presentation the three fold state of the discipline
TRANSCRIPT
The three-fold state of the discipline
Lluís Mas & Emma Rodero
Are communication scholars scientists?
• The answer might seem obvious and positive.
• However…
Hi!, nice to meet you too…,
sooo, what do you do?
“I am studying
Communication”
“I teach in the
Faculty of
Communication”
“I am an expert in
Communication”
….Oh, well…
The three-fold state
• State of the scientific field.
• State of the academia.
• State of the profession.
Objectives of the study
1. To explore the three-fold state of the discipline.
2. To show the need of proposing a global approach based on a dialogue between scientists, professors and professionals.
Method: qualitative analysis of…
1. Scientific field:
1. Sections of ICA, ECREA, AEJMC, CSCA, NCA & IAMCR.
2. Aims & scopes of Social Citation Index journals.
2. Academia naming:
1. Degrees.
2. Faculties.
3. Professional expertise and theory.
1. Is communication a science?
1. Specific object of study.
2. Well-known research questions.
3. Own tools to observe and measure.
4. Method.
5. Theories agreeing or not with a paradigm.
Scientific field: Associations Sections
Type of Media TYPE ICA ECREA AEJMC CSCA NCA IAMCR
TV, FILM
&VISUAL
VISUAL
COMM.
TV STUDIES
FILM
STUDIES
VISUAL
COMM.
Ø
NONVERBAL
COMM.
DIVISION
Ø
WRITTEN
MEDIA
MAGAZINE
DIVISION
Ø
MAGAZINE
DIVISION
NEWSPAPER
AND ONLINE
NEWS
MAGAZINE
DIVISION
Ø
Ø
RADIO
Ø
RADIO
RESEARCH
& TV
STUDIES
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
NEW MEDIA
& ELECTRO
NICS
Ø
Ø
ELECTRONIC
NEWS
Ø
THEATRE,
FILM & NEW
MULTIMEDIA
DIVISION
Ø
Type of agents
TYPE ICA ECREA AEJMC CSCA NCA IAMCR
INTERCULT.
INTERCULT. &
DEVELOPMENT
COMM.
INTERNAT. &
INTERCULT.
COMM.
INTERNAT.
COMM.
INTERCULT.
COMM.
ASIAN/PACIFIC
AMERICAN
COMM. STUDIES
DIVISION
INT. &
INTERCULTURAL
INTERNAT.
COMM.
MASS
MASS COMM.
AUDIENCE &
RECEPTION
STUDIES
MASS
COMM. &
SOCIETY
Ø
MASS COMMU.
DIVISION
AUDIENCE
RELIGIOUS
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
PERFORMANCE
STUDIES DIVISION
SPIRITUAL
COMM. DIVISION
Ø
INTERPERS.
& SMALL
GROUPS
INTERPERS.
COMM.
INTERPERS.
COMM. &
SOCIAL
INTERACTION
Ø
INTERPERS.
& SMALL
GROUP
COMM.
INTERPERSONAL
COMM. DIVISION
FAMILY COMM.
DIVISION
Ø
TYPE ICA ECREA AEJMC CSCA NCA IAMCR
HEALTH
HEATLH
COMM.
Ø
Ø
HEATLH
COMM.
ARGUMENTATION & FORENSICS
COMM.
HEATLH COMM.
DIV.
Ø
EDUCA
TION
INSTRUC
TIONAL
&
DEVELOP
MENTAL
COMM.
Ø
SCHOLASTIC
JOURNALISM
COMM.
EDUCATION
BASIC COURSE DIVISION
COMM. APREHENSION
&COMPETENCE DIVISION
COMM. ASSESSMENT DIV.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING DIV.
INSTRUCTIONAL
DEVELOPMENTAL DIV.
TRAINING & DEV. DIV.
MEDIA
EDUCA.
RESEARCH
POLITICS
POLITIC.
COMM.
COMM. &
DEMOCRACY
POLITIC.
COMM.
Ø
POLITICAL
COMM.
PEACE & CONFLICT COMM.
DIVISION
POLITICAL COMM.
DIVISION
POLITIC.
COMM.
RESEARCH
INFORMA
TION
Ø
JOURNALISM
STUDIES
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
PERSUA
SION
Ø
Ø
ADVERT.
Ø
Ø
Ø
Type of contents
Specialities
TYPE ICA ECREA AEJMC CSCA NCA IAMCR
THEORY &
METHOD
LAW
PUBLIC
RELATIONS
TECHNOLOGY
LINGUISTICS
MINORITIES
STUDIES
SCIENCE
PHYLOSOPHY
SPORT
HISTORY
ISI Journals
“connections amongst disciplines”
(Journal of Communication).
“...enriches long standing intellectual traditions”
(Quarterly Journal of Speech).
ISI Journals
“social scientific and humanistic approaches.”
“diversity of theoretic paradigms”
(Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media).
ISI Journals
“by relevant theory”
(Communication Monographs).
2. Academia field: the centers
• UNIVERSITY:
– theory-driven
either
– market-driven
• Non-university institutes and professional schools.
2. Academia field: the discipline
• DISCIPLINE:
– US:
• (Science?) of…
• …
– EU:
• …
• (Science?) of…
• No relevant (and coincident) theories in textbooks.
3. Professional field
No “professional of communication” in the information and communication age?
Training professionals for a non-specific job
Educate researchers in a non-scientific discipline
VS
3. Professional field
3. Professional field
Theory
Practice
VS
4. Diagnosis
• Triple crisis:
– the discipline is not theoretically and scientifically consolidated;
– the academic function is not accomplished;
– the field of work is trivialized.
CRISIS
We are not normal…
• Theories should connect variables.
• “Traditions” can be considered paradigms, but
ONLY ONE AT A TIME.
Areas of study Variables
Conclusions
• Useful global approach:
– Is this useful for researchers? Variables.
– Is this useful for professors? Know-how.
– Is this useful for professionals? Skills.
• Theories connecting all these
variables, know-how & skills.