Theory in Research for Masters and Doctoral Students


Course Catalog Description

Course designed to introduce students to an in-depth look at the use of theory in research for academic and career applications. The sooner this course is taken the better for use in other classes requiring the use of theory and methods for papers and research.

Course Overview

Course focuses on theories used in communication research to broaden student awareness of theories while learning how to apply theory to their own papers and research projects.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students will have a fundamental understanding of communication and related theories offering explanation as to how and why people and societies send and receive communication. Students will know commonly used theories and how to search out more information for their own research purposes.

    • Theory in research

    • Explanatory power vs. predictive power

    • Overview of most-used communication theories

    • Deep dive, theory 1

    • Deep dive, theory 2

    • Deep dive, theory 3

    • Literature review for theory and reverse engineer academic papers for use of theory

    • Theory paired with method for research and experiment

    • Building on theory and counter examples