Strategic Communication Research Methods

Strategic Communication Research Methods highlights the importance of research in professional communication settings and provides students with the practical information and knowledge they will need to effectively consume and produce professional research within their careers. While theory and methods are emphasized throughout, the text features a unique focus on the cultivation of transferable skills and the relevant application of knowledge.

Students learn why research is critical in professional contexts, a variety of approaches for conducting communication research, how to effectively evaluate research, and how to conduct their own research. Dedicated chapters cover the research process, sampling, ethics, observation and data analytics, surveys, interviews and focus groups, analyzing data, presenting results, and more. Throughout, dynamic practice activities and real-world examples actively engage students and support the applied approach.

Straightforward, accessible, and highly practical, Strategic Communication Research Methods helps students recognize the valuable role of research in the development and assessment of communication strategy. The text is ideally suited for applied methods courses in communication research, public relations, and marketing communications, as well as any course with emphasis in strategic communication.

Marianne Dainton (Ph.D., The Ohio State University) is a professor of communication at La Salle University. Dr. Dainton is the author/coauthor of Communication and Relational Maintenance, Applying Communication Theory for Professional Life, and Maintaining Black Marriage. She sits on the editorial board of numerous communication and family studies journals.

Pamela J. Lannutti (Ph.D., University of Georgia) is a professor and the director of the Center for Human Sexuality Studies at Widener University. Dr. Lannutti is the author of the award-winning Experiencing Same-Sex Marriage: Individuals, Couples, and Social Networks and past editor of Communication Quarterly. Her research has appeared in top communication and interdisciplinary journals.