Introduction To Communication Studies

In this introductory textbook, the author contextualises approaches and theories on cornmunication studies by making use of local examples from the mass media, as well as relevant political and social experiences. The book is divided into two parts. The first provides students with a strong foundation in communication while the second focuses on the areas of specialisation within communication studies. Each chapter starts with the learning Outcomes and a short overview of the chapter. Students can monitor their learning by using the summaries and 'test yourself' questions at the end of every chapter. Scenarios provide examples of how the theory can be applied in practice. This makes for a learner-friendly and accessible book which will prove invaluable to Students and professionals alike. Beginner students majoring in Communication Studies, as well as those studying towards various degrees or qualifications where communication is a prerequisite will find this book useful.

In the second edition of this widely-used introductory text John Fiske draws upon the main authorities in the field, from Shannon and Weaver'sCommunication Theoryto Saussure's structural linguistics and Peirce'sSemiotics. He examines the two main schools: seeing communication as the encoding, transmission, and decoding of messages; and viewing communication as the generation of meanings.

This concise book presents theory and teaches skills allowing students from all academic backgrounds to understand the communication field.

This volume provides a graduate-level introduction to communication science, including theory and scholarship for masters and PhD students as well as practicing scholars. The work defines communication, reviews its history, and provides a broad look at how communication research is conducted. It also includes chapters reviewing the most frequently addressed topics in communication science. This book presents an overview of theory in general and of communication theory in particular, while offering a broad look at topics in communication that promote understanding of the key issues in communication science for students and scholars new to communication research. The book takes a predominantly "communication science" approach but also situates this approach in the broader field of communication, and addresses how communication science is related to and different from such approaches as critical and cultural studies and rhetoric. As an overview of communication science that will serve as a reference work for scholars as well as a text for the introduction to communication graduate studies course, this volume is an essential resource for understanding and conducting scholarship in the communication discipline.

This introductory research text trains students to develop research arguments by designing studies, gathering research evidence, and thinking critically about them. This textbook is ideal for the student with little or no research background. Fundamental research issues are discussed in detail and provide building blocks for further study, giving students both comfort and knowledge. This textbook is designed to teach students how to "do scholarship" by making reasoned cases and offering research conclusions. The fourth edition features a complete updating of examples and revision of treatments of key concepts to maintain the timeliness of the book in the fast-changing world of communication studies research.

A comprehensive guide to qualitative research methods in user experience (UX), the interaction between humans and digital products, designed for media and communication students. Angela M. Cirucci and Urszula M. Pruchniewska provide an accessible introduction to the field (including the history of UX and common UX design terminology). Readers are taken through the entire research design process, with an outline for preparing a study (including a planning template), a discussion of recruitment techniques, an exploration of ethics considerations, and a detailed breakdown of 12 essential UX research methods. The 12 methods covered include emotional journeys, screenshot diaries, walkthroughs, contextual inquiry, card sorting, and usability testing, with the chapter for each method including a step-by-step breakdown, discussions of in-person versus virtual procedures, and a "What You Need" section. Throughout the book, useful parallels are drawn between traditional academic research methods and UX methods, and special attention is paid to diversity and inclusivity. This is an essential text for media and communications students wishing to become familiar with UX research methods, a rapidly growing field that will open numerous exciting career paths for graduates.

This volume chronicles the development of communication studies as a discipline, providing a history of the field and identifying opportunities for future growth. Editors Pat J. Gehrke and William M. Keith have assembled an exceptional list of communication scholars who, in the thirteen chapters contained in this book, cover the breadth and depth of the field. Organized around themes and concepts that have enduring historical significance and wide appeal across numerous subfields of communication, A Century of Communication Studies bridges research and pedagogy, addressing themes that connect classroom practice and publication. Published in the 100th anniversary year of the National Communication Association, this collection highlights the evolution of communication studies and will serve future generations of scholars as a window into not only our past but also the field’s collective possibilities.