Communication Research Methods took an in-depth look at the beginnings of Communication with Aristotle’s Rhetoric and how the central ideas of ethos, logos, and pathos still touch every facet of effective communication. From there, we investigated seminal concepts and theories in the field of research, including validity and reliability, models of communication, quantitative vs. qualitative research, and more. The overarching focus of the class, however, was the Research Critique (available above). The Research Critique took a study of our choosing in a major communication publication/journal and challenged us as communication experts to analyze it with a critical eye. We identified its purpose, quantified its significance, broke down the methodology and limitations, and suggested future directions for the researchers.

For my Research Critique, I selected a study analyzing Corporate Social Responsibility, corporate communication, and the power of authenticity in communicating to minority social groups. This allowed me to place what I’d learned on the founding ideals of communication (ethos, pathos, and logos) into a modern context with a topical social movement. The Research Critique demonstrates the peak of what I’ve learned on the history of communication and how it interacts with the world at large. By analyzing how to craft meaningful messages (the very definition of communication as a concept) the Research Critique offered a relevant and in-depth perspective on how an understanding of the history of communication can help connect the past to the present and make me a better communicator.