Communication and visualization of research

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures12

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes12

Independent study hours57

Date of course confirmation20.12.2021

Responsible UnitInstitute of Business and Management Science

Course developer

Uzņēmējdarbības un vadībzinātnes institūts

Lāsma Līcīte-Ķurbe

Dr. oec.

Course abstract

Students get an in-depth knowledge of the nature of communication, trends and types of communication. Students build up an understanding of the role and importance of communication and its visualization and are able to elaborate a communication strategy and evaluate its results. In addition, students are able to apply appropriate visualization techniques.
The aim of the study course is to gain in-depth knowledge and skills in the development of communication in order to effectively develop and implement a communication strategy and appropriately visualize the content of communication.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge:
Students will be able to:
• Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the role of, trends in and kinds of communication – independent works (article, presentation), group works.
• Demonstrate a specific knowledge of communication and crisis communication – independent work (presentation), case study.
• Demonstrate a specific knowledge of persuasion techniques to ensure effective communication – independent works (article, presentation), group work.
• Demonstrate a specific knowledge of kinds of information visualization to ensure effective communication – independent works (article presentation), practical assignments.
Skills:
Professional skills
• Design and evaluate a communication strategy – group work.
• Create a message for various media by using the theoretical knowledge and skills acquired – independent works (article, presentation), practical assignments.
• Create a visualization of research results by applying appropriate IT tools – independent work (presentation), practical assignments.
• Identify and apply different persuasion techniques in communication – independent works (article, presentation), group work.
Soft skills
• Find, critically evaluate and creatively use information for performing work tasks and solving a problem – independent works (article, presentation), practical assignments.
• Cooperate and communicate with others – group works, presentation.
• Present and explain the results of their own work to others – independent work (presentation), group works.
Competences:
• Define and come up with their own solutions to applying different kinds of communication, justify the solutions and identify the causes of ineffective communication – independent work (presentation), case study, media training
• Design and evaluate a communication strategy – group work.

• Able to create visual materials, choosing the appropriate way of presenting the research and IT tools in its creation – independent work (presentation), practical assignments.

Course Content(Calendar)

Lectures
1. The essence and meaning of communication. Economy of attention and experience. From Fomo to Jomo. Trends in communication and influencing factors of communication that determine the audience’s attention and actions (1 hour).
2. Press release and publication for media. Basic principles in creating press releases and publications. Selection of visual materials for press release and publication (1 hour).
3. Communication on social media. Texts and visuals for the Internet environment and social network users. Audience engagement techniques on social media (1 hour).
4. Stories – one of the forms of communication. Elements and format of a good story. Inclusion of the story in scientific communication (1 hour).
5. Public speech and persuasion techniques. Formulation of the message. Poses and gestures, choice of clothes. Techniques for dealing with awkward issues. Persuasion techniques, their types, application and examples (1 hour).
6. Crisis communication. Types of crises and techniques for communication with the media in crisis situations (1 hour).
7. Communication visualization. Types of research visualization and IT tools used for visualization (1 hour).
8. Online presentations. Techniques for creating effective online presentation (2 hours)
9. Use of the online tool Canva to visualize scientific research. Poster creation – colors, fonts, composition. Infographics (2 hours).
10. Communication strategy and measurement of communication efficiency (1 hour).
Practical tasks
1. Group work: Analysis of examples, identifying the elements influencing the audience attention and actions (1 hour)
2. Creation of a press release (1 hour)
3. Creating a message for social networks: headline, content, hashtags (1 hour)
4. Group work: analysis of stories, identifying the elements of good story formation. Development of proposals for the improvement of stories (1 hour)
5. Media training: Creating a message about the research and passing it to the media (1 hour)
6. Situation analysis (about scientific research): identification of the cause of the crisis situation and analysis of the implemented crisis communication (1 hour)
7. Group work: identification of persuasion techniques in mass media (1 hour)
8. Independent work 1: creation of an article (about scientific research) for the mass media. Selection of visual materials for the visualization of the article (1 hour)
9. Creation of infographic and poster for scientific research (1 hour)
10. Use of the online tool Canva: elaboration of own design material about scientific research (1 hour)
11. Group work: Elaboration of communication strategy and measuring efficiency of social media messages (1 hour)

12. Independent work 2: the presentation of the research results, including appropriate ways of visualizing the communication and the basic principles of effective communication (1 hour)

Requirements for awarding credit points

The final grade consists of the cumulative assessment of study results (100 points), which depends on the assessment of both independent works:
• Independent work 1: creation of an article (about scientific research) for the mass media. Selection of visual materials for the visualization of the article – 50 points.

• Independent work 2: the presentation of the research results, including appropriate ways of visualizing the communication and the basic principles of effective communication – 50 points.
All practical tasks have to be completed.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

• Independent work 1: creation of an article (about scientific research) for the mass media. Selection of visual materials for the visualization of the article – 50 points.

• Independent work 2: the presentation of the research results, including appropriate ways of visualizing the communication and the basic principles of effective communication – 50 points.
A score of 10 is equal to one point on a 10-point marking scale.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The assessment of the study course depends on the assessment of both independent works – a score of 10 is equal to one point on a 10-point marking scale
Independent works are assessed in accordance with the assessment procedure established in the independent work

Compulsory reading

1. Kazaka O. Pirmā PR grāmata. Rīga: Trendsetter Publishing, 2019,. 182 lpp.
2. Bergstrems B. Vizuālā komunikācija. Rīga: Jāņa Rozes apgāds, 2009,. 240 lpp.
3. Beks K. Mediju un komunikācijas zinātne. Rīga: SIA “Biznesa augstskola Turība”, 2021,. 384 lpp.
4. Praude V., Šalkovska J. Integrētā mārketinga komunikācija I. Rīga: Burtene, 2015,. 464 lpp.
5. Lehtonens J., Siliņa R., Ābelniece B. Riska un krīzes komunikācija. Rīga: Turība, 2011,. 198 lpp.

6. Jones P. Communicating Strategy. Gower, 2008,. p. 198 p.

Periodicals and other sources

1. International Journal of Communication. Online ISSN: 1932-8036
2. Media and Coomunication. Online ISSN: 2183-2439

3. Coomunication Research. Online ISSN: 1552-3810

Atsauksmes