The Epistemology of Communication Studies

Paper Summary:

This paper deals with the epistemological foundation of communication studies. It is presented as though it were in the form of a communication theory lecture to undergraduate students of communication science. The epistemology of communication studies is a large section of understanding in communication science and needs to be addressed and fully understood by all students of communication. In order to explain the epistemology of communication studies, important concepts are discussed in order to obtain a complete understanding.

Outline
Introduction
Epistemology
Characteristics of Communication
Process
Transactional
Symbolic
Theory
Purpose of Theory
Empirical Problems
Conceptual Problems
Practical Problems
Perspectives on Communication Theory Development
Positivist Perspective
Interpretive Perspective
Hermeneutics
Phenomenology
Symbolic Interactions
Critical Perspectives
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
Qualitative Content Analysis
Quantitative Content Analysis
Communication Traditions
Rhetorical Tradition
Semiotic Tradition
Phenomenological Tradition
Cybernetic Tradition
Socio-Psychological Tradition
Socio-Cultural Tradition
Critical Tradition
Conclusion
Sources Consulted

From the Paper:

"Positivism is divided into two schools of thought, classical and logical positivism. According to Comte (1970), knowledge is required to be accepted in three intellectual stages. The three stages are that of the theological, the metaphysical and the scientific stage. This is based on the understanding that a theological and metaphysical explanation is of less quality and credibility in comparison with scientific explanations or evidence. Classical positivism is therefore based on the idea of knowledge being gained from the use of observations and reasoning (Comte, 1970). "

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