Introduction
Research ethics
The social scientific paradigm
The interpretive paradigm
The critical paradigm
Literature review
Data
Evaluating research: warrants
Hypothesis and research questions
Ethnography
Interviewing
Focus groups
Qualitative data analysis
Content analysis
Surveys
Descriptive statistics
Inferential statistics
Experimental design
Rhetorical criticism
The process of critique.

"Using an engaging how-to approach that draws from scholarship, real-life, and popular culture, this textbook offers students practical reasons why they should care about research methods and a guide to actually conducting research themselves. Examining quantitative, qualitative, and critical research methods, this new edition helps undergraduate students better grasp the theoretical and practical uses of method by clearly illustrating practical applications. The book features all the main research traditions within communication including online methods, and provides level-appropriate applications of the methods through theoretical and practical examples and exercises, including new sample student papers that demonstrate research methods in action"--

Includes bibliographical references and index.