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[ecrea] CFP ICA preconference methods for communication policy research

Wed Dec 13 08:46:09 GMT 2017






*Methods for Communication Policy Research*

*An ICA 2018 Preconference Proposal***

*Thursday May 24^th , 9:00-17:00, Hilton Prague*

The field of communication policy research is characterized by regular discussions of its status and progress of development, yet research designs and methods are rarely discussed. This is all the more surprising given that the media and communication -- and communication research -- environments are changing in ways that alter not just the relationships between the governing and those they govern, but also the policy tools available. There is much work ahead to enhance the craft of doing communication policy research, something this preconference wants to contribute to. To this end, it dedicates a whole day to discussing methods of communication policy research, spread across five sessions. Topics that will be dealt with include “Research design: finding the right method(s) for communication policy research problems; “More than close reading: analyzing qualitative data”, “Beyond interviews and documents: new methods for communication policy research”, “Comparative policy research: from simple to causal comparison”,  “Action research: doing research while influencing the object”, “How to bring research to policy-making: what scholars can do even if policy-makers don’t want to listen”. Well-prepared opening presentations will be followed by a prepared response after which the floor is open for exchange of ideas. Discussions focus on methodological issues rather than study results.

*Call for Papers*

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 think through specific issues that may arise with the use of, for example, innovations in network analysis when used to study a policy problem, 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 aims to dedicate 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 minute presentation (selected from the submissions to this call for papers), followed by a prepared response and an open discussion.

Submissions should provide critical thinking about communication policy-specific methodological problems, so 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 successful in researching policy issues? And which phenomena old and new phenomena 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 approx. 1000 words. Please indicate which of the above topics an abstract is intended to address. Abstracts are due by (the extended deadline of) *January 31st, 2018,* and should be *submitted to (manuel.puppis /at/ unifr.ch) <mailto:(manuel.puppis /at/ unifr.ch)>*. Acceptance *notifications will be sent out by the end of February 2018*. Authors of accepted abstracts are expected to attend the preconference and to present their work.

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 Chairs *

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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