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?
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What is experience in the context of social understanding?
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What does tenacity refer to?
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What is authority in the context of knowledge?
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Who are health communication scholars?
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What is a priori reasoning?
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What is scientific reasoning?
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What is a hypothesis?
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What is a theory in communication research?
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What is organizational communication?
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What is media research?
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What is interpersonal communication?
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What are types of communication research?
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What is academic publishing?
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What is social dialogue and public policy?
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What is communication in popular press?
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What are three problems with everyday ways of knowing?
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What are the components of scientific reasoning/thinking?
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What are three things good communication researchers do?
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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.