The use of Humor in the workplace
G391 – Humor and Communication Research Analysis Paper (R.A.P.) Learning Points = 100 Due Date = per instructor Learning Objectives · To demonstrate an understanding of various concepts of humor and communication and how they impact certain relationships · To develop and conduct a research study · To analyze the results of the research study · To organize and write a research paper Description In this research project you will be designing an original humor communication assessment using it to conduct research with a targeted population, developing Research Questions (RQ) or Hypotheses (Hy), and writing a final research paper complete with a literature review, methodology, discussion, results, limitations, implications and a works cited. Steps 1. Decide on an area of humor that interests you and what you want to focus your study on. 2. Develop an original assessment/survey to measure some element(s) of humor use among your targeted population. 3. Compile 2-3 RQ’s or Hypotheses. These are written before you conduct the research. You will not be penalized if you were wrong – that’s part of doing research. To see the difference, read this short article https://cirt.gcu.edu/research/developmentresources/research_ready/quantresearch/question_hypoth 4. Conduct your assessments with the targeted population. 5. Upon completion of 15-25 assessments (minimum), begin writing your paper. 6. Upon completion of the paper, set an appointment with the University Writing Center to have it reviewed (extra credit? Hmmm….). This will ensure you’re submitting your best work. 317.274.2049 or https://liberalarts.iupui.edu/uwc/ 7. Submit your final draft to Canvas and also bring a printed copy to class. Parts of the Paper (should also serve as headings) 1. Abstract – a brief paragraph that summarizes your project and the results. 2. Literature Review – this entails doing research to see what (about your subject) has been researched. It’s an argument or rationale for your study. Essentially you are setting the stage and clearing the way for your project to fit into the current research. End your lit review with #3 below (RQ’s or H). 3. Research Questions (RQ#1, RQ#2, etc.) or Hypothesis (H#1, H#2, etc.) 4. Methodology – a short description of what you did, how you did it, who you did it with, and why you did it that way. 5. Results – what happened? Explain. If you want, you could even insert a table that outlines the percentages of respondents who answered a certain way. 6. Discussion – this part of the paper is where you will discuss what you learned from the results of your Humor Assessment. 7. Implications – this part of the paper basically answers this question…as a result of this research now what? Who can this research benefit and how can it help? 8. Limitations – a short paragraph that describes why your methodology has room for improvement. Ex: limited participation, HA only measured x, y, or z, etc. 9. Works Cited - an APA alphabetical listing of the sources you researched. Guidelines · Title page with clever title of Part 1: (colon) Part 2 Ex: The Cat is Out of the Bag: Instructor’s Use of Humor to Influence Course Evaluations · Running header · Abstract · 5-10pgs numbered (does not include a copy of your survey, which will go in appendices). · Double-spaced · 12pt Arial font please (my eyes aren’t what they were when *I* was in college!) · Apply course terms and concepts where possible · A minimum of six (6) academic, peer-reviewed sources that support your work are to be cited in-text and on a works cited page. At least two of the six must be after 2013. Mainstream media such as Indy Star, cnn.com, etc will not count toward your required sources, nor will your textbook, but should be listed on your work cited page if used. Tips · Get started early · Break it down - do a section every day or so · Get started early · View some peer-reviewed research articles to get comfortable with the format · (Did I mention, get started early?) · There are multiple definitions of “Humor” so be sure to delineate a couple of them and pick the one that will frame your research. · Use your resources including classmates, friends, family, the University Writing Center, University Librarians (Bill Orme can be particularly helpful in conducting research and offered to help.
[email protected] ) · If on campus, use www.clos.org , a search engine for all Comm journals. It’s free to use via Ulib.IUPUI.edu if you’re off campus too. · You can often search the works cited pages of every article you read, as well as each chapter of your textbook, to see if there are sources that you should go to that will help you with your research. GO THERE! Don’t just cite what’s on the works cited page because you need to cite in-text as well. · Notice that researchers often “stay in their lane”, meaning that they are well versed in certain areas. Ex: Infante = verbal aggression, Booth-Butterfield, Wanzer (and many others) = humor, Petronio = privacy communication, Bute = health-related communication, etc. etc. You can look at ALL of a particular author’s research if you search for their CV or Bio.