Center for Communication Research

by | Nov 9, 2018 | News

The Center for Communication Research supports the diverse research in the Department of Communication and provides resources for collaborative, interdisciplinary projects. The center includes a recently renovated research lab, located in Kimpel Hall, with nine independent research spaces. This lab features state-of-the-art technology to support a wide variety of research.

The lab includes a large space for focus groups, as well as smaller seating areas for researchers to conduct dyadic research–the study of interactions between two people. These sessions can be recorded with unobtrusive and portable audio and video equipment, and the lab can also provide iPads to use for data collection.

Researchers can collect real-time reactions with dials that subjects use to record their perceptions moment-by-moment. Groups of up to 15 people can watch videos in the lab’s comfortable viewing room, which features cable television and a DVR. The lab also features hardware that can record, save, search, clip and share live television.  

For researchers interested in physiological reactions, this lab includes technology that can capture heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductivity and other measurements. It also features a computer station with behavior and eye-tracking technology to record how subjects interact with digital content. 

The lab also has software for qualitative data analysis and content analysis.

Here is a detailed list of the technology and facilities at the Center for Communication Research:

  • Spaces for focus groups and dyadic research
  • Viewing room with 15 seat-capacity
  • Cox Cable with seven cable drops, six standard digital converters and one DVR
  • Unobtrusive audio and video recording equipment to capture small group and dyadic interaction data for focus groups, interviews, and interpersonal interactions
  • Portable audio and video recording equipment
  • LED table-top projector and SmartBoard
  • Ten iPads for data collection in dyadic research
  • Ten Dell laptop computers dedicated for student/course use
  • 4 Dell laptop computers dedicated to data collection in research spaces
  • BIOPAC hardware and software for physiological data collection
  • TobiiPro Spectrum 600Hz hardware and software for behavior and eye-tracking research
  • Dialsmith Perception Analyzer for recorded and live stimuli
  • SONA Systems cloud-based participant management software
  • 4 TiVo (Roamio Pro 3 TB DVR and Roamio Pro HD DVR) hardware for television live television recording
  • NVivo qualitative data analysis software
  • Mangold Interact content analysis software
  • SnapStream hardware to record, search, clip, and share television content

For more information, contact

Lindsey Aloia, assistant professor of communication and director of the Center for Communication Research
aloia@uark.edu 
(501) 575-5954