COMM 6820

Quantitative Research Methods

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

The goal of this course is to provide new PhD students with a foundation for designing, conducting, and evaluating quantitative research in Communication and related social scientific fields. We will focus primarily on the relationship between theory and methods, as well as on communicating ideas clearly.

Enrollment Priority Recommended prerequisite: familiarity with basic statistical concepts.

Last 4 Terms Offered 2025FA, 2024FA, 2023FA, 2022FA

Learning Outcomes

• Develop research ideas and turn them into empirical questions.
• Design and conduct ethical social scientific studies using quantitative research approaches.
• Map theoretical constructs onto their concrete operationalizations.
• Measure latent constructs in reliable and valid ways.
• Critically read reports of empirical research.
• Write transparent reports of studies using quantitative research methods.

View Enrollment Information