Communication & New Technology
COMM 3420
Fall 2017 Tu Th 3-4:50pm
Phys 115
Professor: Dr. Zuoming Wang
Email: Office: 309E GAB Phone: 940-565-4283
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 11am-noon or by appointment
Course Overview
This course examines online communication through principles derived from cognitive and social psychology. The focus is on how psychological processes (impression formation and management, deception and trust, attraction and relationship formation, community-building, addiction) occur in technologically-mediated environments (email, instant messaging, blogs, online dating websites, social networking websites, video games). Emphasis will be placed on how psychological principles can help us better understand online communication, but also on how online communication and its novel features can shed light on traditional psychological principles.
Course Goals
The overall goal for the course is to connect current thinking in psychology with human behavior on the Internet. There are multiple objectives intended for a wide variety of student background and goals including:
· Understanding how current theories and models of human behavior can explain and anticipate social dynamics over the Internet
· Evaluating theories critically, with an emphasis on how humans adapt to technology and use it for social purposes
· Forming an awareness of research methods that are used to study social behavior on the Internet
Required Readings
Each week's required reading will usually consist of a chapter from the course textbook or a related journal article.
· Textbook: Kevin B. Wright & Lynne M. Webb (eds). (2011). Computer-mediated communication in personal relationships. Peter Lang Publishing.
· Individual articles or Internet postings are available through the course Blackboard website or will be provided by the instructor via email.
Attendance and Participation
Your active attendance and participation in class is required. Most class periods will involve discussion or communication activities. You are encouraged to share your experiences and provide thoughtful insights. Beyond two absences, 1 point will be deducted off your participation points per absence. Absences need never be discussed with the instructor unless you are providing a documented note. Commit yourself to a responsible attendance policy that will ensure the grade you desire. Students who do not attend on the first day class may be dropped, so that students who are not enrolled but attend the first day of class can be added to the class.
Late Work Policy
Except under the most extreme circumstances (and documentation of those circumstances is required), late work will be penalized. If you encounter an emergency situation of some kind, it is best to communicate with me about it earlier rather than later.
Late Assignments & Papers turned in 24 hours after the deadline will be graded starting one grade lower (that is, the highest grade for one-day late work is B); work turned in 48 hours after the deadline will be graded starting C. Works turned in more than 48 hours after the deadline will not be accepted for grading. It is not fair to others who met the deadlines if I accept yours late. Also, no longer are printer troubles and computer problems reasonable excuses for late papers. I suggest knowing the equipment well enough and allowing ample time in case of problems.
Evaluation & Grading
Evaluations of student performance will be based on the following criteria:
Exams: (3 X 20 points = 60 points)
Attendance & Participation: 10 points
Selected Topic Presentation/Discussion Leading: 10 points
Final Paper: 15 points
Presentation of the final paper in class: 5 points
Grade Scale [Finals Grades]
A: (excellent, clearly outstanding) 90-100
B: (very good, impressive) 80-89
C: (average college level) 70-79
D: (below average, barely passing) 60-69
F: (failing) 59 or lower
Attendance & Participation (10 points)
Regular attendance is required for this course. Beyond two absences, 1 point will be deducted off your final grade per absence. Absences need never be discussed with the instructor unless you are providing a documented note.
Exams (60 points)
The three exams each consist of multiple-choice questions, and true or false questions. You are responsible for all material covered in the text and all material covered in lecture.
Selected Topic Presentation/Discussion Leading (10 points)
Each student will sign up to serve as a discussion leader for one class period during the course of the semester. Each student will present one empirical article in the assigned reading. A list of topics for you to select from will be provided in class. You should rank order your choices. The professor will try to give everyone his/her preference, but there is no guarantee. Presentations should be around 15 minutes in length and may include a question-and-answer session. More details about this assignment will be provided later in the semester. If necessary, the discussion leader may meet with the professor outside of class to discuss the content and to clarify issues he or she was unable to resolve after extensive reading.
As part of this presentation/discussion leading, the discussion leader needs to prepare an in-class activity for the topic they are assigned to (5 points in the total 10 points). The activity needs to be relevant to the topic being discussed, and is usually conducted at the beginning of the discussion as an ice breaker. This is the time for your creativity. Feel free to come up with cool ideas that make the class fun! You will be evaluated based on how fun and creative the activity is, and how well you administer it.
Final Paper (15 points)
The topic of the final paper is quite flexible, as long as it relates to communication technology. Generally speaking, the final paper should be in the 5 page range (not counting the title page and reference page) and follow APA guidelines. The paper should have at least 8 academic sources. The final paper is due by 6pm on Dec 4 through turnitin.com. Also an electronic copy of it needs to be email to the instructor before the deadline.
The final paper would essentially be the introduction and literature review. It will require a thorough understanding of the literature in an area in order to succinctly summarize it.
Turnitin.com submission information:
Class ID: 16095604
Enrollment Key: comm3420
Final Paper Presentation (5 points)
You need to make a PPT presentation of your final paper in the class. The presentation should be 5-7 minutes and will be graded for how well you explain and synthesize your final paper.
Punctuality
It is really important that class begins on time every day to guarantee that all of the scheduled information and activities are completed. For every two times you are late, it counts as one absence. It is your responsibility to make sure I know you were late and not absent.
Distractions
Make sure you turn the ringers off on your cell phones prior to the start of class. It is best to shut them off completely. Please do not text message during class.
Academic Integrity
All persons shall adhere to the Code of Student Conduct regarding academic dishonesty, including acts of cheating and plagiarism.
Cheating: The willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination, illicitly obtaining examination questions in advance, using someone else’s work or written assignments as if they were your own, or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill a requirement of this course.
Plagiarism: The use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were your own without giving proper credit to the source, including but not limited to failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.
The minimum sanction for a violation of the code is a grade of zero for the assignment; a second act of plagiarism warrants a failing grade in the course. The code is available in the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Access Policy
“The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation(ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in acourse. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note thatstudents must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. Students are strongly encouraged to deliver letters ofaccommodation during faculty office hours or by appointment. Faculty members have the authority to ask students to discuss such letters during their designated office hours to protect the privacy of thestudent. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website athttp://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940-565-4323..”
Extra Credit Opportunity
There is no planned extra credit for this course. On occasion, however, graduate students or faculty may provide the opportunity for students to participate in research. IF such opportunities are offered this semester, students are encouraged to take advantage of any extra credit offered. IF offered, each opportunity will count up to 1% of a student's final grade. Note, however, students must be at class when these opportunities are provided. Makeup of extra credit will not be allowed.
Acceptable Student Behavior:
Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at www.unt.edu/csrr
Policy on Incompletes
We will award grades of “Incomplete” only in cases where a student has completed 75% of the coursework AND the grade is warranted by a medical or military excuse. Inability to complete coursework in a timely fashion does not constitute an acceptable reason for requesting or receiving an incomplete.
APA Style
Students are expected to produce written work that conforms to APA style and the “Writing Guidelines” that appear on the department website in the “Important Documents” section of both the Undergraduate Program and Graduate Program tabs.
Crisis Contingency
In the event of the university closing for weather-related reasons or illness outbreak, e.g. flu, please visit the course website on Blackboard. I will provide instructions on how to turn in assignments and how the class will proceed utilizing Blackboard's Announcements function.
SPOT Course Evaluation
The SPOT course evaluation period is from Nov 20 to Dec 7. During this period, please go to my.unt.edu to complete the course evaluation.
Copier Use Statement
Students conducting research in the Communication Studies Library associated with departmental coursework have access to a printer/photocopier located in the office adjacent to the library. We encourage students to make use of this resource to print research accessed online in the library or to copy essays from any of the department’s holdings. Students may not use this resource for other purposes, such as printing courses assignments, class notes, scripts, etc. Students who use the copier for uses other than those outlined above will lose copying privileges.
Disclaimer
This syllabus should not be construed as a binding contract on the part of the instructor or teaching assistants. We reserve the right to change any aspect of the course without notice.
Schedule of Topics and Readings
Aug 29: Course Introduction and Overview
Aug 31, Sept 5: Online self-disclosure
· Chapter 9 of textbook
Sept 7, 12: Affective display online & impression formation
· Chapter 2 of textbook
Sept 19: Twitter & politics
· Wang, Z. & Kara Caskey. (2016). #Occypywallstreet: An analysis of Twitter usage during a protest movement. Social Networking, 5, 101-117.
Sept 21: guest talk (details TBA)
Sept 26: Twitter & politics (cont’d)
Sept 28: Exam 1
Oct 3, Oct 5: Online deception
· Chapter 17 of the textbook
Oct 10: Online dating
· Chapter 3 of the textbook
Oct 12: research day: work on final paper topic; email the tentative topic by the end of the day to instructor
Oct 17: Online dating (cont’d)
Oct 19, 24: CMC and long distance relationship
· Chapter 13 of the textbook
Oct 26: Exam 2
Oct 31, Nov 2: Snapchat study
· Chapter 10 of the textbook
Nov 7, 9: Video game research
· Chapter 15 of the textbook
Nov 14: social media & public relations
· Chapter 11 of the textbook
Nov 16: librarian’s guest lecture, Final paper reference due by midnight Nov 18
Nov 21: social media & public relations (cont’d)
Nov 28: Exam 3
Nov 30: Questions & answers for final paper; work on final paper and email a draft to the instructor by midnight Dec 1 if you want instructor’s feedback
Dec 4: Final paper due no later than 6pm on Dec 4
Dec 5: Student presentations of final paper, session 1
Dec 7: Student presentations of final paper, session 2