COMMUNICATION RESEARCH (COMM 18)

LESSON 4: FINALS
PART IV: THE THESIS PROPOSAL

Review of Related Literature

Frameworks of the Study

What is a Review of Literature?

Review of Literature

process of identifying, collecting and reviewing articles/theses, as well as selecting
and citing passages within the articles and unpublished theses that are relevant to the
proposed study.

Importance of doing a Literature

A search of available literature saves time and money.

Understanding what is already known and not known about the proposed research
problem, thus helping in formulating a more logical justification for conducting the
proposed study;

Formulating a conceptual framework that shows relationship of the different variables
central to the proposed study;

Developing hypotheses that are based on previous research findings;

Explicating or separating concepts that are closely related such as awareness and
knowledge, or opinion and attitude; and

Discussing the findings in a comparative fashion relative to other studies.

Guides in Conducting a Review of Existing Research

Bear in mind the following questions:

What type of research has been done in the area?

What has been found in previous studies?

What suggestions do other researchers make for further study?

What has not been investigated?

How can the proposed study add further to our knowledge of the area?

What research methods were used in previous studies?

Skills Needed in Conducting a Library Research

Finding sources;

Evaluating sources; and

Taking notes.
Finding Sources

Dictionaries
Guide Books

Encyclopedias
Biographical dictionaries

Directories
Atlases

Handbooks
Manuals

Almanacs
Yearbooks

Gazetteers

Evaluating Sources

The source should be relevant;

The source must be current;

The source should be comprehensive; and

The source should direct you to other sources.

Shortcuts:

Locate annotated bibliography;

Read book reviews;

Obtain the advice of experts;

Review the table of contents;

Read the introduction; and

Browse through the index.

FRAMEWORKS OF THE STUDY

What is a Study of Framework?

Framework - set of concepts that are logically and sequentially arranged to explain and
predict the occurrence of a certain phenomenon.

Study Framework – organizes the different variables of the study into either independent
or dependent, and guides the researcher in tabulating, analyzing and interpreting the data.
The desirable characteristics of a good framework are:

Shows the order of relationships of the variables found in the study objectives;
Takes into consideration related literature on the key variables; and
Presents all findings regardless of whether they support the study or not.

Frameworks needed for a thesis proposal:

Theoretical Framework

Conceptual Framework

Operational Framework

Theoretical Framework

Presents the theory or theories explaining why the problem under study exists.

If you are not aware of an existing theory that applies to a field problem, formulate a
simple one.

Review related literature.

Example:

“Is there any relationship between mass media exposure and political knowledge?”

Independent Dependent
variable variable

Communication . . . . . . . . . . Learning

The theoretical framework assumes that communication leads to learning.

Conceptual Framework

Presents relationships between different specific constructs the researcher wants to study.

Construct – clearly defined concept

Example:

“Is there any relationship between mass media exposure and political knowledge?”

Independent Dependent
variable variable

Mass Media exposure . . . . . Political knowledge

Conceptually, mass media exposure is considered one type of communication behavior and
political knowledge as one type of learning.

There are variables which weaken or strengthen the influence of the independent
variable. In the example given, the demographic characteristics of the respondent such as
age, sex, education, religion and income are considered intervening variables. They are
factor that may weaken or strengthen the effect of mass media exposure on political
knowledge.
 Independent Intervening Dependent
variable variable variable

Mass Media Age Political

Exposure Sex Knowledge
Education
Religion
Income

Operational Framework

Defines terms of the variables that are reflected in the conceptual framework

Mass Media
Age Group
Income
Political Knowledge

Example 1:

An Evaluation of the Management and Operation of an Information, Education and

Communication Office (Mercado 1989)

After 15 years of operation, the management of an information, education and communication

(IEC) unit wanted to know the strengths, weaknesses, reach and effects of its various IEC
activities.

An evaluation proposal was prepared and a study framework was formulated and consequently
accepted by the implementing unit. The study framework assumed that the different
communication programs of the IEC unit have varied reach and effects on the target audiences.

Communication

Programs Reach Effects

Training Attendance Change in

Mass Media Listening -knowledge
Field-based Watching -attitude
communication Reading -practice
activities
Exercise:

Example 2

Study of Suicide. Durkheim’s 1966 work on egoistic suicide provides a classical example of
theory building in the field of sociology.

Theoretical Statement: “A higher degree of individualism in a social group causes higher rate of
suicide in that group.

Independent Dependent
variable variable

Individualism . . . . . . . . . . . . Suicide

To measure “individualism,” Durkheim used indicators such as certain characteristics of his

respondents like civil status, religion, education and occupation.

For your exercise make the characteristics specific and make a general statement out of it.
Make the framework.

Intervening Variables

Internal and directly unobservable processes that determine behavior. Also known as
“in-the-head variable.” These cannot be seen or heard but are felt; these can only be
inferred from reaction or behavior.

Functions: explains why members of a certain group who are expected to behave
similarly under a certain situation behave differently or vice versa.

Second, the intervening variable is useful in building a conceptual framework.