Chapter specific application exercises will help you think about research design in practice or have you explore a relevant resource.

Exercise 1: Finding Research Questions

Earlier in this chapter, we presented three interactions among students in a campus coffee bar. In the first two cases, we presented a dialogue followed by a researcher’s summary and some questions the interaction raised. In the third case, Interaction III—The Topic Turns to the Media, we left it up to you to identify research questions that the example brought to mind. Identify as many media-related questions as possible. Think freely and broadly. No question is irrel­evant at this stage of your thinking, and one may well be the spark that ignites a long-term research interest for you.

Exercise 2: Exploring Communication Interest Areas

One way to develop your own interests is to go to two of the major communication research interest groups—the National Communication Association (NCA) and the International Communication Association (ICA), listed in this chapter’s recommended web resources. At the NCA site, on the About menu, look for “What is Communication?” At the ICA site, look for “Divisions & Interest Groups.” In both cases, you will find a list of the specific interest groups for each association. The interest areas that overlap will give you a sense of the “mainstream” interest areas, and either list may spark your interest in an area that perhaps you were not previously aware of.

Exercise 3: Researching Internet Communication

Access the website for the Pew Research Center Internet, Science & Tech Project, listed below. (This site was previously known as the Pew Research Center Internet & American Life Project.) Locate a February 27, 2014, survey report titled “The Web at 25 in the U.S.” At the report site, you will find the full report, the questionnaire, and the data from which the report was compiled. From the questionnaire, select three questions that interest you, ask the same questions of 10 people you know, convert your answers into percentages, and compare your results with the Pew Research Center results. For example, the first question, with response options, is as follows:
Do you use a computer at your workplace, at school, at home, or anywhere else on at least an occasional basis? Yes / No / Don’t Know / Refused
Do your results differ from those reported by the Pew Research Center?