Welcome to Communication Studies 333: Research Methods in Communication Studies, a three-credit course that examines a specialized branch of social sciences research. The course is intended to serve as a foundation for other courses in our Communication Studies program and as a stepping stone into senior level research. In this course, you will learn about the basic tenets of the scientific method, including an exploration of its two major branches: quantitative and qualitative research. You will also encounter a discussion of the ethics of research and will learn about sampling, content analysis, survey methods, longitudinal research, and experimental research.