Emerging Communication Technology Research: Theoretical and Methodological Variables in the Last 16 Years and Future Directions

• In Event: Focusing Theories on Communication Technology #1

Abstract

With the rapid growth in the emerging communication technology research literature, it is beneficial to reflect on what has been studied so far. Scholars have content analyzed mass communication research trends, media effects literature, methods such as content analysis, and Internet studies. The present study conducted a content analysis of the published literature related to emerging communication technology over a period of 16 years, from 1998 to 2013. The study examines the common patterns in theoretical, methodological, and technological variables. An exhaustive sample was gathered with two methods—all ISI listed communication journals and key word searches. Primary findings show a lack of theory used in emerging communication technology research, fuzziness in conceptualization of the research, growth in empirical research methods in the last few years, frequent use of non-probability sampling methods and growth of studies in technologies such as blogs, SNS and mobile technology. Future directions are discussed.

Author

• Porismita Borah, Washington State U