Course Syllabus
MC 451: Research Methods for Mass Communications
Spring 2026
Essential Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Instructor | Alex P. Leith, PhD |
| aleith@siue.edu | |
| Office | Dunham Hall 1017 |
| Office Hours | MW 10:00–11:30 AM and 1:30–3:00 PM |
| Class Time | MW 3:00–4:15 PM |
| Classroom | Dunham Hall 2039 |
| Duration | Jan 12 – May 08, 2026 |
| Course Website | https://sim-lab-siue.github.io/mc451-liaison-program/ |
| Textbook | From Vibes to Variables, 2nd Ed. (OER - Free) |
Contact Methods
- Email: aleith@siue.edu (preferred for time-insensitive and confidential communication)
- Discord: APLeith (preferred for time-sensitive or casual communication)
- Teams: Schedule meetings for short and medium-length consultations
Course Description
MC 451 introduces core research methodologies used in mass communication. Students explore quantitative and qualitative research methods, including surveys, experimental designs, content analysis, and in-depth interviews. The course emphasizes development of skills necessary for the design, execution, and presentation of research studies while engaging with professional and ethical principles that guide mass communication research.
Students complete a two-part content analysis project across the semester: a qualitative study developing coding variables through immersion, and a quantitative study testing relationships in coded data. The final deliverable is a professional web portfolio published to GitHub Pages.
Course Structure: The Five Phases
Phase I: The Journalist (Weeks 1–15) — 150 points
- Weekly Reading Journal (10 pts/week x 14 teaching weeks + 10 pts consistency = 150 pts)
Phase II: The Architect (Weeks 2–4) — 125 points
- GitHub Profile (25 pts)
- Syllabus Contract (25 pts)
- Project Setup (25 pts)
- Librarian Visit Report (50 pts)
Phase III: The Builder (Weeks 5–12) — 250 points
- Annotated Manuscript (25 pts)
- Project Prospectus (25 pts)
- Topic Selection — RQs (25 pts)
- Definitions Practice (25 pts)
- Codebook & Qual Memo (50 pts)
- Sampling Plan & Pilot (75 pts)
- CITI Ethics Certification (25 pts)
Phase IV: The Analyst (Weeks 13–15) — 225 points
- Data Wrangling [R] (50 pts)
- Describing Data [R] (75 pts)
- Inferencing Data [R] (100 pts)
Phase V: The Publisher (Weeks 16–17) — 250 points
- Final Web Portfolio (250 pts)
Total Points: 1000
Grading Scale
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| A | 900–1000 |
| B | 800–899 |
| C | 700–799 |
| D | 600–699 |
| F | < 599 |
Required Software
All software is free and open-source:
- R — Statistical computing environment
- RStudio — IDE for R
- Obsidian — Personal knowledge management
- Quarto — Scientific and technical publishing
- Git — Version control
Course Policies
Late Work
- Late submissions (after Friday 11:59 PM): -10% per business day
- Non-emergency extensions must be requested before the deadline
- Assignments more than one weekday late without approval: 0 points
Resubmission
Assignments worth 50+ points may be revised and resubmitted within one week:
- Final grade = average of original and resubmission
- Example: 60% + 80% resubmission = 70% final grade
Participation
Success requires attendance and active participation. Regular engagement with readings, activities, and discussions is essential.
Academic Integrity
Per the SIUE Student Academic Code (3C2), plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated and may lead to failure on an assignment, in class, or dismissal from the University. Students must comply with University policies on academic honesty.
Weekly Schedule
| Week | Dates | Reading | Assignment Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 24 | Syllabus and Introductions | GitHub Profile |
| 2 | Aug 31 | Ch 1–2: Curiosity & Trust | Syllabus Contract |
| 3 | Sep 07 | Ch 3–4: Reading Protocol & The Archivist | Project Setup |
| 4 | Sep 14 | Ch 5–6: Choosing Your Lens & The Roadmap | Librarian Visit Report |
| 5 | Sep 21 | Ch 7–8: Research Question & Ethics | Annotated Manuscript |
| 6 | Sep 28 | Ch 9–10: Toolkit & Qualitative Methods | Project Prospectus |
| 7 | Oct 05 | Ch 11–12: Surveys & Experiments | Topic Selection (RQs) |
| 8 | Oct 12 | Ch 13–14: Immersion & Vibes to Variables | Definitions Practice |
| 9 | Oct 19 | Ch 15–16: The Rulebook & Sampling Plan | Codebook & Qual Memo |
| 10 | Oct 26 | Ch 17: Wrangling the Chaos | Sampling Plan & Pilot |
| 11 | Nov 02 | Ch 18: Seeing Patterns | Data Wrangling [R] |
| 12 | Nov 09 | Ch 19: The Surprise Detector | Describing Data [R] |
| 13 | Nov 16 | Ch 20: Interpreting the Call | Inferencing Data [R] |
| 14 | Nov 23 | THANKSGIVING BREAK | |
| 15 | Nov 30 | Ch 21–22: Portfolio & Going Live | CITI Certification |
| 16 | Dec 07 | Remote Work Week | |
| 17 | Dec 14 | Finals Week | Final Web Portfolio |
Schedule subject to change with notice
Additional Support
Accommodations (ACCESS)
Contact Accessible Campus Community and Equitable Student Support:
- Website: siue.edu/access
- Email: myaccess@siue.edu
- Phone: 618-650-3726
- Location: Student Success Center, Room 1203
Counseling Services (Cougar Care)
- Website: cougarcare.siue.edu
- Phone: 618-650-2842
- Location: Student Success Center, Room 0222
Academic Support
- Lovejoy Library Resources
- Academic Success Sessions
- Tutoring Resource Center
- The Writing Center
- Student Success Coaches (via Starfish)
Technical Support (ITS)
- Phone: 618-650-5500
- Email: help@siue.edu
- System Status: ITS Status Page
Quick Reference
Key Resources
- Textbook — From Vibes to Variables (free, online)
- coursepackR — R package with datasets, templates, and setup tools
- Methods Vault — Obsidian workspace template (download on Resources page)
- Weekly Templates — Available via
coursepackR::download_week()
Getting Help
- Office hours: Stop by anytime during posted hours or schedule an appointment
- Email: Send questions to aleith@siue.edu
- Discord: APLeith for quick questions