To understand, assess, and report the results of communication research
Objective
Research Literacy
Graduate students will be able to understand, assess, and report the findings of communication research
Indicator
Research Literacy
We will measure this goal with an annual evaluation of a sample of graduate student papers assigned in each graduate course taught in the Spring semester. The components of this rubric include: Control of the Mechanics of Written Composition and Evidence of a Comprehensive Knowledge of a Confined Research Area. The Communication Studies faculty met as a committee of the whole to develop consensus on the rubric and its components and to develop a Likert-type rating scale to be used as a holistic measure. The resulting numeric scale is as follows: 1=fails to meet the goal, 2=minimally meets the goal, 3=satisfactorily meets the goal, 4=meets the goal in an exemplary fashion, 5=exceeds expectations in meeting the goal. 1 = serious deficiencies in both components. 2 = moderate deficiency in no more than one component. 3 = no deficiency in either component. 4 = superior handling of both components. 5 = near flawless handling of both components.
Criterion
Research Literacy
An average grade of 4 is the criterion for satisfying the target outcome. This average will be taken over all literature reviews and all reviewers (faculty committee).
Finding
Research Literacy
The average committee score for the reporting period was 4.16.
Action
Research Literacy
This year's evaluations were of a very small sample of papers, which made it difficult to identify strengths and weaknesses. In the coming year, papers from every class will be sampled to be sure that the criterion is really being met.
Goal
Understanding Of Theory
Graduate students will be able to understand the applicable theories of communication and related fields. The teaching philosophy of the graduate faculty is that the understanding of theory and the ability to understand, assess, and report the findings of communication research are practically inseparable. They are not the same thing, but each occurs in the context of the other. Paper assignments in the majority of graduate classes reflect this pairing, and the artifacts being evaluated in this objective will be the same as those in the Research Literacy goal.
Objective
Understanding Of Theory
Graduate students will be able to understand the applicable theories of communication and related fields.
Indicator
Understanding Of Theory
We will measure this goal with an annual evaluation of a sample of graduate student papers assigned in each graduate course taught in the Spring semester. The components of this rubric are: Control of the Mechanics of Written Composition and Evidence of Understanding of the Applicable Theory or Theories. The Communication Studies faculty met as a committee of the whole to develop consensus on the rubric and its components and to construct a Likert-type rating scale to be used as a holistic measure. The resulting numeric scale is as follows: 1=fails to meet the goal; 2=minimally meets the goal; 3=satisfactorily meets the goal; 4=meets the goal in an exemplary fashion; 5=exceeds expectations in meeting the goal. 1 = serious deficiencies in both components. 2 = moderate deficiency in no more than one component. 3 = no deficiency in either component. 4 = superior handling of both components. 5 = near flawless handling of both components.
Criterion
Understanding Of Theory
An average score of 4 is the criterion for satisfying the target outcome. This average will be taken over all literature reviews and all reviewers (faculty committee).
Finding
Understanding Of Theory
The average committee score for the reporting period was 4.16. Because of the nature of the graduate assignments during the reporting period, the same papers used as a basis for the Research Literacy criterion were evaluated for Understanding of Theory. Because of the small number of papers, strengths and weaknesses were difficult to determine.
Action
Understanding Of Theory
In the coming year, a larger sample of papers will be examined to be sure the criterion is being met and to make it possible to note strengths and weaknesses.