Senior Communication majors enrolled in Organizational Communication (COMM 411) are leading focus groups for staff, administrators and faculty, gathering ideas on how to improve campus communications. These focus groups will supplement input from the Fall 2011 Online Survey on Campus Communications, especially on the issue of work-related information.
As the students gather opinions and ideas that might help to improve campus communications, they are learning how to conduct qualitative research. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to complete hands-on research,” says Nikki Lugo, a Communications senior and a focus group moderator.
Working with their instructor, Michael Bruner, the students have completed training on the use of human subjects in research, and have seen the project earn approval from the Institutional Review Board. The students are experiencing the realities of scheduling, recruiting participants and creating questions and other materials. In addition, the moderators face the challenge of facilitating a group discussion. “We now have the ability to use our communication skills in a way that no other discipline could provide,” says Patric Esh, another Communication senior and focus group moderator,
The focus groups are being held between March 5 and March 23, at various times and locations, in order to facilitate wide participation. The full schedule is available at: humboldt.edu/cahss/FocusGroupsFlyer.pdf (PDF).
Joyce Corpuz, in the Department of Communication, is handling reservations: (707) 826-3261 or joyce.corpuz@humboldt.edu