Communications Question

Overview

Evaluation Paper Instructions

Assignment Summary

Your assignment is to select and evaluate a content analysis that has been published in an academic journal. You should choose an article in which the primary method used is quantitative content analysis (i.e., the article should have a "Method" section in which the authors use the term "content analysis" and explain their sample, coding categories, etc., and a "Results" section that quantifies patterns in the content). Examples of such articles are provided as part of the course readings, but you must find another article—not one of the course readings—to evaluate. (Google Scholar is one easy place to find published content analyses.) Be sure to choose a content analysis that, in your view, has both strengths and weaknesses. This paper is required to be 2-3 pages (double-spaced, 12pt font, 1-inch margins), plus references.

Assignment Specifics

Your paper should include the following components, in order, using subheads to identify each section:

• Introduction (no more than 1 paragraph): Briefly describe the article you are evaluating (e.g., where it was published, what the researchers were studying, what they found).
• Strengths (about 1 page): Explain the strengths of the content analysis, relying on course concepts to guide your thinking (e.g., was the sampling strategy sound, was reliability reported in an appropriate fashion, does the coding scheme appear to be valid).
• Weaknesses (about 1 page): Explain the weaknesses of the content analysis, relying on course concepts to guide your thinking (e.g., was the sampling strategy sound, was reliability reported in an appropriate fashion, does the coding scheme appear to be valid).
• Conclusion (about 1 paragraph): Explain whether, and why, you believe the strengths of the content analysis outweigh the weaknesses (or vice versa).
• Reference List: Cite any sources you referenced in the paper (including, at least, the article you are evaluating), using APA style (7th edition).

Keep in mind two additional guidelines:

• In either the strengths or weaknesses section (or in a combination of both), you should directly evaluate the study’s sample, reliability, and validity.
• Your task is to evaluate only the quality of the content analysis, not other aspects of the study (e.g., the importance of the topic, the quality of the writing).

--

Grading Criteria

Your paper will be assessed on how well it meets the assignment’s requirements, your application of course concepts, and the quality of your presentation (i.e., the clarity of your writing, organization of ideas, and avoidance of grammatical/spelling errors).