Empirical Theories of Mass Communication
FALL 2005
Empirical Theories of Mass Communication
Tuesdays; 4 to 7:50 p.m.
SP 412U CRN 13352
SP 512 CRN 13380
Cynthia-Lou Coleman, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Communication, NH 29
Telephone: 503.725.5368
Email: ccoleman@pdx.edu
Fall Office Hours:
T 3-3:45 p.m.
TH 3-5 p.m. & by appointment
W by appointment
Required reading
Course Packet (fee charged)
Clean Copy
1704 SW Broadway Avenue
Telephone: 503.221.1876
Required viewing, listening, etc.
Choose from a variety of local and national media sources, including Internet sites, and be prepared weekly to present materials and your views.
Examples
The Oregonian (several times a week)
Local and/or national TV news broadcast
The Nation Magazine
On The Media (NPR)
Recommended Texts
Publication manual of the American Psychological Association
(APA Style Manual)
Yin, R. K. (2003). Case Study Research Design and Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Chaffee, S.H. (1991). Explication: Communication Concepts Series, Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Course Description:
Students will explore classic and modern theories of mass communication, including mass media effects on audiences, formation of public opinion, and the interplay of forces that shape mass mediated messages. Much of the reading will focus on news production with some attention to ideology. We will also attend to methods.
Agenda setting, bias and framing, public opinion formation, cultivation analysis, behavioral effects, and macrolevel and microlevel methods will be examined.
Be prepared: multiple readings are required each session in light that our time is constrained to one meeting a week. Do not wait to read the texts at the last minute: you will run out of time.
Prerequisites:
Students should have a basic understanding of communication theory and a working knowledge of social science research methods. No prior theoretical understanding of mass media is required.
Senior undergraduate students may attend the SP 412 section based on approval of the instructor.
Course Objectives
Several objectives are sought:
Successful students will gain a working understanding of multiple microlevel and macrolevel theories relating to mass media studies. In addition, each student will examine one particular aspect of mass media theory [you are not limited to theories discussed in class] and become more intimately acquainted with that body of literature. Moreover, the student will apply that theory to an actual case study.
In addition, the course is designed to help students make linkages between other disciplines (principally but not limited to the social sciences) and mass media theory and research.
materials, actively participating in class discussion, listening to presentations, and attending to social issues that are Class Issues
Students will arrive on time. Because the class is lengthy, several breaks are offered, including one 30-minute break mid-way during class so students can eat supper. However, no food is allowed during class discussion, but drinks are permitted. Classes are run in a discussion and seminar format, which requires participation by everyone.
Philosophy & Expectations :
My philosophy is that your learning is an intersection of reading the relevant to mass media studies.
Participation and discussion is based on knowledge you have gleaned attending class and from course materials.
Class attendance is mandatory. Professors differ in their approach to class attendance, so let me be clear: attendance and active participation are expected and required.
This is particularly important in view we have 10 class sessions only. If you miss one class, you have missed 10% of the course. In that light, each missed class will result in a 10% reduction of your overall numeric grade. Students who have a legitimate reason (which will be determined by the professor) to be excused from attending class are required to speak with the professor concerning the circumstances surrounding the absence.
My expectation is that you are thoroughly engaged in class: that you come to each class prepared, enthusiastic and open to learning.
A word about deadlines. Homework, papers and assignments are due at the beginning of class on the dates outlined in the Syllabus. There is no provision for late papers. My philosophy is that you have been given these deadlines with ample time to plan effectively.
Writing & Presentation. My expectation is that your work will be error-free, clean, written in excellent English style and grammatically correct.
You are required to use the stylistic guidelines of your discipline (APA style for communication).
Homework, Abstracts & Papers:
Each week you will be required to complete and hand in homework assignments; principally abstracts.
Always keep a copy of your homework in your files because they may not be returned to you. Abstracts and other assignments (see the online assignment) are 25% of your grade (see the Weekly schedule for required abstracts).
Papers
Three paper assignments are required: an annotated bibliography; a literature review-driven concept explication; and an applied case study. The annotated bibliography is valued at 15% and the literature review is also 15% (the two are interrelated).
The Applied Case Study is due at the end of the term and is valued at 35% of your grade. The paper will incorporate a revision of the literature review.
A Note about Email:
You are encouraged to contact the professor via e-mail whenever you have questions or comments, but please note that e-mail is not an acceptable method for turning in assignments for this class. All students are required to hand in assignments on the dates required, in person.
Special Circumstances:
Students with documented disabilities who need accommodation must contact Disability Services for Students to obtain assistance. Inform the professor the first week of class in order to receive accommodation.
Students who are requesting to be excused from class because of a religious or personal circumstance must receive permission from the professor the first week of class. Inform the professor of any anticipated absence due to special circumstances. Documentation will be required.
Grading Policies Assignments:
| | Points | Percentage |
| Test 1 Definitions | 150 | 150% | |
Test 2 Definitions | 150 | 15% | | Essay Test | 150 | 15% | |
Annotated | | | |
Bibliography | 150 | 15% | | Case Study | 350 | 35% | |
Qualitative | | | | Assessment | 50 | 5% | |
| 1000 points | 100% |
My Policy
Courses and professors vary, so please be mindful that the grading requirements for this course will vary from other courses you are taking. Great care is taken in the course to ensure fairness in grading. In the rare case when a grade is disputed, students must deliver a written report with justification to the professor within a week's time.
For this class, please identify your assignments with your name.
About homework & abstracts
Students will be awarded full credit for turning in complete and acceptable homework on time. Remember to keep a copy of each assignment you turn in: it may not be returned to you.
A total of 20 abstracts are required for the course (about 2 per week).
Final Grading Assessment
| A | 950-1000 points |
| A- | | |
B+ | 910-929 | |
B | 870-909 | |
B- | 840-869 | |
C+ | 800-839 | | C | 750-799 | | C- | 720-749 | | D+ | 690-719 | | D | 630-689 | | D- | 600-629 |
About grades in Communication Studies: acceptable passing grades for graduate students are A and B. Acceptable passing grades for undergraduate students are A, B and C.
Students cannot take this course for pass-no credit, and incomplete grades are given only in super extraordinary circumstances beyond all perceived control. The University requires that a signed contract must be on file for any incomplete, which must be completed within one academic term (including summer) following the term the course was offered.
Ethical Issues
Group work.
Based on instructor's permission you may collaborate on some assignments with other members of the class. However, every student must turn in her or his own, personal work for each assignment.
While you may also work with classmates on the literature reviews or applied case studies, each student will have her/his own unique concept and case study. Also, each paper must be the individual student's work---the paper itself cannot be collaborative.
All papers turned in for the class must be the result of your original work in this class specifically: you are not permitted to hand in an assignment you wrote for another class. Similarly you are not permitted to use assignments from this class for any other class.
With that in mind, you are encouraged to choose literature, concepts and cases that will assist you in your thesis, project or coursework.
Plagiarism
It is essential that all students thoroughly understand that any work written by someone else-whether spoken, obtained on the internet, found in magazines, or located within texts---cannot be reproduced in your written materials without attending to copyright, fair use, and citation standards followed in scholarly research. Do not use any information from a source unless you have properly reported and cited the source.
Information about citation standards is located in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA Style Manual). See also http://www.apastyle.org/
Whether or not you are familiar with these standards you are still responsible for upholding them. If you claim that work you obtained from another source is your own, or if you submit a paper written for another class, you will receive a grade of zero (0) for the paper.
Housekeeping
Papers and final projects due at the end of the term are not automatically returned to the student. If you want your final paper or project returned you must make provisions with the professor at the time the paper is due.
Questions? Suggestions?
Please provide feedback on the syllabus, assignments and the class overall. Your feedback helps make this, and the subsequent class, better!
Participation includes class and online discussion, and is graded based on the discretion of the professor. Values are as follows: excellent 95-100 points; above average 84-94; average 72-93; and below average 60-71.
Abstracts that are not received on time will receive a reduced grade or no grade.
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