Communication Research : An Overview

Communication involves exchange of information, ideas and attitudes between source and the receivers. Several elements go to make up the process. The process takes place in the context, and it is intended to produce an effects. The study of theses elements and their interaction in the process is the domain of communication research.

Communication research undertakes the scientific study of communication process, behaviour of human beings, usually in current situations calling for the gathering of primary quantitative information about the audience. It also includes study of media, the communicators and content of their messages. The object of mass communication is to affect human behaviour and attitudes. The object of communication research is to find out how and what degree of human behaviour and attitudes are affected by mass communication.

Communication is a broad discipline. It is interdisciplinary in nature and borrows heavily both in terms of theory and methods from social and behavioral sciences such as sociology, psychology and anthropology. Communication inquiries range from the development of general and abstract theories related to social change. Communication research employs quantitative and qualitative social scientific research methods, mathematical modeling, simulation, and rhetorical and discourse analysis. Communication research is an umbrella term for market research, social research, media research and audience research combined.