When conducting original research, the final step researchers must complete is weighing the evidence and interpreting the meanings of their data, statistics, and analyses. This is the culmination of the research process in which all of the research methods and designs can be synthesized into a meaningful conclusion. In this stage, researchers should formulate explanations for what their data indicates, determine whether the data answers their initial research question, identify areas of uncertainty, and consider directions for further research.

In this Discussion, you focus on one of the research articles that you identified for Part 2 of the Course Project (Literature Review). You then explore the process of how the researchers generated conclusions based on their data, consider other possible interpretations of their data, and formulate ideas for further research.

To prepare:

• Review this week’s Learning Resources, focusing on how researchers find meaning in their data and generate sound conclusions. Pay particular attention to Table 2 in the article, “Study Design in Medical Research.”
• Revisit the 5 articles that you identified in Part 2 of the Course Project. Select one to consider for the purpose of this Discussion.
• Read sections of the chosen article where the data is presented, analyzed, and interpreted for meaning. What reasoning process did the researchers use to formulate their conclusions? What explanation did they give to support their conclusions? Were there any weaknesses in their analysis or conclusions?
• Consider possible alternate conclusions that the researchers could have drawn based on their data.
• Examine the findings that the article presents and consider how well they addressed the researcher’s initial question(s). What additional research could be done to build on these findings and gain a fuller understanding of the question?

Post an APA citation and brief summary of the research article that you selected. Describe the data and the results of any statistical tests or analyses presented in the article. Explain how the researchers formulated their conclusion, any weaknesses in their analysis or conclusions, and offer at least one alternate interpretation of their data. Propose at least one additional research study that could be done to further investigate this research topic.

COM 200 (Interpersonal Communication)

 

Week 1

DQ 1

Many people believe that communication skills are easy and should come naturally. As we have learned this week, learning effective interpersonal communication skills requires a lot of time and practice. Of all the skills listed in Chapter Two of Making Connections: Understanding Interpersonal Communication, which skill(s) are you most excited about improving in your interpersonal relationships? Why do you feel that you need to make improvements in this area? Based on the course material that you read this week, what are some ways that you plan on using these skills in your everyday life?

 

DQ 2

In Chapter Three of Making Connections: Understanding Interpersonal Communication, the author lays out many psychological concepts concerning the “self.” How do all these concepts relate to interpersonal communication? Also, give an example of how your “self-concept,” “self-image,” or “self-esteem” has affected your interpersonal communication.

 

Week 1 Assignment:

 

Week 1 Assignment Article Critique (Making Poor Communication) (550+ Words)

 

Week 2

DQ 1

In Chapter Four of Making Connections: Understanding Interpersonal Communication, the author discusses the power of language and how verbal communication can affect interpersonal relationships. The author also mentions ways in which you can improve your verbal communication.
Explain how you will use these skills to make your interpersonal verbal communication more effective. Use a specific example of someone in your life (past or present) that is difficult to communicate with. Describe how using these skills could improve your communication with this person.

DQ 2

Nonverbal communication is one of the most powerful ways that we communicate in our interpersonal relationships. Sometimes, however, we may find ourselves unintentionally communicating something that we do not mean to. This tends to happen quite often in intercultural communication situations (when we are communicating across different cultures).
Provide an example of a time when you nonverbally communicated something other than what you meant. Or, use an example of when someone else nonverbally communicated something to you that was different than what they meant. What happened in this situation? Be specific in your example and also discuss what you will do in the future to avoid this.

 

Week 2 Assignment:

Week 2 Assignment Article Critique (Talking Styles). (600+ Words)

Week 2 Qiuz 10 Q’s and A’s.

 

Week 3

 

DQ 1

Some students think that they do not have much of a cultural background because they were not born outside of the United States or because they do not speak another language. The truth is that everyone has a culture! This can be in regards to your race, ethnicity, gender, age, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, ability, etc.
Take some time to write about your own culture and share with us what makes you who you are. Try to not focus on just one aspect of yourself, but try to utilize as many cultural elements as possible. Also, address why culture is important in communication. How does your culture affect your communication with others?

DQ 2

Some of the work from communication expert, James McCorskey, has been very influential in research within the interpersonal communication field. He is especially well-known for his communication research scales.

Go to the Willingness to Listen website and complete the “Willingness to Listen Measure.” Follow the directions on the website to score your results. Based on your results, do you have a high, moderate, or low willingness to listen to others? How do you think your willingness to listen score could impact your interpersonal relationships? Do you think that this measure was accurate for you? What about the measure do you think was or was not accurate?

 

Week 3 Assignment:

 

Week 3 Assignment Final Paper Outline (Rough Draft for Letter of Advice) (950+ Words)

Week 3 Assignment Article Critique (Self-Disclosure, Gender, and Communication). (450+Words)

 

Week 4

 

Week 4 Assignments:

Week 4 Assignment (Interpersonal Conflict in Film). (600+ Words)

Week 4 Assignment (Interpersonal Conflict)

Week 4 Quiz Consists of 10 Questions

 

Week 5

DQ 1

One of the most frustrating situations in the professional world is to work with someone who is not professional in their job. This often makes it a very disheartening work environment because of the low level of professionalism.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the work environment was not professional? How did you handle the situation? Share an example. If your work experience is limited, consider a time when you were working with others in a different context, such as school or a club. Also, address how you can combat this in the future with effective communication skills.

DQ 2

Social media (e.g., email, blogs, Face book, Skype, and Twitter) has played a major role in changing the way that we all engage in interpersonal communication. As we have learned this week, this form of communication through electronic media is referred to as mediated communication.
As with everything, there are many pros and cons to using mediated communication in our interpersonal relationships. How has mediated communication improved your interpersonal relationships? How has it hurt them? Provide examples to illustrate your point.

 

Week 5 Assignment:

 

Week 5 Assignment (Final Paper Letter of Advice) (1650+ Words)

 

Provide an example of a situation where you encountered (or an example on television or friend/family experienced, etc.) hate speech or loaded language. Describe that situation fully since I wasn’t there with details of nonverbal communication signals, was it hate speech or loaded language (specify which and why), and other details. How did that language impact you/the person?

What could improve that verbal communication within that situation? Provide an analysis of the situation with what we learned this week through readings/textbook.

After sharing and analyzing the situation consider these statements from the textbook:

Chapter 3, “there is no intrinsic meaning in phenomena but that humans actively construct meanings and attach values”.

Chapter 4, “language is powerful and that values inherent in the words we use shape our perceptions and those of others.”

Do these two statements contradict or correlate to each other? What things have we learned this far that help support your answer? How does these statements relate back to the situation with hate speech or loaded language?

Your paper should be 300 – 500 words (roughly 1 – 2 pages double spaced) double spaced and font Times New Roman size 12.

Case Study Analysis: Case learning is a method of applying theory to sound practical real world applications. Each selected case provides a description of a problem situation taken from a specific company. The purpose of each case is to augment the course content with applications that enable the CalSouthern Learner to apply text materials to a problem and solve that application problem using Learner selected methods and procedures.

There are no exact answers or perfect solutions to case problems. Indeed, each recommended solution and justification can and is usually different comparatively amongst a group of respondents. The solution must fit the case and must be vigorously supported. The problem statement, analysis, selected solution, and especially the justification of the selected solution, are all critical elements in the case method. There are no short cuts to case presentations but a formalized methodology that enables the case presenter the optimal way to solve the case problem.

In addition to the case analysis; be sure to answer all of the questions given for the case. Your responses must be complete, using terminology and concepts presented in the primary textbook as well as supplementary resources.  You must read and follow the Case Submittal Format file found in the course resources area. Please double-space, use 12 point font, with one inch margins. Be sure to cite your resources and provide the references using APA format. Remember to reference all work cited or quoted by the text authors. You should be doing this often in your response.

Review the case “United States of America, Appellee v. Microsoft Corporation, Appellant, 253 F.3d 34 (D.C. Cir. 2001)” (click on case to link to it)

 

Prepare a case analysis, using the CASE FORMAT found under the RESOURCES TAB, describing the Microsoft Company presenting the economic aspects of competition. In your analysis please address the below questions. This assignment must cover Microsoft and focus on competition as covered in Chapter 8.

 

1. What is the key legal issue in the Microsoft case?

2. Do you think Microsoft intentionally tries to create monopolies or are the Microsoft products simply so good they just take over their respective markets and gain majority market share?

3. Do you think competitors like to keep Microsoft in court so there is confusion in the marketplace that they can take advantage of to strengthen their market share?

 

Assignment Outcomes Interpret the causes of market failure and perform comparative statics to determine the impact of market failure on efficiency. Integrate the course concepts through interaction with other Learners and your Mentor.