Evolution of Media Effects Theory

University of Michigan researchers, W. Russell Neuman and Lauren Guggenheim trace the development of media effects theories from 1956-2005 through citation analysis of over 20 thousand articles from five top communication journals. Their findings are published in the latest Communication Theory (Volulme 21, Number 2, May 2011). This issue can be found in the e-journals section of the Penn Libraries website.

The Evolution of Media Effects Theory: A Six-Stage Model of Cumulative Research W. Russell Neuman and Lauren Guggenheim

ABSTRACT

The literature of media effects is frequently characterized as a three-stage progression initially embracing a theory of strong effects followed by a repudiation of earlier work and new model of minimal effects followed by yet another repudiation and a rediscovery of strong effects. We argue that although this dramatic and somewhat romantic simplification may be pedagogically useful in introductory courses, it may prove a significant impediment to further theoretical refinement and progress in advanced scholarship. We analyze the citation patterns of 20,736 scholarly articles in five communication journals with special attention to the 200 most frequently cited papers in an effort to provide an alternative six-stage model of, we argue, cumulative media effects theories for the period 1956–2005.

Special 100th Issue of Health Communication

A special double issue of Health Communication celebrates its 100th issue (Volume 25, Issue 6-7, September 2010). It's chock full of reflective articles on the state of the health communication field, looking back and into the future. The issue is available online from the ASC homepage. Articles include:

• Accomplishing the Goals of Health Communication Research: Predictions, Accomplishments, and Continued Efforts
• Commentary on “Mapping Health Communication Scholarship: Breadth, Depth, and Agenda of Published Research in Health Communication”: Implications for Reaching Practitioners With Communication Research
• What Is Normative in Health Communication Research on Norms? A Review and Recommendations for Future Scholarship
• The Emerging Landscape of Health Communication in Asia: Theoretical Contributions, Methodological Questions, and Applied Collaborations
• On the Need for a Life-Span Approach to Health Campaign Evaluation
• Media Research Contributes to the Battle Against Childhood Obesity

Other highlights in the issue include a tribute piece to our own Martin Fishbein, who passed away almost a year ago, by Marco Yzer:

• The Impact of the Work of Martin Fishbein on Health Issues in the World

and:

A Journal-Level Analysis of Health Communication

Authors: Thomas Hugh Feeley; Rachel A. Smith; Shin-Il Moon; Ashley E. Anker

Abstract

Citation data from 2006 through 2008 were used to examine the journal citation network of Health Communication in comparison to 26 related journals indexed by Journal Citation Reports, a database published by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Knowledge. A recently advanced journal relatedness factor based on out-degree (i.e., cited journals) and in-degree (i.e., citing journals) citations was used to determine the network of peer journals. Results indicate Health Communication serves to link communication and health-related journals. Data were also reported on journal impact and 5-year journal impact factors. When compared to ISI-indexed communication journals, Health Communication is consistently ranked in the top 25% across impact factors and citations to the journal are consistent over the 7 years of analysis from 2002 through 2008. Methods of increasing the impact of Health Communication among journals in social sciences are discussed.