Dynamic Modeling in Communication Research

• In Event: Best Papers in Information Systems Division

Abstract

Communication is a dynamic process occurring over time. Despite general agreement on this point, there have been relatively few attempts to formally represent communication as a dynamic process. This paper discusses how mathematical/computational and statistical modeling can be used to represent dynamic processes. It relates these modeling efforts to existing verbal theorizing in communication and notes how these theories can be enhanced with formal mathematical techniques. A review of existing communication research using time series modeling, one popular approach to dynamic modeling, is provided. Issues of both theorizing and measurement are addressed and suggestions for future directions in communication research are discussed.

Authors

• Matt Irwin, The Ohio State University

• Zheng Joyce Wang, The Ohio State University