Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
No prerequisites. Students should be enrolled in the online MA in Strategic Communication and Digital Strategy.
Navigation
We encourage you to view this course on a computer rather than a mobile device.
Course Materials
- Marketing Research: An Applied Orientation (7th Ed.) Malhotra, N. K. (2019). New York, NY: Pearson
- ISBN-13: ISBN-13: 9780134734842 (Hardcover)
- ISBN-13: 9780134736884 (e-text)
- Additional materials - mostly academic papers in strategic communication, using different types of research methods - are posted to Canvas on the Resources page for each module. Students should read all materials in addition to watching the lecture slides with recordings (I'd advise taking notes on both the readings and the lectures).
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 10 x 10 points | 100 |
| Discussions | 10 x 10 points | 100 |
| Quizzes | 11 x 10 points (the lowest score will be dropped) |
100 |
| Live Sessions | 10 x 10 points | 100 |
| Exams | 3 x 100 points | 300 |
| Final Project | 1 x 300 points | 300 |
| Total |
1,000 |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
CITI Training
Ethics in human subject research is essential in order to preserve the human treatment of people who participate in research. The university requires all faculty and students who conduct human subject research to be trained in ethical research policies and practices. Students will complete this training by the assigned date, and upload a copy of the competition certification to get the assignment credit.
Software for Statistical Analysis
This course will introduce the basic knowledge of statistical analysis of data as a lecture form and a hands-on analysis experience. Most statistical analysis packages are expensive and not open to the public. Therefore, this course will use the R statistical programming language, which is open to public use. Becoming familiar with this tool is beneficial to strategic communication research and data analytics. This is not the course to teach how to use statistical software or how to do coding, it is students’ responsibility to learn. However, step-by-step tutorials will be provided on Canvas for completing the assignments of the class. Students can use different statistical packages such as SPSS, SAS, and MPlus for the assignment if they are good at using them. More information, including downloading and installing R, will be available on Canvas.
Assignments & Discussions
In each module, students will be asked to complete assignments as directed. Students should upload the assignment to Canvas by the due date to get credit.
Students are also asked actively to participate in class discussions online. In modules where there is an online discussion board provided, the instructor will provide the topic to discuss with regard to relevant reading materials and that week's subject area. Students should submit their original idea first, then should reply to at least two other students’ original posts per the due date routine posted.
Quizzes & Exams
There are 11 quizzes and three exams to test students’ comprehension of key concepts. You will have two attempts for each quiz and Canvas will record your highest score. The lowest quiz score will be dropped when calculating the final grade. The exams will be submitted through Canvas' TurnItIn system to check for cheating (plagiarism and AI assistance). Students are responsible for all of the material covered in the readings, lectures, class discussions, and any other materials assigned. The format of quizzes and exams will include both True/False and multiple-choice questions.
Final Group Project
Working in teams, students will develop a research report, including a situation analysis and survey, using their understanding of all the principles of research presented throughout the course. As a group, students will complete a basic situation analysis, survey research - planning, questionnaire development, collecting data, analyzing data - and both a written report and oral presentation. Each group should submit one PDF file by the assigned due date.
Course Policies
Communication
The best way to contact the instructor or teaching assistant is via regular email rather than Canvas messaging, if possible. If students have any concerns or questions, feel free to email the instructor or teaching assistant. In addition to emailing the instructor, general questions may also be asked in the Course Discussion Board.
Late Policy
All assignments (discussion responses, quizzes, midterm/final papers) will be considered late if not submitted on Canvas at the date/time specified, although assignments can be turned in early. If students are not allowed to submit or write in Canvas, please contact the instructor or teaching assistant. Email submission is only accepted when it is allowed.
Every student will be allotted one flex day that can be used at any point during the semester. The flex day will allow you to submit a single assignment one day late without penalty. You can use this day for any assignment except for the exams and final project. You do not need to provide a reason: simply email me in advance and tell me that you would like to use the flex day and for which assignment, and please copy the TA as well.
All other late assignments will lose 10% of their score for each day late.
Make-ups
Make-up exams for exams and quizzes will only be given under the most extreme circumstances, and prior arrangements must be made before the day of the exams & quizzes.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
COURSE POLICY ON ACADEMIC HONESTY / PLAGIARISM
The Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication commits to the preparation of mass communication professionals and scholars. Such a mission demands the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity. Violations of academic honesty, including but not limited to plagiarism, collusion, deception, conflict of interest and theft, are not tolerated and can lead to severe penalties. Disciplinary actions are outlined in the OU Student Handbook. I do not tolerate dishonesty and will assess the harshest punishment available if you are caught cheating in any way in my course. All work must be your original work, exclusively written for this class, by you and only you. Academic integrity is expected. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated and will result in getting 0 points for the assignment and failing the class. Lack of knowledge of academic policy is not an excuse. The policy regarding academic honesty for this course consists of the definitions and policies as stated in the OU Faculty Handbook (section 4.16, retrieved 7-19-23): “Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship. The basic assumptions regarding student academic work at the University are:
(A) Students attend the University in order to learn and grow intellectually.
(B) Academic assignments exist for the sake of this goal and grades exist to show how fully the goal is attained.
(C) A student’s academic work and grades should result from the student’s own effort to learn and grow. Academic work completed any other way is pointless, and grades obtained any other way are fraudulent.
Academic integrity means understanding and respecting these basic truths, without which no university can exist. Academic misconduct violates the assumptions at the heart of all learning. It destroys the mutual trust and respect that should exist between student and professor. Academic misconduct is unfair to students who earn their grades honestly.”
Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, fabrication and fraud. According to the OU student handbook (https://www.ou.edu/integrity/students), “submitting any assignment that originates from another person, program, or place without proper attribution is a violation of the Academic Integrity Code. Across all disciplines, the assumption is that work submitted is a product of the student’s own understanding and expression.” Plagiarism includes “the representation of the words and ideas of another as one's own.” Fabrication includes “the falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.” This includes deliberate changing of research data (e.g., misreporting scores to better fit a desired hypothesis) and the faking of research data (e.g., making up answers to a survey instead of actually interviewing respondents). Fraud includes “the falsification, forgery, or misrepresentation of academic work, including the resubmission of work performed in one class for credit in another class.”
Again: All work must be your original work, written exclusively for this class. Academic integrity is expected. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated and will result in getting 0 points for the assignment and failing the class. I do not tolerate dishonesty and will assess the harshest punishment available if you are caught cheating in any way in the course.
Course Policy on use of ChatGPT and other AI tools:
Unless specifically directed to do otherwise, the use of any type of AI assistance for any work for this class is prohibited. It is cheating and you will be turned in for academic misconduct. We will be discussing how and when to use AI tools and some prompts that can help you in certain professional situations as the semester progresses. However, the work you turn in should be 100% your own work and thoughts. The professor will be checking all work for evidence of AI assistance (as well as plagiarism) throughout the semester. The reason for this is not because I don’t believe AI can be a valuable tool. But it is vital that you fully engage with this material and have the experience of thinking through these theories, ideas and applications of skills and how to communicate your beliefs and takeaways about them yourself (without help) for you to best understand and be able to apply those skills and concepts that you are in this class in order to learn.
That’s a long way of saying, “The primary way to use AI in this course would result in shortchanging my own learning and negate a chance to gain some valuable experience,” so it’s prohibited in this class.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Academic honesty is incredibly important within this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma, because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report academic misconduct.
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they are able to enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability, a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
Anyone who has been impacted by gender-based violence, including dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and sexual assault, deserves access to resources so that they are supported personally and academically.
The University of Oklahoma is committed to offering resources to those impacted, including: speaking with someone confidentially about your options, medical attention, counseling, reporting, academic support, and safety plans. If you would like to speak with someone confidentially, please contact OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013) or another confidential resource (see "Can I make an anonymous report?").
You may also choose to report gender-based violence and discrimination through other means, including by contacting the Institutional Equity Office (ieo@ou.edu, 405-325-3546) or the police (911).
Because the University of Oklahoma is committed to the safety of you and other students, I, as well as other faculty, Graduate Assistants, and Teaching Assistants, are mandatory reporters. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This includes disclosures that occur in class discussions, writing assignments, discussion boards, emails, and during Student/Office Hours.
For more information, please visit the Institutional Equity Office.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|