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Abstract

Roughly every five years S.C.A. supports a nationwide survey of the basic course in speech at institutions of higher education in the United States. The surveys seek to reflect the current condition of the course in terms of "instructional practices, staffing, administration, and course content.” The results of the surveys are used by directors and teachers of the basic course. Survey reports should assuage the anxiety of basic course directors by telling them how near they are to the academic mainstream. The reports should also provide some data which may be helpful in justifying or fending off change in the nature of the course as they direct it. Unfortunately, while the studies conducted thus far may prove of some value toward those ends, they could be much more helpful with revision in data gathering and reporting methods. As these revisions provide more accurate data the surveys enable course directors and teachers to make more appropriate decisions about the course. The current report also makes unjustified claims in attempting to demonstrate shifts in staffing patterns and the importance of performance. In addition, particular questions arise concerning the sample, questionnaire and reporting which cast doubt on the validity of the survey and thus its accuracy in reflecting the condition of the basic course. This report examines those questions in calling for an improved 1985 survey.

Journal Title

Iowa Journal of Speech Communication

Volume

13

Issue

1

First Page

7

Last Page

13

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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