MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Mass Communication

The Science of Communication (MC 6000-001)

Fall 2007

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COURSE: The Science of Communication (MC 6000), Tuesday, 6:00-9:00 p.m., COMM 104
TEXTS:

Sandra Braman, Communication Researchers and Policy-Making
American Psychological Association, Publication Manual
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Larry L. Burriss, Ph.D., J.D.
OFFICE: 258 Mass Communication Building
PHONE: 898-2983 (office)
E-MAIL: lburriss@mtsu.edu

Dr. Burriss is a professor in the School of Journalism. He has served as director of the School, dean of the College of Mass Communication, chairman of the department of journalism, and director of graduate studies. He has served as president of the MTSU Faculty Senate and as a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents.

He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from The Ohio State University, where he majored in broadcast journalism. He also has a master's degree in human relations from the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Burriss received his Ph.D. in communication from Ohio University, where he minored in law. He received his law degree through the Concord Law School.

He is particularly interested in issues dealing with government-media relations.

Dr. Burriss has worked in both print and broadcast news, as well as in public relations. He has published extensively in professional research journals, as well as in popular magazines. He has won numerous awards for both writing and work with new technologies.

He was a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Air National Guard, where he was the director of public affairs. He served in Mali, Bosnia, Somalia, Central America, England and Germany.

Dr. Burriss enjoys travel, reading, and was ranked 3rd in the Tennessee Division, American Fencing Association.

COURSE CONTENT AND GOALS

Students completing the course successfully should
(1) understand the relationshhip between mass communication processes and research, and "real world" economic, social and legal considerations,
(2) understand the accepted principles and procedures of social-scientific method and research design,
(3) have a working understanding of the major theories informing the science of communication,
(4) be able to use standard library and database resources for communication research,
(5) have the ability to understand and summarize scientific articles from standard communication journals and relate them to major theories,
(6) be familiar with the American Psychological Association style for scholarly publication.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ATTEND CLASS, TAKE NOTES, STUDY THE TEXT AND HANDOUTS, ETC. IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THAT THE MATERIAL IS PRESENTED IN A COHERENT, INTERESTING MANNER. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MATERIAL.

It would be a serious misunderstanding of the intent of the instructor to assume that because a tape or film is being shown that no important material is being presented. Quite the contrary is true.

COURSE PROCEDURE

Discussion of various mass communication topics will be featured. These topics will, to a certain extent, depend on class interest and background. In general we will discuss the theory, structure and function of mass communication as both a pragmatic business and a theoretical process. I do not lecture from the text. Active class participation is urged to the maximum extent possible.

The six learning outcomes listed above will serve as a rough outline.

Regular attendance is expected--if you aren't here you can't gain anything. No assignments may be made up unless you can document, to the satisfaction of the instructor, that your absence was due to personal illness or death in the immediate family.

NOTICE

By enrolling in this course, you are indicating your recognition and acceptance of your responsibility to read, understand and meet the course requirements set forth, both in written and spoken form, and that you will not be exempted from these requirements because of ignorance, negligence or contradictory advice from any source.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Regular attendance and participation
2. Discussion of reading material
3. Class presentations
4. Research project
5. Final exam (Tuesday, Dec. 11, 6:00-9:00 p.m.)

Readings

Much of your work in graduate school will be self-directed; that is, you will be expected to keep up (or even ahead) with readings, writing assignments, etc., without having a set schedule in front of you.

You should read two or three chapters in the text each week, and be prepared to discuss (discuss the actual content, plus relate the content to your current views of media, media job, etc.) them in class.

Class Presentations

Select three of the communication studies pioneers listed below.
Prepare a brief PowerPoint presentation for the class that includes the following:
1. Brief biographical information to include educational background.
2. Outline of work/academic history.
3. Discussion of major theories and contribution to the field of mass communication.
4. References (in correct APA style) to include representative works and citations to his/her major works in scholarly journals.
5. Provide the class a print copy of the PowerPoint

Research Project

Prepare a brief paper (3-5 pages; APA style) on each of your communication study pioneers that links their theory to a current issue in mass communication.
Here are the guidelines you must follow for your sources:
1. You may use sources such as The New York Times, Washington Post, or Time magazine only for background information on the current issue .
2. You may use either print or Internet versions of the major scholarly journals listed below
3. You may use other Internet sources only if they are from the ".edu" domain. In addition, you must document the credentials of the source. This can best be accomplished by providing a screen print of the source's home page on that .edu site. Always keep in mind the phrase, "Validate, corroborate, substantiate."

Articles in scholarly journals are "refereed" by anonymous reviewers according to the highest scientific standards. Newspapers, news magazines, conference papers, trade publications, and Internet posts are not acceptable sources, except as general background information. The major scholarly journals in the field include
Journal of Communication
Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly
Public Opinion Quarterly
Political Communication
Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media
Communication Research
International Journal of Public Opinion Research
Other journals are referenced in our field's standard bibliographic source, Communication Abstracts
An acceptable refereed communication journal is any journal whose focus is on communication variables, whose method is empirical, and whose contents are reviewed by a jury of peers.

  1. Floyd Allport - Theories of perception
  2. Chris Argyris - Social structure and organizational climate
  3. Albert Bandura - Observational learning
  4. Leonard Berkowitz - Aggressive Cues
  5. David K. Berlo - Communication as process
  6. Herbert Blumler - Uses and gratification
  7. Daniel Boorstein - Pseudoevents
  8. Hadley Cantril - War of the Worlds
  9. Bernard Cohen - Agenda setting
  10. Eunice Cooper / Marie Jahoda - Mr. Biggott studies
  11. Melvin DeFleur - Mass media as social system
  12. Karl Deutsch - Quantitative methods. System analysis
  13. George Gerbner - Cultivation theory
  14. Carl Hovland - Attitude change and persuasion
  15. Harold Innis - Social structure is determined by communication channels
  16. Irving Jannis - Groupthink
  17. Elihu Katz - Media and opinion formation
  18. Joseph Klapper - Reinforcement theory
  19. Kurt Lang / Gladys Lang - McArthur Day
  20. Harold Lasswell - Linear Model. Who says what to whom with what effect
  21. Paul Lazarsfeld - Two-step flow
  22. Kurt Lewin - Field theory
  23. Maxwell McCoombs / Donald Shaw - Agenda setting
  24. Marshall McLuhan - The medium is the message
  25. Robert Merton - Functional paradigm
  26. Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann - Spiral of Silence
  27. Charles E. Osgood - Mediational theory. Semantic differential
  28. Payne Fund Studies - Movies and children
  29. Ithiel de Sola Pool - Content analysis
  30. Claude Shannon / Warren Weaver - Linear model of communication
  31. Wilbur Shramm - Feedback
  32. Frank Stanton - Audience analysis
  33. William Stephenson - Psychometrics. Q and factor analysis
  34. Percy Tannenbaum - Communication as ritual
  35. Philip J. Tichenor - Knowledge gap hypothesis
  36. Amos Tversky - Framing theory
  37. Norbert Wiener - System noise

We will start the presentations in a couple of weeks, and will have three or four each week. Adjust your preparation schedule accordingly.

Final Exam (Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, 6:00-9:00)

The final exam will consist of a series of short, fill-in-the-blank questions based on the above list of people and theories. You will be asked to identify each person by their relevance to mass communication studies and theory, and to identify each theory by its relevance to mass communication.

GRADING POLICY

Grading in this course will be somewhat subjective, owing to the nature of the tasks assigned. For purposes of computing the final grade, the text discussions will count 5 percent; the theorist presentation and discussion 20 percent; research papers 25 percent; the final exam, 50 percent.

Grades will be determined according to the following criteria:
A: Truly outstanding work. This grade will be reserved for work of outstanding quality relative to work submitted by others in the class. Given the nature of the grade, few will be awarded.
B: Average work. This grade will be awarded for the type of high-quality, mature work typically expected of students in this course.
C: Below-average work. This grade will be awarded for work that is notably deficient relative to the work of other students in the course.
D: Barely acceptable work. This grade will be awarded for work significantly deficient relative to the work of other students in the course.
F: Complete failure. This grade will be awarded for unresponsive work, work is not submitted in a timely, or work that completely fails to meet the assignment's criteria.

All written assignments are to be free of grammar, syntax, and spelling errors, and are to demonstrte logical organization and clear phrasing. APA format is expected.

Work that fails to meet these basic standards will be awarded an "F" and may not be made up.

Basic English proficiency is the expectation.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class. In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed through the regular institutional procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an F or a zero for the exercise or examination; or to assign an F in the course. If the student believes he or she has been erroneously accused of academic misconduct, and if his or her final grade has been lowered as a result, the student may appeal the case through the appropriate institutional procedures.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation, or if you have a question related to any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with me as soon as possible. Students may also contact the Office of Disabled Student Services (898-2783) with questions about such services.

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)

In general, under FERPA I am not permitted to disclose your academic progress to anyone not allowed to receive such information. Thus I cannot discuss your academic progress, grades, etc., over the phone or via e-mail. All such discussions must be in person. At the end of the semester I cannot disclose your final grade over the phone or via e-mail. Nor can I "post" your grades on my door. You will receive your final grades via PIPELINEMT or WEBMT. Additionally I cannot access your grades if you have a "hold" on your records.

NOTE TO STUDENTS NEEDING CHILD CARE DURING CLASS

Middle Tennessee State University offers an after-school program for kindergarten through 8th grade children of university faculty, staff, and evening students. The Evening Extended School Program (EESP) provides children with recreational, enrichment, and learning opportunities from 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The program's operating schedule will follow MTSU's class schedule for holidays, breaks, and closings due to inclement weather. Faculty, staff, and students taking advantage of this program must be on campus while their children are attending EESP. You may call the program's office at 904-8220 for more information.