LC The Construct Emotional Intelligence Question

You will select a single construct, conduct a literature search on that construct to discover eight or more research reports that explore the construct in some way, and construct a “write up” that you will submit to me, but also make available to the entire class.

First, you should have already selected a construct and that construct should have already been approved by me, per the instructions given to you earlier this semester. If you do not have an email from me stating that that your construct selection has been approved, STOP — do not continue — go back and follow the instructions for getting construct approval before going any further.

Your write-up should include:

Page 1

Page 2

Sources

THE CONSTRUCT EXPLORATION
ASSIGNMENT
THE NATURE OF INQUIRY IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES
With
Darrin S. Murray, PhD
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.
THE CONSTRUCT EXPLORATION EXERCISE
YOUR SOURCES
 Minimum of Eight Sources on your Construct
 Your sources must be drawn only from research reports (where data are collected
and analyzed) published in scholarly journals from the communication studies
discipline
 Go for as much variety as possible
 Find your construct studied in as many different contexts and in relationship to as
many different constructs as possible
 (your conceptual and operational definitions might come from non-communication
sources – check with me if that’s the case)
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.
PAGE ONE:
THE CONCEPTUAL DEFINITION
 Explains what your construct means
 This is NOT a dictionary definition
 Cites scholarly literature to explain the construct
 Should be a single sentence
 Must be cited
 One or more sources
 Should be clear to a general audience
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.
PAGE ONE:
THE CONCEPTUAL DEFINITION — EXAMPLE
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.
PAGE ONE:
THE OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
 This isn’t going to look like any definition with which you
are familiar
 Cites a method of measuring a construct as a variable
 Measuring – putting a quantitative value on it
 Cites a published research instrument used to
quantify the construct
 This if often a quantitative survey, but not necessarily
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.
PAGE ONE:
THE OPERATIONAL DEFINITION — EXAMPLE
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.
PAGE ONE:
THE OPERATIONAL DEFINITION — EXAMPLE
 Communication apprehension is operationalized using
McCroskey et al.’s (1985) Personal Report of
Communication Apprehension (PRCA-24)
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.
PAGE ONE:
THE DEFINITIONS — EXAMPLES
 Gender Roles
 Conceptual Definition
 Gender role refers to behaviors, roles, and attitudes
that the specific culture defines as more appropriate
to males or females (International Encyclopedia of the Social &
Behavioral Sciences, 2001), and includes the roles identified as
“masculine,” “feminine,” or “androgynous” (Bem, 1974).
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.
PAGE ONE:
THE OPERATIONAL DEFINITION — EXAMPLE
PAGE ONE:
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION — EXAMPLE
 Gender role can be operationalized using
Bem’s (1974) Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI).
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.
FINDING OPERATIONAL MEASURES
 https://libguides.lmu.edu/c.php?g=323261&p=2166223
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.
PAGE ONE:
THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 Phrased as questions
 Open –ended
 NOT dichotomous yes/no
 May inquire about
 The relationship between 2 or more constructs
 In a context
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.
PAGE TWO:
THE REFERENCES
 Include a properly formatted APA style “References“
 Includes references corresponding to the two (or more) sources that
you cite on Page 1 for your conceptual and operational definitions
 Include at least EIGHT additional sources that explore your construct in
some way.
 Develop as much variety as possible with these sources
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.
A FEW FINAL WORDS
 Submit to Brightspace by or before the deadline
 Waiting until the last minute can bring unpleasant side effects
 Don’t make this a bigger project than it is
 Start early and seek clarification early
 Manage your time so you can take care of yourself, too
© 2021, Darrin S. Murray, Ph.D.