Assignment Task:
This research brief will enable you to pursue a specific topic related to digital media in which you have personal interest. It may be an aspect we have studied in class, or one we have not studied. Your assignment is to write a research brief on the topic. The key skill you should develop from this assignment is being able to apply empirical research findings to a situation or problem you might encounter in a real-world work setting.
A research brief summarizes the state of the current research on a given topic, and it also provides some recommendations about actions that might be beneficial for your target audience. You can choose your target audience of PR/communication professionals for this paper -- it could be your current employer (in which case you would summarize the topic and make specific recommendations to improve practices), or, if your topic does not apply to your current profession, you can consider a public relations/communications-related job that you aspire to.
Ensure your paper makes a clear argument, and that you forecast that argument in the introduction and restate it in the conclusion. Remember to cite all claims using APA format (7th ed.). Attach a cover sheet and abstract. The abstract should summarize the main argument. See the information below for guidelines on how to write the final paper, and also review the final paper rubric to learn how you will be graded on your assignment.
The writing style for this assignment should be less technical and academic and more general. Because a key skill you should develop from this assignment is being able to apply empirical research findings to a situation or problem you might encounter in a real-world work (professional) setting, you will want to think about how to communicate best to your target audience of PR/communication professionals. You must demonstrate how you have translated these findings into language that is understandable for your target audience, which may include professionals who are not well-versed in research.
Your assignment should include:
- APA style title page
- Abstract
- Main text
- Reference list
Overview of paper sections:
Abstract: If you are unsure about how to write an abstract, the APA manual has an explanation.
Introduction: Your paper should begin with a short introduction that explains why the topic you have chosen is important and interesting, and that forecasts the main argument of the paper. Your introduction should also provide a clear roadmap of what you will present in your paper.
1) Try to summarize/preview the main question of your paper in the first paragraph.
2) Dedicate a couple of paragraphs to why your topic is important. It is okay to be explicit by using a paragraph that starts: "This topic is important because..." Think about who will benefit from reading your paper and what knowledge will be gained. Communicate who can use the information in your review, and how they can use it.
3) It is okay to use evidence from popular literature to make the claim that your study is important. Consider using statistics. Support all claims with empirical evidence.
4) Make sure you define any key terms. Give one best definition. If the definition is controversial, then explain why you have chosen the definition you have chosen. Usually definitions have citations.
5) Give readers important background about your topic. Only give enough so that they will understand the study. They do not need the whole history of your topic.
6) Provide a road map of what your reader can expect in your paper.
Literature Review: The main body of your paper should be organized conceptually using APA heading styles. Include at least three sections with three or four studies in each section. Each section should have a key point, argument, or finding that is supported by the studies you choose. Refer back to your final paper outline to keep your ideas organized. Make sure each section has a brief introduction and conclusion that summarizes the main findings in that section.
For each study that you include, say a few words about how the study was conducted and then give the results of the study. Be sure to link the main finding to the key point of that section. Make sure you use transitions between studies to show how they relate to each other.
1) Start your literature review with a paragraph that previews what we know on the basis of the literature.
2) Divide your literature review into sections. Include three or four sections, each with three or four studies. The sections should be conceptual. Use APA headings to divide the sections. Begin each section with a summary argument that states one idea that all of the studies in that section support.
3) Make sure you describe the key details for each study. Explain what the researchers did and what they found. Do not include information about their literature review or what they think the implications are. Make sure you mention critical ideas that help the reader evaluate the study (How many subjects? Was the sample random?).
4) Don't just say there is a relationship between two variables. Always say the direction of the relationship. For example, don't say "humor and attention are related." Say "humor and attention are positively related."
5) Use transitions between studies that explain how one study relates to the next. Usually transitions explain how the conclusions in the studies are related.
6) At the end of each section, include a summary statement that articulates what one idea all of the studies in that section argue.
7) If a study touches on ideas that are not relevant to your paper don't mention those results or that aspect of the study.
8) If a study is relevant to two or more sections mention the study in both sections.
Analysis/Recommendations: The final section of your paper should be a summary and analysis of the state of the literature. What do you know about your topic based on the literature taken as a whole? This summary is the main argument of your paper. It is a statement about what you know based on the literature. Review the main points in a few paragraphs. You may also want to consider pointing out any shortcomings of the studies. Following this review, you should include a few paragraphs about the implications of the research and findings for communication practitioners working in this topic area. Based on what you know, what would you recommend as action steps that communication practitioners can use to improve the situation? What would you say to someone who is working in this area? (Note: This section is worth the most points in the final paper.)
- At the end of literature review, present a concise summary that articulates the main argument from each section. Critique shortcomings of the studies, if any.
- Provide an analysis of the research you have just presented: What are the key themes that emerge? What would you tell someone about this topic? What are the implications of the research for communication professionals who work in this topic area?
- What would you recommend to communication professionals? You may want to consider how larger trends in digital communication interact with these findings (think the larger topics we covered in the first half of class: digital divide, usability, credibility, demographics related to use). Make sure you provide clear, specific recommendations.
Conclusion: Include a conclusion paragraph where you restate the main points of your paper. This should be a 1-2 paragraph summary of your entire paper.