[ecrea] ICA 2018 Preconference: Methods for Communication Policy Research

Call for Papers for the ICA 2018 Preconference
Methods for Communication Policy Research

The field of communication policy research is characterized by regular 
discussions of its status and progress of development. Given this 
self-conscious tradition, it is almost ironic that research designs as 
well as methods of data collection and data analysis are rarely 
discussed, let alone critically scrutinized (Just & Puppis, 2012). While 
a lot of research is empirical in nature - e.g., offering overviews of 
regulatory developments in various media systems or analyzing 
policy-making processes - scholars are using few words to detail their 
methods in publications and presentations. In recent years, the most 
used methods in the field, like document analysis and interviews, 
finally received some much-needed attention (e.g., Herzog & Ali, 2015; 
Karppinen & Moe, 2012). Nevertheless, there is still much work ahead to 
enhance the craft of doing communication policy research. To be credible 
in academia and beyond - namely in communication policy-making - sound 
methods and attention to research design are crucial.
Moreover, the media and communication - and communication research - 
environments have been and are rapidly changing in ways that are 
altering relationships between the governing and those they govern, as 
well as in the kinds of policy tools available. The workshop is an 
opportunity to re-evaluate existing methods and to think through 
specific issues that may arise with methodological innovations when 
investigating policy problems, policy-making processes, or the effects 
of laws and regulations once put in place. Issues of access to data, the 
use of software to "revise" policy-making processes with consequences 
for their effects, and challenges to the procedures through which 
research data are collected and interpreted all need to be considered in 
today's environment.
Springing from a "Blue Sky Workshop" at the San Diego ICA conference, 
this preconference dedicates a whole day to discussing methods of 
communication policy research. The preconference is composed of five 
sessions, each session starting with three short interventions of 10 
minutes each (selected from the submissions to this call for papers), 
followed by a prepared response and an open discussion.
Submissions for the interventions should provide critical thinking about 
communication policy-specific methodological problems, i.e. they should 
focus on methodological issues rather than study results. We invite 
abstracts that address one of the following topics:

 Topic 1: "Research design: finding the right method(s) for 
communication policy research problems". Submissions should focus on how 
to match the right method(s) with policy issues under investigation. 
Which methods have proven useful for researching policy issues? And 
which phenomena both old and new pose problems for scholars to properly 
analyze because methods are insufficient or access to data is 
impossible? Contributions may also take a meta-perspective to discuss 
different research designs valuable for communication policy research.
 Topic 2: "More than close reading: analyzing qualitative data". A 
large number of communication policy studies is based on qualitative 
interviews with experts from media industries and policy-making and on 
qualitative analysis of documents. Yet few studies discuss the 
practicalities of actually analyzing interview data or policy and 
industry documents, simply referring to a so-called close-reading of 
texts. Contributions should discuss how to analyze qualitative data and 
may also discuss interconnections between data collection and data analysis.

 Topic 3: "Beyond interviews and documents: new methods for 
communication policy research". While interviews and document analysis 
are valuable methods for doing policy research, the social sciences 
offer a rich methodological toolbox. From participant observation to big 
data, there are numerous methods showing potential for communication 
policy research. Submission may also focus on pitfalls of relying on 
innovative methods of data collection and data analysis.

 Topic 4: "Comparative policy research: from simple to causal 
comparison". The bulk of comparative research in the research field 
relies on simple comparisons that offer rich insights into similarities 
and differences between media systems but that cannot causally explain 
them. With QCA and statistical comparison, comparative research made 
significant progress in understanding the connection between media 
systems and policy. Submissions are invited to show how new comparative 
methods are useful for communication policy research.

 Topic 5: "Action research: doing research while influencing the 
object". Action research has potential for communication policy 
research. Not to be confused with scholars getting involved in 
policy-making, action research nevertheless implies that researchers 
interact with policy-making to generate data. Submissions may focus on 
ethical considerations as well as merits and pitfalls of action research.

 Topic 6: "How to bring research to policy-making: what scholars can do 
even if policy-makers don't want to listen". There is long-standing 
concern about the extent to which policy-makers take communication 
research findings into account. Efforts to reduce the size of 
government, political distaste for or refusal of evidence that supports 
positions that differ from those preferred by dominant parties, and 
challenges to the rule of law altogether other than one's own have all 
made the situation particularly difficult today in many societies. 
Interventions addressing this topic will think through ways to design 
research, choose research methods, present research findings, and 
provide effective input into policy-making in evidence-averse policy 
environments.
For the three interventions kicking off each of the five sessions, we 
invite extended abstracts of approximately 1000 words. Please indicate 
which of the above topics your abstract is intended to address. 
Abstracts are due by December 17, 2017, and should be submitted to 
(manuel.puppis /at/ unifr.ch). Acceptance notifications will be sent out close 
to the time ICA announces review results for the main conference. 
Authors of accepted abstracts are expected to attend the preconference 
and to present their work.
The preconference will be open to additional participants beyond 
presenters, respondents and organizers. Registration will be possible 
via the normal ICA conference registration website.

There will be a nominal fee of USD 50 for all participants to pay for 
room, audiovisual equipment, coffee breaks, and lunch. Funding for the 
preconference is partly provided by Texas A&M University, the University 
of Fribourg and the University of Antwerp. Moreover, the preconference 
is affiliated with ICA's Communication Law and Policy Division. However, 
members of other ICA sections and non-members of ICA are also welcome to 
submit abstracts and participate.

Preconference Organizers
Sandra Braman (Texas A&M University/USA) Manuel Puppis (University of 
Fribourg/Switzerland)
Hilde Van den Bulck (University of Antwerp/Belgium)

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