TCF 701 is a graduate level seminar which bridges between TCF 600 (Seminar in Research and Bibliography) and TCF 799 (Thesis) in which the graduate student completes his or her thesis or project. TCF 701 is more advanced, flexible, and individualized than TCF 600 but continues developing analytic abilities appropriate for graduate thesis work. The official catalog description reads as follows: "Literature, methods, and designs for research. Different methodological and conceptual approaches to mass communication research. Emphasis on (1) selection of topic for thesis or project, (2) development of detailed research plan, and (3) research activities preliminary to TCF 799." YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THREE AREAS OF ACTIVITY THIS SEMESTER.
First and most importantly, as mentioned above, you will develop your individual thesis or project. The purpose of the course is to launch your project. At a minimum, in this course we will establish with you a practical working methodology and a completion schedule. In the first two weeks you should have identified the topic that you will actually be doing a thesis or project on, not merely a "pretend" topic as in 600. This will include identifying a faculty member other than the 701 instructor to sponsor the topic and work with you on it, that is, tentatively a "chair" for your "committee." We will begin by sharing and critiquing project proposals. Some students enter the seminar with a clear concept of their project while a few mayh still be casting about for ideas. By the third week you should have a solid idea of what you will do. As a class we will examine what your project is, exactly what needs to be done to carry it off, and what its cultural and academic significance is. Once your subject is established, we will suggest related literature and work with you critiquing your work regularly on an individual basis. You may then proceed as far as possible in pursuing your research project during this semester. You will be expected to go far beyond "proposing" as appropriate for TCF 600 and begin conducting the research. The handout "Suggested Outline for the Master's Thesis" will help guide your development of your thesis report. By the end of the semester, you should be well on your way in completing your first several thesis chapters, in developint your methodology and instruments, and perhaps in collecting and analyzing data. This means that your 799 will be a finishing up operation and should be relatively manageable to complete.
Second, you will be expected to participate in group research projects selected and developed within the class structure. This will require working collectively in planning, carrying out, and writing up the study. Group responsibilities are integral not optional parts of this course.
Third, you will be expected to take responsiblity for participating actively in class sessions. You will be expected to offer criticism and suggestions for classmates research projects. This may also include developing reading and classroom presentations for this course. You may, for example, invite one or several professors to come to class and discuss with us their research activities and procedures. You may invite or interview appropriate outside professionals. You may identify appropriate written materials, not just for your own research project but to be shared with the class.
Student performance will be evaluated in terms of outcome, namely the contribution of individuals to their own project and the class sessions. Students will be expected to do the reading assigned for each week and to discuss the material. Periodic quizzes on such material will be included. But more heavily weighted for grades will be your own individual thesis progress as indicated by materials and reports submitted at the beginning, middle, and end of the course.
Roger Wimmer and Joseph Dominick - Mass Media Research: An Introduction. 2nd edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. 1987. Manual of Instructions for Preparation of Masters Thesis or Project for SDSU. SDSU Bookstore. Course Readings - reprints for TCF 701 provided as in-class handouts.
In order to receive final credit for TCF 701, it is required that you complete a 12 week course in the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) at the Social Science Research Lab (SSRL) by the end of this semester. It is a basic introduction to practical use of the SDSU computers and others for processing research data. (It may not be necessary to take SPSS for credit, but proof of completion is required.)