This course focuses on the interplay of theory, research questions, and methods in research design. It will introduce students to a common body of key concepts and issues related to areas of research design and methodology.
We will explore the intellectual history of diverse methodological approaches, some central problems in the epistemological foundations, and contemporary debates about specific empirical methods in communication research.
The course is intended to introduce debates about methods and to promote reflection on ways of assessing their appropriateness, limitations, assumptions and practical applications in research.