Assignments

The requirements of the course include:

• Preparation for class sessions through assigned readings
• Participation (20%):
  Informed contributions to class discussions
  Completion of occasional in-class and take-home ungraded exercises
• 2 brief (3-4 page) analytical essays (40%):
  Analysis of method
  Analysis of research design
• Poster: design for Internet research project (10%)
• Final paper: design for Internet research project (30%)

Analytical Essays:

1.) Analysis of method/approach to research: You will be assigned a research method/approach and asked to investigate how it is being adapted to Internet studies in this 3-4 page essay. The essay should include several examples of the use of this method from extant literature, an assessment of the potential affordances and constraints of this method for Internet research, a critique of some of the ways it has been employed in Internet research to date, and a list of references. In addition to the essay, please prepare copies of a one-page summary of the method and its Internet adaptation(s) to distribute to the class. The essay and summary will be due on the date that the method is discussed in class, and you will be expected to lead the discussion that day.

2.) Analysis of research design: Find a peer-reviewed journal article that involves Internet research and includes an explicit description of the research design (and instrumentation if applicable). In this 3-4 page essay assess the design of the study, including the "fit" of the data collection and analysis methods to the research question(s), the level & unit(s) of analysis, the use of Internet applications, and any ethical/legal issues that this study raises. Due in class Wednesday, May 9.

Final Paper: Research Design Proposal/Methods Chapter

As a final demonstration of your learning in this course, you will develop a research design strategy for an Internet research project you would like to conduct. You may write this paper individually or together with others in the class. If you write as a team, the research design must include triangulation of data collected through three or more methods.

The genre of the paper may either be a proposal for funding, or (a draft of) the methods chapter of your thesis/dissertation. We will assume that your proposal (or thesis) has already established the relevance and significance of your study, and has a comprehensive literature review, well-grounded conceptual approach, and compelling reason why this research is so important. For this assignment, the paper may start with a brief summary of the purpose and importance of this research, and an introduction of your research questions or hypotheses.

The paper should include:
· a statement of the purpose, central focus, relevance and significance of this research;
· a description of the specific Internet application(s) and/or environment(s) to be studied and employed in the research;
· key research questions or hypotheses;
· operationalization of key concepts;
· a description and rationale of the specific method(s), (if more than one method will be used, explain how the methods will produce complementary findings);
· a description of the step-by-step plan for data collection;
· a description and rationale of the level(s), unit(s) and process of analysis (if more than one kind of data are generated, explain how each kind will be analyzed individually and/or comparatively);
· a sample instrument (as appropriate);
· a description of anticipated results and any potential problems with their interpretation;
· a plan for publishing/disseminating the findings from this research
· a summary of technical, ethical, human subjects and legal issues that may be encountered in this research, and how you will address them;
· a schedule (using specific dates) and proposed budget.

Draft proposals (one page max) due in class on Wednesday, May 16, poster overview due on Wednesday, May 30, and final paper due by noon on Monday, June 4.