Introducing Communication Research: Paths of Inquiry

"This book presents research as something we do everyday. Rooting methods in the "real world′ will help students grasp the information and then apply it to situations they find themselves in." – Jeff Shires, Purdue University North Central

"Focusing on the types of research most practitioners will use in the workplace, Donald Treadwell makes continuous connections between research and its real world application. The book is written in language that is accessible to undergraduates and the information is clearly and simply presented." – Berrin A. Beasley, University of North Florida

"The greatest strength of this text is the organizing examples … I believe these have the ability to make research methods more accessible to undergraduate students and have the potential to develop their enthusiasm for research." – J. Drew McGukin, California University of Pennsylvania

Introducing the paths of communication inquiry open to students both in their undergraduate studies as well as for use in their future careers, this reader-friendly text demystifies the theories and practices of research in an engaging manner, using examples of research methods in practice. Introductory chapters that explore the conceptual foundations are followed by chapters on measurement, statistics, sampling, surveys, experiments, observation, and content analysis. A concluding chapter shows students how to write up and present their research for various audiences.

Features:

• "Research in Practice" case studies written by industry professionals show students how research is used by organizations to make messages more effective, and how communication research methods are used in applied settings.
• Ethics panels in each chapter emphasize the implications of research on human participants and help stimulate discussion of research as ethical practice.
• Campus-based scenarios introduce research concepts that students can relate to, demonstrate the diversity of communication research topics and methods, and show how concepts and methods apply in practice.
• Comprehensive learning aids include starter questions, chapter summaries, recommended readings and Web resources. Research terminology likely to be new to students is highlighted and explained in a glossary.

A Resources Site for instructors and students is available at www.sagepub.com/treadwellicr. . For instructors, the password-protected site includes a test bank, PowerPoint slides, lecture notes, discussion questions, and in-class assignments. For students, the open-access site features e-flashcards, study questions, and Web resources.

Donald Treadwell earned his master’s degree in communication from Cornell University and his

PhD in communication and rhetoric from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

He developed and taught communication research classes in classroom and online settings

and also taught courses in organizational communication, public relations, and public relations

writing. He is the coauthor of Public Relations Writing: Principles in Practice (2nd ed., Sage,

2005).

He has published and presented research on organizational image, consumer response to

college names, health professionals’ images of AIDS, faculty perceptions of the communication

discipline, and employers’ expectations of newly hired communication graduates. His research

appears in Communication Monographs, Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, Public

Relations Review, Journal of Human Subjectivity, and Criminal Justice Ethics.

He is professor emeritus, Westfield State University, and has international consulting experience

in agricultural extension and health communication.