Modification Paper

COMM 3023 Proposed Study Modification Paper (Revised for Spring 2020)

Title Page & Abstract (DOES NOT COUNT TOWARD PAGE LIMITS)

1. The title page should include the:

· Title of your paper (e.g., COMM 3023 Proposed Study Modification Paper)

· Names of your group member(s)

· Name of the university

2. The abstract provides a ‘nutshell’ summary of the ENTIRE PAPER. It must be between 100-150 words long .

Literature Review

1. Summarize the original article by provide the following 2 pieces of information:

· Purpose of the original study (i.e., what overarching research question(s) were the researchers interested in answering?)

· Variables examined in the original study (identify & define the independent and dependent variables, and also specify any mediating or moderating variables as well).

2. Summarize the method and sample used to carry out the experiment (i.e., what did the researchers do, and who did they recruit to participate in the study?)

Proposed Modifications

1. Describe your proposed modifications to the study. You are required to come up with 2 modifications to the original study itself.

· Modification #1: You are to modify the design of the original study by developing a new way of manipulating one of independent variables in the original study (e.g., in the original study, participants received different types of humor appeals via text only. A proposed modification may be to compare humor appeals delivered via video vs. text).

· Modification #2: You are to modify the sample of the original study by proposing to recruit either: (A) an entirely different target population (e.g., older adults instead of college students) or (B) a more targeted segment of the same target population (e.g., fraternity/sorority members instead of all college students). In either case, provide a justification for why your proposed sample is an IMPROVEMENT over the original sample recruited for the study (e.g., more representative, topic is of greater relevance to them, etc.).

Proposed New Hypothesis

1. Come up with a new hypothesis that your group could test using the existing variables found in the original study (e.g., Exposure to self-deprecating humorous messages about binge drinking will yield more negative attitudes about binge drinking than exposure to either an other-deprecating humorous, or non-humorous message about binge drinking) or based on your modification (e.g., Humorous appeals delivered via video will yield more negative attitudes about binge drinking than those delivered via text).

· Make an argument for your prediction. Justify why you feel your prediction is correct.

· You can look for empirical support for your argument if you choose, but it is not required.

Methods (Divided into 4 subsections):

1. Participants

· Clearly identify the target population you plan to recruit from for your proposed modified study.

· Identify the specific sampling frame from which you’ll recruit your sample (i.e., where will you recruit your sample from? How will you identify potential study participants?)

· Identify the sampling strategy/technique to be used in selecting the final participants for your proposed modified study.

· Note any restrictions, if any, for participation in your study (e.g., study is only open to females). If there are no restrictions, state this clearly in the paper.

2. Design

· Specify the experimental design you will be using for the study.

· Are you doing a quasi- or true experiment?

· Are you using a special research design? (i.e., factorial design, longitudinal design, repeated measures design)

· Clearly describe the independent variables in the study.

· Discuss what independent variables you will manipulate.

· Discuss what independent variables will simply be measured (i.e., individual difference variables such as personal commitment to binge drinking).

· For each manipulated independent variable examined in your proposed study, describe in detail the nature of the manipulation (i.e., what stimulus will be the participants be exposed to, what will you ask the participants asked to do, etc.).

3. Procedures

· Provide a step-by-step breakdown of what participants will do from the moment they start your study to the completion of your study. The more details the better. Discuss the different tasks participants will perform as part of the experiment, and describe the sequencing of tasks as well (e.g., First, participants will read over the consent form document and provide consent by checking the box…. Second,…)

4. Measures

· For each dependent variable you plan to test in your proposed modified study, you will need to state clearly how you plan to measure it (e.g., are you using an existing scale or are you developing your own questions?)

· Use of an existing scale (e.g., Attitudes will be measured with four 11-point semantic differential scale items taken from Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980).

· Developing your own questions (e.g., Attitudes will be measured with four 7-point Likert scale items developed by the researchers). Be sure to include sample items if you are developing your own questions (e.g., Specifically, participants will be asked whether they think (a) Drinking excessively is a good idea (1=strongly disagree to 7=strongly agree).

· For measured independent variables, you will need to describe the survey items. Follow the same procedure as you did for the dependent variables.

· For manipulated independent variables, you will need to describe how you plan to check if the manipulation was carried out effectively (e.g., to check for self-deprecating vs. other-deprecating humor, you can ask: The message I was exposed to about binge drinking made fun of the speaker’s friend – Yes or No?)

References (DOES NOT COUNT TOWARD PAGE LIMITS)

1. Provide a complete set of references for all work cited in the paper. Be sure that the formatting adheres to APA format.

The paper should be between 6-7 pages (not including title, abstract, and reference page). Paper needs to be uploaded onto Canvas by Monday, April 20 @ 5 p.m. CST.