Seminar: From Digital Analytics to Communication Action – DIGI 825

Course Description

A study of the use of analytics in shaping promotional messages in the digital age, maximizing the effectiveness of digital and strategic communication.

Rationale

This core Ph.D. level research seminar will involve careful consideration of the approaches to analytics commonly employed in the field of digital and strategic communication practice studies. Traditionally, these approaches have included: (1) historical-critical (or rhetorical-critical) research, (2) qualitative research, and (3) quantitative research. The essential assumptions of this course are that the field of communication is an amalgam of the humanities, arts, and social sciences and that potentially all communication research approaches are valuable in the quest for understanding how digital and strategic communication works, has worked, fails, and has failed.  The course is intended to open the door for the student to the major approaches employed in this multi-faceted field so that the student can better decide which direction(s) to take for future research and messaging ventures.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Course Overview.

Discussions (6)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be supported by reading and study materials, pertinent examples, and thoughtful analysis. Each thread must be at least 400 words and be supported by at least 2 scholarly citations in APA format. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 200 words and be supported by at least 1 scholarly citation in APA format.

Research Concept Assignment

The research concept is a one-paragraph statement of the projected focal point of the research, the grounding worldview, and the basic research method (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods). The assignment must be written in APA format.

Research Outline Assignment

The student will complete a bullet-point outline of the major points of the study. The assignment must be written in APA format.

Research Introduction Assignment

In this first chapter of the study, the student will write 5 paragraphs (the Research Problem Paragraph, the Studies Addressing Problem Paragraph, the Deficiencies in Past Paragraph, the Study Significance Paragraph, and the Purpose Statement Paragraph). The assignment must be written in APA format.

Research Literature Review Assignment

In this second chapter of the study, the student will provide 52 resources over four sections which show a historical perspective, a perspective on the current state of the field, current gaps in the literature, and theory (for quantitative) or philosophy (for qualitative) or both (for mixed-methods) on the subject. The assignment must be written in APA format.

Research Methodology Assignment

In this third chapter of the study, the student will be evaluated on his or her Composition and Comprehensiveness. Composition is a measure of the focus, logic, and substantiation of claims in the student's work. Comprehensiveness is a measure of the extent to which the student addresses the necessary elements of his or her particular research approach. A list of checklists will be used for this evaluation for Quantitative Surveys, Quantitative Experiments, Qualitative Studies, and/or Mixed Methods Studies. The assignment must be written in APA format.

Research Defense Assignment

The student will submit a research introduction which is a video simulation of the defense of his or her actual dissertation proposal that will be given to the dissertation committee. As such, it should accomplish the 5 provided objectives which should each be covered in approximately 2 minutes each.