Courses

Undergraduate Level

CS4059 Public Opinion
This course focuses on contemporary concepts of public opinion, theories of public opinion, ways of measuring public opinion, and the impact of public opinion, with special reference to media-related issues. It examines relationships between public opinion and communication, and explores the role of media use in the formation and change of public opinion. The course will also address the influence of public opinion on individuals’ attitudes and behaviours.

CS4037 Audience Research Methods
This course is designed to provide students with tools to study audience characteristics and the impact of communication on receivers. The course centers around two research methods that are widely used by academics and practitioners: survey research and focus group study. Students will learn how to design, plan and implement these two types of studies. They will also learn how to analyse data and present the findings in both oral and written formats.

CS4042 Advanced Research Methods
Students with some foundation in research from an introductory course will be introduced to higher- level training in qualitative research methods, including participant observation and in-depth interviewing, and quantitative methods, including experiment and content analysis. Students will also learn to analyse and interpret data.

Graduate Level

A9014 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
This graduate course introduces students to advanced quantitative research methods most frequently used for dissertations and applied research in the social and behavioral sciences. The course aims to deepen the understanding of quantitative research methods and to develop skills for applying these methods in the broad range of communication and information disciplines. The course covers the development of research ideas, measurement procedures, design, data collection and analysis. Both traditional and new modes of data collection which involve new technologies will be covered in this course. Students will have hands-on experience in the process of conducting empirical investigations, learn the appropriate ways to analyze and interpret data, and present the findings in both oral and written formats. Final deliverables will include two empirical research papers.This graduate course introduces students to advanced quantitative research methods most frequently used for dissertations and applied research in the social and behavioral sciences. Students will look at the development of research ideas, measurement procedures, design, data collection and analysis. Both traditional and new modes of data collection which involve new technologies will be covered in this course. Students will have hands-on experience in the process of conducting empirical investigations, learn the appropriate ways to analyze and interpret data, and present the findings in both oral and written formats. The course aims to deepen the understanding of quantitative research methods and to develop skills for applying these methods in the broad range of communication and information disciplines. Final deliverables will include two empirical research papers.

A6330 Public Opinion & Persuasion
This subject focuses on psychological and social-psychological study of opinion and attitude change through media and public campaigns. The course will review experimental and survey designs for measuring and monitoring public opinion, as well as classic case studies. Students will also consider applications to elections, marketing, and development campaigns at the individual, group and societal levels.