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PLEASE NOTE! THIS IS JUST A GLIMPSE AT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN

MODULE ONE. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE THE BOOK COMMUNICATION
STUDIES: PREPARING STUDENTS FOR CAPE.

COMMUNICATION STUDIES
WHAT’S IN MODULE ONE
• METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION/ DATA COLLECTION METHODS

• STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF DATA COLLECTION METHODS

• SOURCES FROM WHOM YOU WILLL GATHER DATA ( MUST BE SEEN IN CONTEXT)

• VERIFYING, VALIDIFYING CREDIBILITY OF DATA/INFORMATION

• WHAT ARE BARRIERS/WEAKNESSES TO VERIFYING/VALIDIFYING CREDIBILITY OF

DATA/INFORMATION

• WHAT IS THE WRITER’S MAIN POINT/IDEA?

• WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIES/LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES (LITERARY DEVICES/FIGURES OF

SPEECH) USED BY THE WRITER?

• IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF WRITING (EXPOSITORY, NARRATIVE,

• DESCRIPTIVE, ARGUMENTATIVE)

• COMMENT ON THE RELIABILITY OF THE INFORMATION IN THE PIECE ( LOOK AT DATES

GIVEN, IS THE PERSON AN AUTHORITY OR NOT, WHERE THE INFORMATION WAS
PUBLISHED)

WHAT IS RESEARCH?

Research is exploration combined with learning…

PRIMARY SOURCE
Is a document that was created at or near to the time of the event being…

EXAMPLES OF PRIMARY SOURCES

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (excerpts or translations acceptable): Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters….

WHAT IS A SECONDARY SOURCE?

A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one…

Examples of secondary sources include:

A journal/magazine article which…

ADVANTAGES OF USING SECONDARY DATA

Secondary data may be available which is entirely appropriate and wholly adequate to draw conclusions and answer the
question or solve the problem. Sometimes primary data collection simply is not necessary...

RELIABILITY, VALIDITY AND CREDIBILITY

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Perhaps the two most common technical concepts in measurement are reliability and validity. Any kind of assessment...

RELIABILITY: DEFINITION
... how stable, dependable

B. VALIDITY DEFINITION
The degree to which they accomplish ...

CREDIBILITY
When you assess a source's credibility, you try to determine how believable it is. First, you should look...
RATIONALE
Informs the readers as to why your topic is...

AUTHORITY is any accepted source or....

DATA COLLECTION

Data collection is a term used to describe a process of preparing...

TYPES OF DATA COLLECTION

Data collection methods vary greatly in the amount of time and

FACTORS WHICH DETERMINE WHAT DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT TO USE:

• kind of issue you need to resolve …

ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES OF DATA COLLECTION METHODS

OBSERVATIONS (a): (Advantages) Provide direct information about behavior of individuals and…

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING A DATA COLLECTION STRATEGY

In each data collection strategy, students are gathering information for the purposes of exploring an area of interest…
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WHAT’S IN MODULES ONE AND TWO

WEEK TOPIC OBJECTIVES ASSIGNMENT

Research The Aim and Purpose of research\ Read and make copious
Define such terms as: sources ie notes in your assigned
Primary and Secondary, reliability groups
vs validity, credibility, authority,
MODULE fact, opinion, bias, method, Presentations of Group
ONE instrument, data vs information, Assignments will take place
Identify the many types of Data in Week 2
*START Collection Methods
THINKING Identify the Strengths and Choice or formats:
ABOUT YOUR Weaknesses of these methods PowerPoint, White board,
TOPIC FOR Factors to consider when Bristol board
PORTFOLIO choosing a method or methods NB whatever your choice
How do you document your please prepare Handouts of
source/sources the main points for
everyone
Note -taking Define note-taking Role playing to get the
Identify the message across.
MODULE objectives/goals/aims/purpose of Can be done in Groups,
ONE note-taking pairs, solo
Types of Reading re Skimming,
Scanning, Critical Reading
The importance of developing
listening skills
Identifying effective listening
Tips to improve listening skills
Summary Define summary Looking at practice
MODULE Identify what are the questions
ONE Objectives/Purpose
The importance of Sequencing
your ideas
How to Identify Main point/idea,
writer’s purpose, writer’s intention
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Language Identifying the language Practice Questions

MODULE techniques/strategies/devices that
ONE writers use
Evaluating these
strategies/techniques (How
effective were they?)
Essay writing skills re how to
organize an essay
Communicatio Define communication
MODULE n Describe the communication
THREE model and process
Identify types and forms of
communications (verbal. Non-
verbal, written, computerized etc)

Identify and describe

Contexts/situations in which
communication takes place
Types of Non-verbal
Communication
Functions/Purpose of NV comm.
Barriers to communication
How to communicate effectively

EXAMPLES OF PAPER 3

Portfolio Identification of a Topic…

Preparation Remember to check pages 28-29
in Comm Std Syllabus

PRACTICE ASSIGNMENT EXERCISE

1. In your own words, explain what is research?

2. In order to conduct a successful research there must be a process that one should
follow. In your own words describe the sequence of this process.

3. Explain the term ‘source’. How is source linked to research?

4. Distinguish between Primary data and Secondary data.

5. Give 4 examples of each of type of sources.

6. Choose two data collection methods and write a short scenario each to show how
you will use them
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7. Explain why you should follow certain considerations when choosing Data
Collection method(s)?

Sources Exercise

For each of the following, indicate whether it is primary (P) or secondary (S), not a source
used in history at all (N) or either, depending on its use (E):

21. _____ A World War Soldier’s coat button

22. _____An article in The Trinidad Express commemorating an important historical event

23. _____Prime Minister Eric Williams’ memoirs

24. _____Your history textbook

25. _____A colonial coin

26. _____ A 1962 copy of the Trinidad Guardian describing the Water riot in Port of Spain

27. _____ A farming machine from the 1890s

28. _____A letter from a schoolteacher describing the school curriculum

29. _____A photograph taken on the University of The West Indies campus during a 1970
demonstration

30 ____Your Great Grandmother’s wedding ring

31. _____The report of the Commission of Inquiry investigating the Airport scandal.
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