ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the requirements for completing an original student research project. It provides a systematic process to guide the student researcher. The chapter offers suggestions for conducting research using different designs. It describes the process for writing an original research project paper. The chapter presents guidelines for presenting the research project to a group. Content analysis is the systematic collection and analysis of messages as they appear in media usually through category assignment. The importance of the rigorous and systematic nature of quantitative content analysis must be stressed to the novice researcher. Students in mass communication programs generally are used to presenting their ideas in front of their classes. The theory-based original research project is generally longer and more complicated than work done in any prior class, which makes it a challenge for many students. But by breaking it down into its components and focusing on each part individually, the project is far more manageable.
