CONTACT INFORMATION

INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Barry S. Sapolsky
OFFICE: 334 DIF         PHONE:  644‑8774
OFFICE HOURS:  MWF 11:00-noon and other hours by appointment
EMAIL:  bsapolsk@mailer.fsu.edu

CLASS MEETINGS

MWF 10:10-11:00 am      Room 230 DIF

COURSE MATERIALS

READINGS

Chapters available on Website plus additional materials to be made available in a photocopy set at Kinko's

WEBSITE

http://comm2.fsu.edu/faculty/comm/sapolsky

COURSE DESCRIPTION

RTV4504 examines the methodology used to measure audiences for broadcast radio and television, as well as cable TV. Past, present and future methods for assessing audience size and composition are considered. Students conduct original research tied to a course topic.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students in RTV4504 will learn:

1

Past and current methods of measuring radio, TV and cable audiences

2

Terms and formulas used by the "ratings" services

3

How to interpret the local market radio (Arbitron) and TV (Nielsen) reports

4

How ratings and other audience estimates are utilized in radio/TV/cable programming and sales

5

The newest developments in audience measurement

6

Customized and qualitative approaches to audience measurement

COURSE POLICIES

Class Attendance:

Class attendance is mandatory. More than three absences will result in points deducted from a student's grade: 5 points for each absence.

Assignments:

Due dates are clearly indicated in the syllabus. Assignments are due by class time on the day indicated. Assignments received later than that time will have a 10% reduction in grade for each day late.

Exams:

There are no make-up exams except for students who provide a signed note from a physician documenting an illness. NO other reasons will be considered for missing an exam.

EVALUATION  

Students' Final Grade will be based on the following:

Exam #1

20%

Exam #2

20%

Final Exam

20%

Assignments

15%

Individual Research Project including presentation 

20%

Conducting interviews for a local market  telephone survey

5%

The Department of Communication is committed to reducing grade inflation in its courses. To that end, a department-wide grading standard has been adopted to insure that an "A" is reserved for outstanding performance. "A" and "A -" grades represent work whose superior quality indicates a full mastery of the subject. An "A" represents work of extraordinary distinction.

 The percentage of points required to receive various letter grades is as follows:

A

95%

B-

882%

D+

72%

A-

92%

C+

80%

D

68%

B+

88%

C

78%

D-

65%

B

85%

C-

75%

F

<65%

ASSIGNMENTS

1

Keeping a 2-day diary for radio. Blank diary page(s) available on web site. Instructions provided in class

2

Keeping a 2-day diary for TV.  Blank diary page(s) available on web site. Instructions provided in class.

3

"Look-em-up's" for Arbitron (Worksheet #1) [NOTE: Worksheets #1 - #3 will be available on the Web site

4

"Look-em-up's for Nielsen  (Worksheet #2)

5

Working the formulas - sales – (Worksheet #3)

6

Final project: (a) topic and (b) outline.

COURSE CONTENT

A week-by-week description of the course content, assignments, due dates, readings, etc. is available on the course Website under "Schedule".

OTHER INFORMATION

E-mail:

All students are expected to have/obtain an e-mail account. Provide Dr. Sapolsky with your email address as soon as possible. You are strongly encouraged to use this e-mail account to communicate your questions to Dr. Sapolsky.

 You can register online for a free e-mail account from ACNS (Academic Computing and Network Services). Log on to the internet and enter the following address:  http://register.acns.fsu.edu

Announcements:

On Dr. Sapolsky’s web site, click on “Courses” and you will see Announcements regarding the course. Be sure to routinely check this page for updates, changes, etc.

Research Project:

Students will individually carry out a small-scale research project for either a real or hypothetical client. Students will develop the project in consultation with the instructor. Thereafter students will conduct the research and write up the results in a research report (8-10 pages). Students are encouraged to include tables and charts in the report (where appropriate). The Web site contains examples of past research projects. It is very important that students start early on this project to insure a high-quality final product. Students will make a brief presentation on their projects during the last week of classes.

Interviewing

Students in RTV4504 will work with students in ADV5505 in conducting interviews for a survey of viewers/listeners in the Tallahassee media market. Each student in RTV4504 will be expected to complete approximately 15 hours of telephone interviewing (in the evenings) over a 10-day period in early February. Students who are not able to or do not wish to participate in the interviewing should NOT enroll in this course.

ACADEMIC HONOR CODE

Students are expected to uphold the Academic Honor Code published in The Florida State University Bulletin and the Student Handbook. The Academic Honor System of The Florida State University is based on the premise that each student has the responsibility (1) to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the student's own work, (2) to refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the university community, and (3) to foster a high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the part of the university community.

Please see the following web site for a complete explanation of the Academic Honor Code.
http://www.fsu.edu/Books/Student-Handbook/codes/honor.html
http://www.fsu.edu/Books/Student-Handbook/

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; (2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This should be done during the first week of class.

For more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the

Student Disability Resource Center
Dean of Students Department
08 Kellum Hall
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4400
(850) 644-9566 (voice)
(850) 644-8504 (TDD)
SDRC@admin.fsu.edu
http://www.fsu.edu/~staffair/dean/StudentDisability/

(This syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format upon request.)