Literature Review

Write a Literature Review addressing a communication topic appropriate for future primary study using communication research methods.

Course Term Project:

The Course Project is designed to address the following module outcome:

Write a literature review synthesizing major works and theories and addressing a current topic in the communication discipline (SLO 1,2,3)

Final Project Instructions: Write a Literature Review addressing a communication topic appropriate for future primary study using quantitative, qualitative, or critical/rhetorical communication research approaches. The final project will be a literature review that covers a communication-related research topic that could be studied during your time as a grad student. The Lit Review will need to comprehensively cover the subject of a topic that is narrow enough to be researched but broad enough to be meaningful and have potential to make significant contributions to the communication discipline.You will learn how to select a topic, find sources, outline or structure/organize the lit review, and write the review in a well-organized essay that adheres to APA Style.The review should conclude with a purpose of the study including proposed research questions or hypotheses if appropriate to your methods – that you could attempt to answer in another class based on evidence provided in the literature review.

A written report (minimum 2000 words, excluding title page and references) is required for this assignment. Writing should be concise and appropriate for context and purpose. The report should be written in APA style and follow the standard academic requirements including an appropriate list of cited references. Review Purdue Owl and course materials for appropriate format and style guidelines. Submit by the due date as lastname_firstname_CMAC6203Final. See Blackboard for additional instructions. See rubric in Course Resources for more information. 100 points

In preparing the assignment the following conditions must be followed:

No actual research involving the collection of primary data from human participants should be performed, i.e., interviews, observation, focus groups, surveys, …etc.

Identities of people, the organization, and its employees should not be disclosed in the assignment. This means removing any information in the assignment which could potentially identify the organization and its employees.

The assignment should not contain any private and/or commercial-in-confidence information which is not available publicly.

I HAVE ATTACHED AN EXAMPLE PAPER AND THE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR THE TOPIC I PLAN TO DISCUSS.

Literature Review Topic: Digital Media and Communication in Higher Education

The communication related topic I am interested in addressing in my literature review is the role of digital media in shaping communication practices, identity construction, and engagement within higher education. Digital media including social media platforms, learning management systems, online forums, and institutional communication channels has transformed how individuals create, share, and interpret messages. Unlike traditional media, digital media is interactive, participatory, and networked, allowing users to simultaneously act as content producers and consumers.

This issue is significant in communication because digital media alters the fundamental processes of meaning-making. Communication is not only the transmission of information but the production and exchange of meaning within cultural contexts (Fiske, 2010). Digital platforms amplify this process by enabling rapid dissemination, public dialogue, and algorithm-driven visibility. In higher education, digital media influences how students form identities, build community, engage in academic discourse, and interpret institutional messages. It also affects organizational culture, as universities must adapt communication strategies to remain transparent, inclusive, and responsive (Schein, 2010). Furthermore, digital media can both reinforce and challenge power structures, making it a critical area for communication scholarship.

The theoretical framework for this project will integrate several communication theories and models. Uses and Gratifications Theory will help explain why individuals actively engage with digital media to meet informational, social, or identity-related needs. Media Ecology Theory will provide insight into how digital environments reshape human interaction and perception. Social Identity Theory will support analysis of how individuals construct and negotiate identity in digital spaces. Additionally, Organizational Communication Theory will be applied to examine how institutions use digital media to manage reputation, engagement, and culture. Methodologically, qualitative approaches such as discourse analysis or content analysis may be used to examine digital communication patterns.

By examining digital media through theoretical and organizational lenses, this literature review will contribute to understanding how digital communication environments shape meaning, identity, and institutional dynamics in contemporary society.