of the 20th century, developments during the rapid dramatic changes of mid- and late- 20th century, and current issues & concerns. As the description above suggests, JRMC 8000 offers a broadly construed introduction. It touches on the diversity of research approaches and interests in this relatively young field. The syllabus and the College faculty reflect that diversity. The syllabus is a menu of sorts, one from which each individual student will eventually select an area of specialization. However, for this first semester we are all required to be generalists who sample from a smorgasbord of research topics, theories, methods and applications.

Expect to encounter new vocabulary, often challengingly large amounts of reading, arduous and often conflicting research approaches & results, many questions and few (if any) definitive answers. Graduate courses in humanities and social sciences pose far more questions than they answer.

Course Objectives:
Learn to pose research questions clearly and concisely; select & apply appropriate research methods; interpret research results; relate those interpretations to the larger social framework within which the question originated; become participants in the production of knowledge; begin to meet the Grady College graduate faculty.

More From the UGA Graduate School bulletin [read it—it contains important information]:

-Syllabus:
The syllabus is a detailed outline of study determined by the course instructor. It may be adjusted at the professor's discretion.
An additional copy is on reserve in the Drewry Room; another, posted at instructor's office. Note: It does not constitute a contract.
-Class Attendance:
Students are expected to attend classes regularly. A student who incurs an excessive number of absences may be withdrawn from a class at the discretion of the professor.
-Grades: A Excellent; B Good; C Satisfactory; D Passing; F Failure

Texts for Fall 2002:

1. Media and Communication Research Methods, A.A.Berger, 2000.
2. Approaches to Media: a reader, eds. Oliver Boyd-Barrett & Chris Newbold, 1995.
3. McQuail's Mass Communication Theory, 4thed. Denis McQuail, London: Sage, 2000. [Use this text for help in understanding concepts, streams of research, and debates within the field. Throughout the semester chapters of particular relevance to the topic covered will be suggested. While these are not required readings, you are responsible for understanding the material covered and for using McQuail as a first step for clarification.]
4. Key Concepts in Communication & Cultural Studies, Tim O'Sullivan, et al. London: Routledge, 1994. [Use this for definitions of terms and concepts.]
5. Course Pack from Bel-Jean's.  The course pack includes articles, proposals, etc. written by our faculty.

Evaluation of Student Performance Based on:

1: Test #1: Vocabulary and Definition of Concepts (week 5) 30% (match definitions with terms, true/false, or multiple choice)
2: Test #2: Reading Research for Content (week 10) 30% (identify research paradigm; answer questions based on reading of research article)
3: Final: (due Dec. 2/4) 30% Click HERE for final project assignment. And find a subject index of student interests; this was compiled base on students' completed final projects.
4: Participation: Read and be prepared to discuss assigned chapters, articles, and topics in constructive ways. 10%

Class Aids Added at Various Times

Research Vocabulary: a selection         How to Read research: example Stuart Hall
Write an Abstract, Annotated bibliography, Bibliographic Essay: example, abtract of Gitlin's article

Faculty Visit: guidelines for guests & dates of visits  Click here to read Elli's answers to the "Proust Questionnaire" (with thanks to Vanity Fair's monthly feature)

Here find some web sites about mass communication, communication studies, postmodernism, etc. They're all super web sites so click HERE now! [will add others from time to time; or see the resources page on my personal web site]

Course Schedule & Reading List

August 19: For week 1

Introduction-- to the course & to being a Grady grad student
What are the relationships between theory & practice? Science, humanities, postmodernism, arts, aesthetics, media, medium, ontology, epistemology, paradigms, etc.! What differentiates graduate education from undergraduate? Reading-- I learned it in grade school? New ways to read complicated materials. Books, journals, magazines, the web, newspapers, telecommunication, advertising, public relations, journalism ….! What is research? What differentiates scholarly research from an informed essay or editorial opinion? What counts as a resource for my "literature review?" Is research always based on statistical information? Why do I have to read research & how will it help me develop and fulfill my career goals? How is being a grad student different from being an undergrad? Are the expectations really so different? Why do I belong to the "grad caucus?"

Read: Chapter 2 of The Great Cat Massacre by Robert Darnton.

August 26: For week 2

Paradigms and Approaches to Answering Research Questions
”Competing Paradigms….” By Guba & Lincoln/cp; Chapters 1& 3 & 46 from Approaches to Media[ articles by Boyd-Barrett/Chris Newbold, Todd Gitlin, Stuart Hall]; Introduction & Chapters 1 & 2 from Media & Communication

Sept. 2: holiday: For week 3

Formats for Presenting Research Findings
Chapters 7 & 10 & Chapters 11-14 from Media & Communication; also see the following web site: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~thirdeye

Sept. 9: For week 4 

Reading Research and Identifying the Author's Paradigm

Media & Communication, Chapters 3 & 8; Approaches to Media, Chapters 2 & 4 [articles by Hanno Hardt, James D. Halloran]; “Who Do You Think You Are….” By Joseph Dominick/cp; “Science Journalism under Scrutiny….” By Elfriede Fursich & E. P. Lester/cp; “The Screenplay….” By Nathaniel Kohn/cp.

Sept. 16: For week 5 

Test #1 Vocabulary

Sept. 23: For week 6

Mass Society, Functionalism Pluralsim
Chapters 7-14, Approaches to Media [articles by Boyd-Barrett, Adorno & Horkheimer, Edward Shils, Harold Wilensky, Lasswell, Charles R. Wright, Curran, Gurevitch & Woollacott, Blumler & Gurevitch]; “The Sleeper Effect….” By Ruth Ann Weaver Lariscy and Spencer F. Tinkham/cp; “Shaping the News Mirror….” By William F. Griswold/cp

Sept. 30: For week 7 

Media Effects
Chapters 15 - 21, Approaches to Media [articles by Newbold, Katz & Lazarsfeld, Klapper, Gerbner, McCombs & Shaw, Katz, et al., Jensen & Rosengren]; “A Beginning Look at Effects….” By Wendy Macias/cp; “The Effects of rural telecommunications….” By C. Ann Hollifield et al./cp

Oct.7: For week 8 [Mid term week] 

Media Content
Chapters 56-63, Approaches to Media [articles by Newbold, Will Wright, Stanley Solomon, Steve Neale, Vladimir Propp, Seymour Chatman, David Bordwell, Jane Feuer]; “The ‘Forgotten’ 1918 Influenza Epidemic….” By Janice Hume/cp; “Gloria and Anthony Visit a Plantation….” By Elli Lester Roushanzamir & Peggy J. Kreshel/cp

Oct.14: For week 9 [Oct. 15 Midpoint Withdrawal Deadline] 

Content Analysis & Textual Analysis

Readings on Electronic Researve: the "Introduction" to Paper Voices: the popular press and social change, 1935-1965. A.C.H.Smith et al. Totowa, NJ: Rowman & Littlefield, 1975. Al-Olayan, Fahad S. and Kiran Karande (2000) "A content Analysis of Magazine Advertisements from the United States and the Arab World,"Journal of Advertising, XXIX, 3 69-82. Frith, Katherine Toland and David Wesson. (1991) "A Comparison of Cultural Values in British and American Print Advertising: a study of magazines," Journalism Quarterly, 68:1/2, 216-23.

Oct. 21: For week 10 

Test #2 Reading Research Articles
 
 

Oct. 28: For week 11 Thursday & Friday, Oct 31 - Nov 1, Fall Break

Media Audiences
Chapters 64-71, Approaches to Media [[articles by Boyd-Barrett, James Curran, Janice Radway, David Morley, Ien Ang, Liebes and Katz, Bausinger, Martin Allor]; 

“Lighting Up….” By Denise DeLorme et al./cp; “Visual Attention….” By Dean M. Krugman et al./cp; “I’m an American Girl…Whatever That Means….” By Carolina Acosta-Alzuru & Peggy J. Kreshel/cp—note this is reading #20; “Tonic Skin Conductance….” By James E. Fletcher/cp—note this is reading #21

Nov. 4: For week 12 

Media Occupations & Professionals
Chapters 33-41, Approaches to Media [articles by Boyd-Barrett, Breed, Snider, Tunstall, Tuchman, Golding & Elliot, Cantor, Morrison & tumber, Scannell & Cardiff]; Required: Chapters 33, 34, 37

“Differential Employment Rates….” By Lee B. Becker, et al./cp; “From Aardvark to Zebra….” By Lynne M. Sallot et al./cp—note this is reading #22.

Nov. 11: For week 13 

Political Economy & the Public Sphere; Globalization & International Comm.
From A2M:Chapters 22 [Boyd-Barrett], 23 [Schiller], 24 [Murdock & Golding], 27 [Boyd-Barrett], 28 [Habermas], 30 [Thompson], 31 [Elliott] 32; Required: Chapters 22, 23, 27, 28

“Theory Through History….” By James Hamilton/cp; “Pedagogy of the Dispossessed….” By Dwight E. Brooks/cp

Nov. 18: For week 14 

Critical Cultural Studies

Media & Communication, Chapters 5 & 6; Approaches to Media, Chapters 42 –45 & 47 [articles by Newbold, Williams, Hall, Bennett and Carey] Required: Chapters 42, 43, 47; 

“Copyright Issues in Digital Publishing” by Kent R. Middleton/cp

Nov. 25: For week 15 “catch up week”[Thanksgiving Break, Nov 27-29, W-F]

Dec. 2/4: “catch up week” & Final Project Due; See list of student interest by subject which was compiled based on students' completed projects.

Gender (structural variables)

Media and Communication, Chapter 9; Approaches to Media, Section 8 [articles by Newbold, Steeves, Brown, Tuchman, Mattelart, Press and Kuhn]Required: Chapters 49 & 50; 

“Haitian Heroines….” By Leara Rhodes/cp; “I didn’t try to be a man…or a femme fatale….” By Peggy J. Kreshel/cp; “Woman, Man, Lady, Horse….” By Karen S. Miller/cp; 

Monday, December 9th: Final Meeting