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GrC Senior Project Guidelines

The Graphic Communication department requires a two-course sequence for Senior Projects. The first course, GRC 460, Research Methods in Graphic Communication, is taken two quarters prior to graduation. In this course the student develops her/his project idea and completes the first three chapters of the Senior Project: (I) Introduction and Purpose of Study, (II) Literature Review, and (III) Research Method(s).

The second course, GRC 461, Senior Project, is taken the quarter in which the student expects to graduate. There is one class meeting for GRC 461, the remaining time involves directed study where the student works with a Senior Project faculty advisor who has been assigned.

GrC 460 - Research Methods In Graphic Communication

I. Course Description
Introduction to research methods for preparing scholarly and defensible papers and Senior Projects and in conducting qualitative and quantitative evaluations, testing, and research in graphic communication. Methods covered include statistical, historical, descriptive, questionnaires, interviewing, content analysis, and sampling.

The goal of this class is to guide students through the first three chapters of their Senior Project. The class meets formally for the first six weeks of the quarter during which the student learns about Cal Poly research resources, how to select the proper research method(s) for the study being undertaken, and how to write clear and concise technical and research reports. During the final four weeks of the quarter, the students work independently for the most part and report to the weekly lab sessions for chapter refinements and to consult with the professor.

Team projects with no more than two students per team are permitted. In such cases the complexity of the project must reflect a time requirement warranting two students.

II. Required Prerequisite Preparation
Senior status and two quarters prior to completing curriculum requirements.

III. Expected Outcomes

  1. Skills in clear, concise, and scholarly writing.
  2. An awareness of sources of data in graphic communication, i. e., institutions, foundations, organizations, libraries, publications.
  3. A knowledge of quantitative methods for measuring, organizing, testing, and validating data.
  4. A knowledge of qualitative research methods including historical-descriptive data collection techniques and methods of content analysis.
  5. A research plan for Senior Project.
  6. Completion of first three chapters of Senior Project.

IV. Required Reading
Levenson, Harvey Robert, Some Ideas About Doing Research In Graphic Communication.

V. Methods of Evaluating Outcomes
Completion of first three chapters of Senior Project in compliance with acceptable methods for valid and scholarly research (70% of final grade):

  1. Introduction and Purpose of Study
  2. Literature Review
  3. Research Methods and Procedures

Quizzes - Between two (2) and four (4) quizzes will be given at the start of lab sessions (25% of final grade).
Lecture and laboratory attendance, and participation during formal sessions (5% of final grade).

VI. Course Content
Introduction

The Structure of Senior Project Chapters I, II, and III

Cal Poly Research Resources

Writing Lab

Kennedy Library Data Base and Abstract Services

Statistical Consulting Service

Rules for Scholarly Writing

Asking Research Questions and Forming Hypotheses

Research Methods

Research Organizations in Graphic Communication

Publications as Sources of Data

Internet Search Engines and Data Bases

Constructing Questionnaires

The Scientific Method

Elite and Specialized Interviewing

Historical-Descriptive Research

Content Analysis

Lecture and Laboratory Schedule

Lec. 1
Introduction to class

Lab. 1
- Discuss advisor process
- Develop three (3) Senior Project ideas

Lec. 2
- Hand-in three Senior Project ideas
- Go over Chapter 1

Lab. 2
- Work on Chapter 1

Lec. 3
- Go over criteria for Chapter 2

Lab. 3
- Writing Lab session
- Write Chapter 1

Lec. 4
- Meet in Kennedy Library for database and on-line search review
- Chapter 1 due

Lab. 4
- Develop and write Chapter 2

Lec. 5
- Return Chapter 1
- Discuss Chapter 3 and philosophy of graphic communication research

Lab. 5
- Do revisions on Chapter 1
- Continue writing Chapter 2
- Begin writing Chapter 3

From this point on, unless otherwise informed, lecture sessions will be for one-on-one consulting where students come to class either to drop-off work, pick-up work, or to discuss issues, problems, and progress with the professor. However, Lab sessions continue.

Lec. 6
- One-on-one consulting.

Lab. 6
- Continue developing Chapter 3

Lec. 7
- Revisions of Chapters 1 and 2 due
- One-on-one consulting

Lab. 7
- Continue writing Chapter 3

Lec. 8
- Return Chapters 1 and 2
- Chapter 3 due
- One-on-one consulting

Lab. 8
- Clean-up and further revisions of Chapters 1 and 2

Lec. 9
- One-on-one consulting

Lab. 9
- Return Chapter 3
- Clean-up and further revisions of Chapters 1, 2, and 3

Lec. 10
- Consulting on final revisions

Lab. 10
- Clean-up and final revisions of Chapters 1, 2, and 3

Final exam week
- Final revisions of Chapters 1, 2, and 3 due in department office

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GrC 461 - Senior Project

Class meeting - First week of class

Completed first three chapters to advisor - End of second week of class

Finished first draft to advisor - End of eighth week of class

Final copy to advisor - End of tenth week of class

Senior Project Layout

Title Page

Approval Page

Abstract

Acknowledgements (Optional)

Table of Contents

List of Tables

List of Figures

Chapter I -Introduction

Chapter II - Literature Review

Chapter III - Research Methods and Procedures

Chapter IV - Results

Chapter V - Conclusions

Endnotes (If footnotes are not used) Must us either MLA, APA, or Chicago style

References

Appendix/Appendices (Optional)

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