Archive for 2017

[Previous message][Next message][Back to index]

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

Sat Nov 04 12:11:44 GMT 2017


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)

---------------
The COMMLIST
---------------
This mailing list is a free service offered by Nico Carpentier. Please
use it responsibly and wisely.
--
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit http://commlist.org/
--
Before sending a posting request, please always read the guidelines at
http://commlist.org/
--
To contact the mailing list manager:
Email: (nico.carpentier /at/ vub.ac.be)
URL: http://nicocarpentier.net
---------------


[Previous message][Next message][Back to index]