Introducing Communication Research 2e © 2014 SAGE Publications

Chapter FourteenWriting and Presenting Research

Key Concepts•Writing for scholarly audiences means

following specific scholarly styles.•Scholarly styles include APA, MLA,

Chicago.•Wider dissemination of results includes

writing for –▫interest groups▫news media.

•The basic writing strategy is to adapt content to audience needs.

Introducing Communication Research 2e © 2014 SAGE Publications

Why Scholarly Style?

•Ensure full description of study.

•Ensure accurate references to the work of others.

•Ensure scholarly credibility.

•Allow others to replicate a study.

•Remove (maybe) subjectivity and bias.

Introducing Communication Research 2e © 2014 SAGE Publications

Scholarly Paper OutlineTitle pageAbstract Rationale

IntroductionLiterature ReviewResearch questions / hypotheses.

MethodSampleVariablesProcedures Analyses

ResultsDiscussion/ conclusionsImplicationsLimitationsDirections for future research

References

Introducing Communication Research 2e © 2014 SAGE Publications

Scholarly Citation Styles

•APA - http://www.apastyle.org/

•MLA - http://www.mla.org/style

•Chicago – http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html

•“House” style –

the specific style of a publisher

Introducing Communication Research 2e © 2014 SAGE Publications

Report Writing for Interest Groups• Title page• Letter or memo of transmittal• Table of contents• List of illustrations• Executive summary• Body of report

▫ with appropriate subheadings• Conclusion• Recommendations• References (maybe)• Appendices

Introducing Communication Research 2e © 2014 SAGE Publications

Different Audience Levels

• Scholarly - • Journal of . . . . •Communication Monographs.

• Educated Audience•Popular Science•Psychology Today

• Popular / Educated•Time

• Popular /General•Good Housekeeping, newspapers

Introducing Communication Research 2e © 2014 SAGE Publications

Research Writing: Formats• Scholarly papers• Poster papers• News releases• Feature stories• Professional or business reports• Social media content

▫ Blogs, Facebook, Wikis, RSS feeds.

Introducing Communication Research 2e © 2014 SAGE Publications

Scholarly Review Process

•Manuscript (MS) to editor.•MS to reviewers.•Reviewers comment to editor.•Editor summarizes reviews, determines

needed revisions, contacts author.•Author rewrites as necessary to needs of

editor and reviewers.•MS to editor.•MS to proofreading, production &

distribution.

Introducing Communication Research 2e © 2014 SAGE Publications

Chapter Summary•Scholarly Papers –

▫ discuss theory, method(s), sampling, results, conclusions.

▫ follow style guides such as APA and MLA.• Research will interest groups and news

media if-

▫ it is timely and relevant ▫ it emphasizes results, conclusions, and

relevance.

• Make research relevant to news media audiences by – ▫ writing in news media formats and styles.

Introducing Communication Research 2e © 2014 SAGE Publications

Vocabulary Review• Editorial process• Format• House styles• News determinants• Panels• Poster papers• Professional reports• Slideware• Style guide • Voice

Introducing Communication Research 2e © 2014 SAGE Publications

Web Resources

• Citation Machine: http://citationmachine.net • EasyBib: http://www.easybib.com • EndNote: http://www.endnote.com • RefWorks: http://www.refworks.com•Web Journal of Mass Communication Research:

http://www.scripps.ohiou.edu/wjmcr/policy.htm

Introducing Communication Research 2e © 2014 SAGE Publications