PERCEIVED ATTRACTIVENESS AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN PERSUASION AND TRUSTWORTHINESS

Entire Final Project Description

SCOM 383 ~ Summer 2019

Since you’re taking this class during a four-week summer session, your research project will be different from the research project that is done during the regular 16-week semesters (i.e. Fall and Spring). Instead of developing your own individual project idea, going through the IRB (Institutional Review Board), collecting your own data, and analyzing it, YOU will be developing your own research topic idea, creating an experimental design to potentially examine your topic, and then using the findings from a previously conducted study to analyze your own research idea. What this means is that you will create your own project (about anything related to communication), but will not actually collect data for it. Instead, you will be given a data set (in SPSS) and be asked to pretend as if it is your own data set. You will still write a literature review, develop hypotheses, create a method that would best examine your hypotheses, interpret data to determine if your hypotheses are supported or rejected, and write up a full research paper (including a literature review, method, results, and discussion). You just won’t actually recruit participants or have anyone participate in your study.

In the following pages, you will find guidelines, ideas, and tips for creating your own project. Please read over this carefully, as it is a great step-by-step format for developing a research project.

Your paper will be completed in multiple stages throughout the semester (one stage each week), with each stage receiving its own individual grade (week 1- proposal; week 2- literature review; week 3- method section; week 4- entire paper). Your final paper should conform to the generally accepted standards for academic work in the communication field.

Step One: Decide on a general topic area

Since you’re taking SCOM 383, I can assume that you have a few communication courses under your belt already. Think back over everything that you’re learned about the field of communication. Pick a topic about something that you find to be fascinating, confusing, or problematic. Try to find a topic that interests you. Ideas can come from all kinds of places: a conversation, the media, personal experiences, current events, questioning existing theories, or even looking at other research articles. The only real guideline here is that you pick something that has to do with communication. Below is a link to an online journal called Communication Research Trends. It reviews a long list of communication topics, areas of study, and variables that many scholars in the field research. You are more than welcome to let one or more of these concepts drive your topic choice.

http://cscc.scu.edu/trends/topics.html

Step Two: Do some searching to help you narrow your topic

There are really two steps here. First, you need to narrow your topic and second, you need to make sure that your idea is NEW. If while searching, you realize that someone else has already conducted a study about your exact topic, you need to do one of two things: (1) change topics completely or (2) decide to slightly alter your study so that it adds to this already existing study you found. One way that you could figure out how to go about doing this second option is to look at the “future research directions” section of the study you found (it’s usually near the very end of the article). See what they suggest for future research and see if their suggestions are interesting to you.

Step Three: Look up everything you can about your topic

Once you’ve decided on your topic and you’ve narrowed it to a manageable project for this semester, you need to spend a significant amount of time searching the library website and Google scholar for everything there is to know about your topic area. You really want to immerse yourself in all of the available literature in this area. Read about everything. Use lots of synonyms when searching, as many scholars tend to talk about the same thing using different terminology. You should get to the point where you feel like you really have a handle on how communication works in your topic area. This understanding and your common knowledge/personal experiences should help you begin to formulate hypotheses. You will need two hypotheses for this project.

Step Four: Start to formulate variables

This is usually a difficult task. After reviewing your previous literature and the lectures for week one (especially the lecture about variables), think about what you’re going to examine in your study. Since this is an experimental methods class, you will be required to develop a quantitative experiment to examine your topic. Without getting too much into it (you’ll learn more about experiments in week two), for an experiment, you will need to create one nominal-level independent variable (IV) and one interval-level dependent variable (DV) for each hypothesis you pose. And since you’re required to have 2 hypotheses, you’ll need either (a) 2 IVs and 2 DVs, (b) 2 IVs and 1 DV, or (c) 1 IV and 2 DVs. Below are a few sample pairs of hypotheses.

2 IVs and 2 DVs

H1: Individuals who use direct affection tactics with their partners will experience more romantic relationship satisfaction than individuals who use indirect affection tactics. (IV = type of affection & DV = relationship satisfaction)

H2: Individuals who use highly person-centered advice about sex with their partners will experience more sexual satisfaction than individuals who use low person-centered advice about sex with their partners. (IV = type of advice about sex & DV = sexual satisfaction)

2 IVs and 1 DV

H2: Individuals who use highly person-centered advice about sex with their partners will experience more romantic relationship satisfaction than individuals who use low person-centered advice about sex with their partners. (IV = type of advice about sex & DV = relationship satisfaction)

1 IV and 2 DVs

H2: Individuals who use direct affection tactics with their partners will experience more sexual satisfaction than individuals who use indirect affection tactics. (IV = type of affection & DV = sexual satisfaction)

You will need to be able to name your variable, explain which level (nominal or interval) your variable is, distinguish between the IV and the DV, and if it is a nominal variable, provide the levels you plan to use.

Step Five: Write your hypotheses

Make sure that you review all lectures about hypotheses on Canvas. You will need to create TWO hypotheses based on the variables you plan to use and the previous literature you’ve reviewed. Since you are creating an experiment for your project, you will need to write your hypotheses as if you are predicting a causal relationship. They should look something like this (there are of course variations of the hypothesis template below that are also acceptable):

______________ will have/experience/feel/etc. more ________________ than ____________.

The first blank should be one level of your IV, the second blank should be your DV, and the third blank should be the second and maybe third (if you have one) level of your IV. Here are a few more sample hypotheses so that you can see how they are generally written:

American racecar drivers are more likely to think they are on fire after a crash than French racecar drivers.
Dentists are more likely to get married in Vegas than teachers or accountants.
Men in their 40s will perceived more negatively after accepting an internship than women in their 40s.

Step Six: Create your Project Proposal

(Due the first Thursday by 11:59pm)

The first stage is to write a proposal for your semester project. This proposal can be written in key words, phrases, and/or full sentences. You can also use bullet points and headings in your proposal if you would like.

In this proposal, you must include:

A brief (5-8 sentence) description of your topic. Some questions to consider (you do not need to answer all of these questions):
- What do you already know about your topic? (Base this answer on your personal experiences AND the literature that you’ve looked at so far- make sure that you provide in-text citations when discussing previous literature)
- What do you want to figure out (i.e. what do you not know yet)?
- Why do you think this is an important topic?

Your variable names
- What is the name of your independent variable? What are the levels of your IV (you can have 2 or 3)?
- What is the name of your dependent variable?

2 hypotheses and a description (3-7 sentences) of your rationale for each prediction
- Provide Hypothesis One
  - Why do you think this will happen?
  - What evidence do you have to make this prediction (include citations)?
- Provide Hypothesis Two
  - Why do you think this will happen?
  - What evidence do you have to make this prediction (include citations)?

An APA reference list with at least 5 sources relevant to your topic.

Step Seven: Figure out how you’re going to manipulate your IV & measure your DV

You are required to use an experimental design for this project (as opposed to a survey design or other quantitative method). This means that you are going to have to create a manipulation of your IV(s) and a measurement of your DV(s). You’ll learn about this in the lectures for weeks one and two.

Step Eight: Write the Literature Review Draft

(Due the second Thursday by 11:59pm)

Your literature review draft should include the following:

An introduction. This portion of your paper should ONLY be between ½ and 1 page in length.
A review of literature. Previous research on you topic should be used (1) to argue for the value of your research and (2) as support for the arguments you are making in your rational of the communicative behaviors you are examining.
- Using literature to argue for the value of your research. You use previous research to show what we already know about your topic area and to identify what we have left to learn. Your current research study should expand our knowledge of your topic by filling in the “gaps” in the research.
- Using research as support for your rationale. You should consider four things: (1) the purpose of the previous research; (2) the method used to solve the problem (i.e. how did the researcher test the hypothesis?); (3) the results of the study; and (4) how the results of the study expanded our knowledge of your topic area. It should also be very clear how the previous research you are discussing relates to your current topic.
- Organizing your review of literature. You can decide to organize your literature review in a variety of ways. First, you could discuss the research problem and then describe the solution (your study). Second, you could have an individual section for each variable in your study. Third, you could describe the research context/situation and then discuss each variable (in its own section) in relation to the context. Fourth, you could write up a rationale (argument) for each of your hypotheses and use that to organize your paper. There are many other logical and acceptable ways to organize your review of literature- talk to me if you want some guidance here.
A rationale. The rationale is the argument that leads up to your hypotheses. Once the reader gets to your rationale, he or she should know what you are planning to argue; it should be obvious after reading your review of literature. You will basically be summarizing everything you said in the literature review by connecting the dots for your reader while clearly and concisely stating your argument.
A set of directional hypotheses. You will be required to have a minimum of two hypotheses. Your hypotheses should be clearly stated in academic prose. Your rationale and hypotheses can be organized in one of two ways. First, you could state your entire rationale (i.e. the argument you have for making your predications) and then state all of your hypotheses together. OR, you could provide a rationale for your first hypothesis, state hypothesis one, a rationale for your second hypothesis, and then state hypothesis two.

Other requirements:

This paper must be between 4 and 6 pages. No exceptions (i.e. 3¾ pages is not acceptable).
A minimum of 10 sources directly relevant to your research topic. You should include ALL of these sources in your literature review and in your APA reference list at the end of your paper.
At least 5 of your sources must be from the last 18 years (2000-2018).
You must have an APA title page. Please see the sample paper on Canvas or go to Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (Google it) for help with formatting.

Make sure that your paper is in Times New Roman, 12-point font and that the entire paper is double-spaced with no extra spaces before or after (right click on highlighted text and go to the “Paragraphs” function to be sure of this).

You must have ONE-INCH margins on ALL FOUR sides of your paper.

Step Nine: Write the Method Draft

(Due the third Thursday by 11:59pm)

There are a few things that are required for your methods section in this class (go over this assignment description while also looking at the sample paper online). You should write this section in past tense as if you have already completed data collection.

Begin by stating your communication variables or concepts. Here is an example:
- “To examine the hypotheses, the independent variable was attachment style, while the dependent variables were willingness to engage in sexual like and dislike communication and time of sexual disclosure onset in relationship.”

Then, you’ll need a “Participants” section. This is where you will explain how you recruited participants in detail, whether your study had any requirements to participate, and provide a description of the subjects who actually participated. Since you aren’t actually collecting data for your projects, I will provide you all with this paragraph during week two. But so you know, this is what one would look like:
- “Participants were recruited from the undergraduate population of students enrolled in communication courses offered at a large Mid-Atlantic university. Individuals were required to be over the age of 18 and involved in a romantic relationship for at least 30 days. There were 274 participants. The majority of participants were White (72%; 20% Hispanic/Latino; 7% African American; 1% Other) and the mean age of participants was 20.67 (range 18-23). The majority of participants were involved in a romantic relationship for 6-9 months (59%), with the large majority of the remaining participants reporting a relationship length of 3-6 months (38%).”

The third component of your method section should be titled, “Procedures.” Here, you will be explaining in a step-by-step format, what happened during data collection. This is where you explain everything that would have happened with your participants if you had actually conducted your study. What did your participants do in the study? For example,
- “Once participants arrived at the study location, they were reminded of the purpose of the study, the voluntary nature of their participation, and given an information sheet to review. To ensure that each participant felt comfortable and had enough privacy to complete the survey, the researcher moved the desks so that there was ample room in between each participant prior to the start of the study. If they subsequently agreed to participate after reading the information sheet, they completed the survey packet.”

“Participants were provided with three “dating scenes” and were instructed to list the activities or events that would occur during each of the three scenes or “parts of a typical date.” This three-scene script was used rather than the five-scene script used in earlier work. This change was based on pilot work where the participants often listed the same activities in the initiation and meeting scenes as well as in the outcome and conclusions scenes. Many of those in the pilot study specifically asked how the aforementioned scenes differed and some drew lines indicating that an activity that was part of initiation also belonged in the meeting scene and so forth. Scenes were described as follows: (a) initiation and meeting, “how does the couple get to know each other?” and “how does the date start?”; (b) date activities; “what would the couple do on the date?”; (c) date outcomes and conclusions; “what happens after the date activities?” and “how does the date end?” Space was allowed under each scene to record activities and/or events. To ensure anonymity on part of all respondents, all participants returned surveys to the psychology office.”

Next, you should describe your manipulations and measurements in great detail. If you had a document that your participants read, describe it. If you had a video that your participants watched, describe it. If you had a scale that your participants completed, describe it. You want to describe (in great detail) all of the research materials that your participants came into contact with.
- When you are describing a scale, there are a few things that are needed:

The name of the scale.
Directions to “see” a certain appendix for the entire scale.

A description of what the scale is measuring.

The number of items and a description of how the scale is completed.
Sample items.

EXAMPLE: Attachment style. Participants completed the Attachment Relationships Scale (see appendix A), which is a 20-item self-report measure designed to assess two underlying dimensions of attachment; anxiety (10 items) and avoidance (10 items). Participants were instructed to rate how much they agreed or disagreed with each statement using a 7-point scale ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Sample statements include, “I worry about being abandoned,” “I feel comfortable depending on romantic partners,” and “I resent it when my partner spends time away from me.” Both subscales have achieved excellent reliability in a variety of studies.

Lastly, you should create your appendices.
- You should have ONE scale or research material for each appendix.
- Each appendix should be on its own page (use the “page break” function instead of just clicking “enter/return” until you make it to the next page)
- The top of each appendix page should say Appendix A (or B or C or D), which should be centered and bolded in Title Case.
- Below the Appendix A/B/C/D title, you should write the name of the scale or piece of research material. This should not be bolded, but it should be centered and in Title Case.
- Then provide any directions for your participants.
- And lastly, copy and paste your scale or piece of research material.

Other requirements:

This section should be 1-3 pages in length. No exceptions.
The prose in this paper should be in past tense. We’ll just pretend that you already collected the data so that you don’t have to change the tense for the final paper.

You should include ALL of the sources you used to create your method section in your reference list.
You must have an APA title page. Please see the sample paper online or go to Purdue’s Online Writing Lab for help with formatting.

Make sure that your paper is in Times New Roman, 12-point font and that the entire paper is double-spaced with no extra spaces before or after (right click on highlighted text and go to the “Paragraphs” function to be sure of this)
You must have ONE-INCH margins on ALL FOUR

Step Ten: Write the Results Section

(Due with the rest of the Final Paper by the fourth Thursday at 11:59pm)

The results section is where you report the findings of your research. The results section includes:

Method of Analysis: How did you choose to analyze your data? Did you compare groups? What statistics did you use? What were your criteria for analyses? Why do you think this was the best analysis method?
Findings
- What you expect to find: What was your research hypothesis? Before you discuss any results, remind the reader of your hypotheses.
- What you found: Report the results you found.
- Did your results support or refute your hypothesis?: Do not attempt to explain why your results supported or refuted your hypothesis. In the results section, you simply state what you expected to find; what you found; and whether these results supported or refuted your hypothesis. A discussion of why you obtained the results that you did is reserved for the final section of the research report.

Other requirements:

This section should be 1-3 pages in length. No exceptions.

Make sure that your paper is in Times New Roman, 12-point font and that the entire paper is double-spaced with no extra spaces before or after (right click on highlighted text and go to the “Paragraphs” function to be sure of this)

You must have ONE-INCH margins on ALL FOUR sides of your paper.

Step Eleven: Write the Discussion Section

(Due with the rest of the Final Paper by the fourth Thursday at 11:59pm)

In the discussion section, you try to make sense of everything you did and all the results you found. Typically, researchers include:

A discussion of the results
- Briefly summarize the results (I mean briefly- you just finished reporting them in the previous section)
- Restate whether your results supported or refuted your hypothesis.
- Discuss why you think the results supported or refuted your hypothesis. This is also where you should bring in previous literature (by using citations) to help you explain why you think your findings were supported or refuted.
A discussion about your research design
- What were the strengths of your research design? What were the weaknesses or limitations of your research design? If you could go back and do anything differently (or do something different in the future), what would it be? Why?
- Do you think the strengths and/or limitations of your research design affected your results? How? Why?
A discussion of the implications of your results
- This is a theoretical and practical discussion about your study and how it contributes to an understanding of your topic area.
- What did you learn about your topic area by doing this study?
- How does the information you obtained contribute to our understanding of your topic area? In other words, how do your research findings contribute to what is already known about your topic (i.e. the previous research you read)?
- What are the practical implications of your findings? What group (or groups) of people can your findings help? Why was your study important?
A discussion of future research directions
- What additional research might you do to learn more about your topic area?
- Why is it important to do this research? What additional information will we learn?

Other requirements:

This section should be 2-4 pages in length. No exceptions.

Make sure that your paper is in Times New Roman, 12-point font and that the entire paper is double-spaced with no extra spaces before or after (right click on highlighted text and go to the “Paragraphs” function to be sure of this)

You must have ONE-INCH margins on ALL FOUR sides of your paper.

Step Twelve: Edit the Entire Paper for submission

(Due with the rest of the Final Paper by the fourth Thursday at 11:59pm)

You should know what this means. But here are a few more tips for putting it all together:

This paper should integrate your work and my feedback from assignments throughout the semester.

General requirements:

6-18 TOTAL pages- NO exceptions
Note: page counts do not include the title page or reference list
10 or more primary sources from academic journals (I said that you needed at least 10 for the lit review draft, but you should be able to find at least 2 more for the final paper)

Other Requirements & Tips for the Final Paper

Make sure that your paper is in Times New Roman, 12-point font and that the entire paper is double-spaced with no extra spaces before or after (right click on highlighted text and go to the “Paragraphs” function to be sure of this)

Make sure that you have ONE-INCH margins on all four sides of your paper.
Make sure that you meet the page requirements. Note: page counts do not include the title page, reference list, or appendices.
You DO NOT need an abstract for this paper.
You DO need an APA title page.
You should include at least 10 sources in this paper. And, you should have a citation (in APA format) for every source you use in your paper at the end of your paper in your reference list.
You should also include appendices of all of your research materials.