Disciplines, Intersections, and the Future of Communication Research

Susan Herbst, Disciplines, Intersections, and the Future of Communication Research, Journal of Communication, Volume 58, Issue 4, December 2008, Pages 603–614

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Foundations and Institutional Struggles

Communication was interdisciplinary from the start. But for the latter half of the 20th century, there is a tension between shedding too much influence from other established disciplines and downplay some heritage to justify itself as a new field.

Communications and Postdisciplinarity

Postdisciplinarity is defined as "a determined electicism about methods and subject matter" based on humanist Menand. Comm is naturally at a postdisciplinarity stage.

Danger:

• Reinvente the wheel problem: not doing enough literature review to cover the existing ground.

• Quality of reserch due to finding expertise in peer review

What should comm scholars do?

• Publish in the best noncommunication journals

• Publish in publications that are read by policymakers journalist, executives and education citizens for influence

• Examine and review the review process in communication