Not by Communication Alone Epistemology and Methodology as Typological Criteria of Communication Theories (original) (raw)
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Revista Latina de Comunicación Social, 2020
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Notes on Communication research epistemology and methods
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This text weaves some aspects of research in Communication starting from the philosophy of knowledge as a basis for understanding science. It aims to discuss the issue of scientific research in the epistemological perspective, to consider the importance of scientific methodology in its methodical and technical dimensions, as well as to reflect on aspects of the research carried out in Latin America and more specifically in Brazil. It is a theoretical approach based on a non-systematic and non-exhaustive literature review. The existence of thematic and methodological diversity is examined, as well as the apparent tendency of the research to focus on the novelty, mainly in regards to elements related to technology, as object of study. The urgency of strengthening research in Communication is also considered, both theoretical and empirical, and the necessary advance in the design and description of research methods and techniques when presenting results and analyzes.
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2016
A proper understanding of communication research and the way it has been carried out cannot emerge without some consideration of the theoretical back-grounds of the different methodological approaches to communication analysis. In the last few years the most important progress has been made in the field of so called reflexive methodology. According to Alvesson and Sköldberg, the syn-tagm reflexive methodology (2000) denotes complex relationships between the knowledge-development processes and variable contexts in which knowledge develops, including all actors. The aim of the paper in that sense is to present some influences of the post-structuralist theory that are relevant to qualitative methodological strategies in communication studies. The paper begins with presenting the key theses of structuralist and poststructuralist approaches. This is followed by the section devoted to the central figure of Derrida and deconstruction. Then an illustra-tion is given of some of the implicati...
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Qualitative research meets and gathers insight and information, commencing with the particular. Qualitative research moves us from reductive and abstract engagement to experience of the subject matter before us. Philosophy of communication, understood as qualitative research in action, centers inquiry on questioning, reading, writing, editing, thinking, and interpretation. These five qualitative acts of inquiry are not isolated categories, yet they are simultaneously distinct characteristics within philosophy of communication scholarship. I contend that these five coordinates facilitate the performative engagement of philosophy of communication inquiry. I offer a story centered on five research coordinates, explicated with scholars repeatedly referenced in philosophy of communication literature. I engage these scholars in a manner akin to Walter Benjamin's (1968) " pearl diving, " seeking insight from selected parts of their copious contributions. Their collective insights function as threads with which I weave a story about the doing of philosophy of communication.
2015
A proper understanding of communication research and the way it has been carried out cannot emerge without some consideration of the theoretical backgrounds of the different methodological approaches to communication analysis. In the last few years the most important progress has been made in the field of so called reflexive methodology. According to Alvesson and Sköldberg, the syntagm reflexive methodology (2000) denotes complex relationships between the knowledge-development processes and variable contexts in which knowledge develops, including all actors. The aim of the paper in that sense is to present some influences of the poststructuralist theory that are relevant to qualitative methodological strategies in communication studies. The paper begins with presenting the key theses of structuralist and poststructuralist approaches. This is followed by the section devoted to the central figure of Derrida and deconstruction. Then an illustration is given of some of the implications ...
The ideology of communication: Post-structuralism and the limits of communication
Continental Philosophy Review, 1982
There has appeared, recently, an interest in the philosophical implications of com munication. This concern has taken two forms: First, "communication" has provided a foundation for accounts of other aspects of human life (e.g., language, human nature, social reality). Such work assumes that it already understands the nature of communication. Second, alternative theories of communication have been generated from particular philosophical perspectives (e.g., phenomenology). Such work substitutes theory for philosophical investigation: its major thrust is to produce new research programs and critiques of other communication theories. One never asks if the grounding philosophy is built upon an unquestioned understanding of communication. In both cases, "communication" itself is not problematized.
1993
This paper proposes a view of the communication/cognitive psychology relationship which attempts to reclaim the concept of "communication" as being fundamental to the understanding of communication phenomena and thus to the discipline of communication studies. This view is presented in the paper as an alternative to a view which conceptualizes communication as an extension of psychology. The paper offers an account of the relationship between the two disciplines in which an understanding of human cognition must presuppose the ability of people to commanicate. In view of the current ferment with respect to the identity of the communication discipline, the paper argues that the concept of communication can, and must, be reclaimed by the communication discipline as its central mode of explanation. (Contains 52 references.) (Author/SR)
An analysis on communication theory and discipline
Scientometrics, 2012
This research explores the structure and status of theories used in Communication as an alternative for Communication discipline identity research and characteristics evaluation. This research assumes that communication theories are not only ongoing practices of intellectual communities, but also discourse about how theory can address a range of channels, transcend specific technologies and bridge levels of analysis. It examines widely-cited theoretical contentions among academic articles and the connections among these theories. Network analysis suggests that framing theory is the most influential of the identified theories (ranking first in frequency and degree, closeness, betweenness and eigenvector centrality) and serves to link other communication theories and theory groups. While mass communication and technology theories exhibited the highest centrality, interpersonal, persuasion and organization communication theories were grouped together, integrating sub-theories of each group. Framing theory was the most popular and influential communication theory bridging not only mass communication theories, but also interpersonal, technology, information system, health, gender, inter-cultural and organizational communication theories. Scientometrics (2013Scientometrics ( ) 95:985-1002 987 authors or author teams. In comparison, the present study identified 89 theories that appeared more than three times in the 1,156 research articles of the four journals. 785 of these articles met Anderson's requirements for inclusion in the study (177 articles out of 238 from HCR, 301 articles out of 404 from JOC, 127 articles out of 222 from CM, and 180 articles out of 292 from CR). The theory group (i.e., mass, interpersonal, health, technology communication theories) to which each theory belongs was determined by following the definitions and guidelines suggested by Littlejohn and Foss (2009).