To investigate whether researchers are developing empirically-based public relations research efforts, and whether such efforts could be considered useful to public relations practitioners, a study conducted a content analysis of all articles published in "Public Relations Review" from 1977 through 1987. Articles (196 were coded in all) were examined to determine if they employed an empirical method, defined as any first-hand, direct observation of real-world events using case study, survey, experimental, and content analytic methods. To determine if articles were programmatic, the reference section of each article was examined--if an article contained one or more self-references, it was considered programmatic. Articles were also categorized according to discipline, content area (message, channel, audience, communications models, regulation, practical research methods, internal management, professionalism, education, history, and academic research methods), and level of content area (macro-analysis, management-analysis, and micro-analysis). Analysis suggested that the research was making greater use of empirical methods, but that the majority of the published work had not been programmatic nor predictive. Findings were positive concerning the emergence of a body of knowledge that might unify public relations, and analysis supported the hypothesis that public relations research published in "Public Relations Review" is making increasing use of traditional empirical methods and becoming increasingly programmatic. (Three tables of data are included, and 19 footnotes are appended.) (MM)