Discusses music as a form of communication in terms of national vs. international music, youth culture, market forces, controversy over the impact of lyrics, uses and gratifications, and future research. (PD)

Presents a dialog between two communication scholars on communication as an academic discipline. Discusses whether communication is a discipline, the legacy of Wilbur Schramm, and specialization and diversity within the field. (SR)

Research demonstrates that people are motivated to seek information on political issues for social utility, rather than to resolve private indecision or candidate choice. (RB)

Some of the major assumptions, empirical inferences, and theoretical linkages that underlie the generalization that interpersonal influence is more efficacious than mass communication in bringing about social change are examined in this paper. The central premise of the paper is that the presumed competition between mass and interpersonal channels…

Tests the traditional two-part hypothesis that partisan predispositions motivate a person to be selectively exposed to political campaign communications, which in turn serve to reinforce those original predispositions. Draws inferences about differences in these processes that exist between adolescents and their parents. (PD)

Examines the effects of various mass media on political learning during the 1992 presidential campaign. Analyzes two voter surveys conducted in different states. Compares three indicators of political knowledge. Shows how campaign media added significantly to political knowledge among voters. (HB)

Discusses media-centered communication research models and applies them to a field setting in Venezuela in an attempt to assess the extent to which social processes depend on mass communication. See CS 703 632 for subscription information. (MH)

Presents an exchange of views on the past, present, and future of the communication discipline. Suggests that interactive technologies will encourage new models and methods for both mass and interpersonal communication study. (PD)

Noting that attention, or increased mental effort, has long been recognized as an important variable in the processing of mass communication messages, this paper examines both methodological and theoretical issues associated with the measurement of attention, particularly to the news and public affairs content in the news media. After a brief…

The argument for renewed theoretical development in the study of family communication has several implications. One is that researchers should concentrate on family communication as such rather than expanding generalizations from family communication to other groups and institutions; this requires grappling more specifically with the explication…