Final Week: Question 1

Reading Chapter 13, methods of discovery, I found many of the research methods interesting. The method I found most interesting in the table 13.3 would be the ethnography form of research. I think research using this method would have a successful outcome seeing that observations in a natural setting would seem to gather the least biased results. For example, many documentary film makers want to keep an environment of their subjects as natural as possible. This keeps the story or idea of the film in it's purist form. The filmmakers may not go "under cover" as the text suggests for this method of research. But it is very important for most directors to avoid using their own input or opinion within their films. As a result, the conclusions that arise from each person or observation are most rewarding. I would probably use this method personally with my own research and experiments. As opposed to surveys or experimental research methods, which tend to have staged or forced aspects to them, the ethnography method would probably be most successful in answering many research questions.

Final Week Discussion Question 2

I would have to say that the concepts I've found most interesting over the course of this semester would have to be interpersonal communication concepts. The Interpersonal chapter of our textbook overall had some very insightful topics that really expanded my perspectives with communication and relationships. Many of the ideas and theories such as Ducks theory gave me a better understanding of how people form and maintain relationships. The different types of relationship patterns of rigid complimentary pattern, competitive symmetry, and submissive symmetry gave me a better understanding of people in my life and how they function using these various patterns in their relationships. Using honest and effective communication in relationships is something that I've always tried to maintain in my life, and reading this chapter was reassuring and motivating for me to keep expanding and progressing with my communication skills. I also enjoyed the intercultural communication chapter of the text as I am fascinated with other ways of life. I have a great aspiration to do a lot of traveling and I thought the concepts from this chapter provided me with a good outlook on communication with other cultures. There's always plenty of room for improvement when it comes to communication, but I feel that overall the textbook provided me with a good preview and understanding of whats to come for completing my communications major. This was my first communication class along with a public speaking course this semester, and with the completion of both these courses I'm really excited to keep moving forward.