COM71404 – Advanced Communication Theories

2024 Semester

• Assignment 2 (Individual) – 30% (Research Proposal)

• Assignment 3 – 40% (Research Seminar)

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1.           Analyze the issues of theoretical application in communication studies.

2.           Design the theoretical/conceptual/research framework for conducting research.

THE TASK

. Individual Assignment – Research Proposal

. Research Seminar

i. INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT 2 – RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Student are required to employ a communication theory to examine a social problem in Malaysia or in your home country. You may already have research interests that you are keen to explore: consider those and consult with your instructor to see how you can develop those interests and ideas for the module. Prepare a 4000 words Research Proposal based on below requirement;

PART 1 : INTRODUCTION

ü Background Study

●     What do we know about the topic

●     What do we NOT know about the topic

●     What do you WANT to know about the topic

●      Research objective and research questions (formulate and support them with literature)

●      It is very important to always support your argument and discussion with pertinent and latest literature

ü Significance of the Study

ü Theoretical Framework

●     State the name of the theory you are using for the study

●     The history, background, development or evolution of the theory

●     The important notion, concept, assumption or argument of the theory

●     The  application of the theory in research (e.g. areas of application, measurements, analysis method, important findings, etc.)

●     Criticism of the theory

●      Future direction of the theory

●      others (if applicable)

PART 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

●      Previous studies related to your topic

●      Previous studies related to your Research Questions

PART 3: METHODOLOGY

●      Locality

●      Population

●      Sampling method and procedure

●      Research instrument (e.g. quantitative or qualitative? how do you examine each Research Question? how many parts in the questionnaire? describe the questionnaire or code book)

● Operational definition/coding definition for each of the variable

●      Data analysis (how? analysis procedure?)

●      Reliability test? (for content analysis)

Marking Criteria

Documentation requirement:

Please copy-check your assignment carefully before handing it in.

. Assignment Coversheet

The assignment cover page should contain information related to the assignment

. Table of Contents

The table of contents should be placed after the cover page. It must list the sections and the page on which each section starts. The table of contents may be one or more pages long. The table of contents

page(s) should not be numbered.

. Referencing

Please ensure referencing is formatted using Harvard Referencing on content to avoid plagiarism. Refer to Taylor’s Library for Reference and Citation guide.

Please pay close attention to the following:

. Ensure that the table of contents page precisely reflects the entire content of the report including the appendices.

. Page numbering:   Page  numbers  prior to  the ‘ Introduction’ should  be  roman numerals.   From  the introduction onwards page numbering should be in numbers.

. Submission to be made in Microsoft Word/pdf.

. Suggested Word Count for the Research Proposal: 5000 words.

. Submission

Submission will be made via MYTimes folder. Link to the submission folder will be provided 2 weeks before submission date. No extension will be permitted without legitimate reasons.

ii. RESEARCH SEMINAR

The third task is a research seminar, where students will need to present a summary of their research proposal. The seminar will provide an opportunity for students to receive feedback on their proposal, and to engage in critical discussion with their peers. The seminar recording should maximum 20 minutes in length, and should be accompanied by a visual presentation (e.g. PowerPoint). Summarize key findings to present your research plan with your peers for critique and knowledge sharing.

Assessment Criteria for Research Seminar:

.    Clarity of presentation and communication

ü Presents ideas and findings in a clear, concise, and engaging manner

ü Uses appropriate language and terminology for the audience

ü Demonstrates confidence and poise in presentation skills

.    Quality of the visual presentation

ü Uses appropriate visuals to support key ideas and findings

ü Presentation is visually appealing and well-organized

ü The visual presentation enhances the understanding of the research proposal

.     Engagement and response to questions

ü Responds to questions with confidence, clarity, and accuracy

ü Engages with the audience and responds to their feedback

ü Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the research proposal and the research process

. Content

ü Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the research proposal, including  the  research  question, methodology, and theoretical framework

ü Identifies key research findings and conclusions

ü Provides a critical analysis of the research proposal, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and suggests areas for further investigation.

Marking Criteria

Documentation requirement (Research Seminar):

Please pay close attention to the following:

. Submission to be made in Microsoft Powerpoint/or any presentation apps, software and platform.

. Ensure that you have sufficient number of slides within the 20mins timeline given

. Ensure that within the recording submission the  presenter face must  be display during the entire course of presentation.

. Submission

Submission of the presentation slide and recording will be made via MYTimes folder. Link to the submission folder will be provided 7 days before presentation date. No extension will be permitted without legitimate reason

Assessment Criteria

1.    Please see Assessment Feedback Form.

2.    Late submissions and/or non-submission will result in  loss of marks for assessment.