Quantitative Research in Communication

Mike Allen is Professor in the Department of Communication at UW-Milwaukee. Mike received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University, his MA from the University of Wyoming, and his BA from Lewis and Clark College. His primary research interest is in the area of social influence in which he has more than 150 published works. The International Communication Association awarded him the John E. Hunter memorial award for life time achievement in communication research using meta-analysis. He is past editor of Communication Studies and current editor of Communication Monographs. Scott Titsworth is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication Studies at Ohio University. Scott received his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska, his MA from Missouri State University, and his BFA from Emporia State University. His primary research interest is instructional communication, with a particular emphasis in connections between affect, emotion, learning, and classroom communication. Scott teaches a variety of graduate and undergraduate classes including research methods, ANOVA, and Regression; in 2008 Scott was awarded the title of “University Professor” for excellence in the classroom. Stephen K. Hunt is an Associate Professor, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Political Engagement Scholar, Co-Chair of ISU′s American Democracy Project, and Associate Director of the School of Communication at Illinois State University. Stephen received his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, his MA from the University of Northern Iowa, and his BFA from Emporia State University. He has published articles on several topics including instructional communication, persuasion, and communication pedagogy. His major research interests include the pedagogy of political engagement, critical thinking, communication skill assessment, and training/mentoring graduate students. In 2008, Stephen received the Stan and Sandy Rives Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education as well as the University Teaching Award.

I particularly like the chapter on meta-analysis as this is one topic that most of the books on survey that I have been using do not discuss.

• 1. Introduction to Quantitative ResearchAn Overview of Quantitative ResearchSteps in Quantitative ResearchAn Overview of the Book2. Using Statistics in Quantitative ResearchTypes of StatisticsThe Logic of Hypothesis TestingWriting ResultsSample SPSS Output3. Independent Samples or Students t-TestUnderstanding the Independent Samples t-TestCalculating the Independent Samples t-testAssumptions of the t-TestUsing Computer Programs to Calculate t-TestsInterpreting Results of an Independent Samples t-TestThe Independent Samples t-Test in Communication ResearchSample SPSS Printouts4. ONEWAY Analysis of VarianceUnderstanding the ONEWAY ANOVACalculating a ONEWAY ANOVAAssumptions of the ONEWAY ANOVAUsing a Computer to Calculate ONEWAY ANOVAInterpreting the Results of a Significant ONEWAYThe ONEWAY ANOVA in Communication ResearchSample SPSS Printouts5. Factorial ANOVAUnderstanding the Factorial ANOVACalculating the Factorial ANOVAAssumptions of ANOVAUsing Computer Programs to Calculate Factorial ANOVAsInterpreting the Results of a Significant ANOVAThe Factorial ANOVA in Communication ResearchSample SPSS Printouts6. Analysis of CovarianceUnderstanding the Analysis of CovarianceAssumptions of the ANCOVAInterpreting the Results of ANCOVAConcluding Comments of ANCOVAThe ANCOVA in Communication ResearchSample SPSS Printouts7. Multivariate ANOVAMultivariate DesignRepeated MeasuresThe MANOVA in Communication ResearchSample SPSS Printouts8. Chi Square-StatisticUnderstanding the Chi-Square StatisticCalculating a Chi-SquareAssumptions of the Chi-Square StatisticUsing Computer Programs to Calculate a Chi-SquareInterpreting the Results of a Significant Chi-Square StatisticThe Chi-Square in Communication ResearchSample SPSS Printouts9. Simple Bivariate CorrelationUnderstanding the Correlation CoefficientCalculating the Correlation CoefficientAssumptions of the Correlation CoefficientUsing Computer Programs to Calculate Correlation CoefficientsInterpreting the Results of a CorrelationCorrecting for Various ArtifactsThe Correlation Coefficient in Communication ResearchSample SPSS Printouts10. Multiple RegressionUnderstanding Multiple RegressionCalculating a Multiple RegressionAssumptions of Multiple RegressionUsing Computer Programs to Calculate RegressionInterpreting the Results of a Multiple RegressionMultiple Regression in Communication ResearchSample SPSS Output11. Factor AnalysisThe Purpose of Factor AnalysisExploratory Factor Analysis (EFA)Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)Factor Analysis in Communication Research12. Advanced Modeling TechniquesUnderstanding Advanced ModelingDescribing the ModelUnderstanding the TestTwo Methods of AnalysisOther Advanced Modeling ApproachesPath Analysis in Communication Research13. Meta-AnalysisThe Mathematical Argument for Meta-AnalysisThe Practical Argument for Meta-AnalysisThe Structure of Writing a Meta-AnalysisMeta Analysis in Communication ResearchAppendix A: Critical Values for the t StatisticAppendix B: Critical Values for the Chi Square StatisicAppendix C: Critical Values for the F StatisticAppendix D: Critical Values for the r Statistic