Communication Research Chapter 1 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What are communication researchers?

Scholars and professionals who study communication.

What is research?

The activity of conducting intellectual investigations into the observable world.

What is social research?

Research that focuses on the interaction between people and less on the world around them.

What is epistemology?

The study of knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What is experience in the context of social understanding?

A common way of understanding the social world. Signup and view all the answers

What does tenacity refer to?

The assumption that something is true because it has always been said to be true. Signup and view all the answers

What is authority in the context of knowledge?

The reliance upon someone in a position of power to determine what is factual. Signup and view all the answers

Who are health communication scholars?

Communication scholars who look at interpersonal exchanges between doctors and patients and public health campaigns. Signup and view all the answers

What is a priori reasoning?

A form of reasoning based on hunches that have been accumulated over time. Signup and view all the answers

What is scientific reasoning?

A way of knowing where one tests a hunch by making observations. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hypothesis?

Educated guesses about a social phenomenon based on prior observations. Signup and view all the answers

What is a theory in communication research?

A set of related constructs, definitions, and propositions that specify relations among variables. Signup and view all the answers

What is organizational communication?

The study of ways in which people exchange information to accomplish goals. Signup and view all the answers

What is media research?

Research that uses surveys, experiments, and content analysis to understand mediated information. Signup and view all the answers

What is interpersonal communication?

The study of compliance gaining and social influence. Signup and view all the answers

What are types of communication research?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is academic publishing?

Textbooks, articles, etc. (not for the public; only academics can use them). Signup and view all the answers

What is social dialogue and public policy?

Using academic research as support for new regulations or policies. Signup and view all the answers

What is communication in popular press?

Free and open to anyone; public. Signup and view all the answers

What are three problems with everyday ways of knowing?

Accuracy, overgeneralization, cognitive conservatism. Signup and view all the answers

What are the components of scientific reasoning/thinking?

Hypotheses, disproving, ability to predict, theory. Signup and view all the answers

What are three things good communication researchers do?

Scholarly research, applied research, 'good theory'. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Communication Research Overview

Communication researchers are scholars and professionals dedicated to studying communication in various forms.
Research is defined as conducting intellectual investigations to analyze observable phenomena.

Types of Research

Social research focuses on human interactions, incorporating fields like communication, psychology, sociology, economics, and anthropology.
Types include communication as social research, humanities research, and critical or cultural research.

Key Concepts

Epistemology pertains to the study of knowledge and the nature of understanding.
Experience serves as a common framework for interpreting the social world.
Tenacity refers to accepting information as true based on long-standing beliefs, exemplified by myths or common sayings.
Authority relies on recognized experts or figures of power to validate claims, drawing from various sources like expertise or social trust.

Specialized Areas in Communication

Health communication scholars study the communication dynamics between healthcare providers and patients, public health messaging, and inter-organizational information flow.
Organizational communication examines how information exchange occurs within organizations, focusing on interactions between various roles and stakeholders.

Methods of Inquiry

A priori reasoning is based on intuitive understanding or accumulated hunches, which may seem intrinsically true.
Scientific reasoning involves forming hypotheses based on observations and systematically testing these predictions.
Hypotheses are educated guesses informed by prior knowledge regarding social phenomena.

Theoretical Frameworks

Theory consists of interconnected constructs and propositions that provide a systematic view of phenomena, aiming to explain and predict relationships among variables.

Research Areas

Media research employs surveys and experiments to explore how individuals process mediated information and derive meaning from it.
Interpersonal communication studies the dynamics of influence and persuasion, focusing on identity, understanding, and relationship-building.

Academic Context

Academic publishing produces specialized resources such as textbooks and articles predominantly for scholarly use.
Social dialogue and public policy highlight how academic research can influence regulations and policies, extending its reach beyond academia.
Communication in popular press is accessible to everyone, promoting open discourse and public engagement.

Challenges in Everyday Knowledge

Everyday reasoning faces issues such as accuracy, overgeneralization, and cognitive conservatism, undermining reliable understanding.

Attributes of Good Researchers

Effective communication researchers engage in scholarly and applied research, supporting robust and "good theory" development.

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Description

Explore key terms and concepts from Chapter 1 of communication research. This flashcard set will help you understand the roles of communication researchers, the nature of research itself, and the scope of social research. Perfect for students looking to solidify their knowledge in communication studies.