Finds that when subjects have a week to reflect on the research hypothesis, they will attempt to prove the hypothesis. Does not find, however, that increased information yields negative research results. (RL)

Explores the possibility of postmodernism as an alternative theoretical approach to public relations. Examines modernist public relations as a hegemonic practice that interpolates practitioners into the system to legitimize the perspectives and actions of corporate managers as objective knowledge. Concludes with suggestions for a postmodern…

Discusses Q methodology in light of modern philosophy of science and hermeneutics. Outlines and discusses the basic steps of conducting Q-method research. Suggests that Q methodology allows researchers to understand and interpret the subjective text of respondents without confounding them with external categories of theoretical reflection. (RS)

Behavior analysis provides a unique way of coming to understand intrapersonal and interpersonal communication behaviors, and focuses on control techniques available to a speaker and counter-control techniques available to a listener. "Time-series methodology" is a convenient term because it subsumes under one label a variety of baseline…

Eighty communication researchers from universities responded to a questionnaire designed to assess attitudes toward deception-related practices in conducting communication research. Sixty-eight percent of the researchers believe that misleading or misinforming subjects is acceptable behavior within the experimental setting, as long as debriefing…

Illustrates the differences between participatory action research (PAR) and action science by exploring Xerox Corporation's participatory action research (PAR) efforts. Points out practical limitations and conceptual gaps of PAR. Emphasizes that the key to valuable research is to meet the standards of appropriate rigor without sacrificing…

Places behavioral field systems analysis (FSA) into perspective historically and in terms of its relationship to behavioral science as a whole, focusing on (1) J.R. Kantor and interbehaviorism, (2) the change from linear mechanics to fields/systems, and (3) contemporary scientific relatives of FSA. (SM)

Reports the results of the development of a self-report measure of innovativeness, and discusses the utility of such an instrument in human communication research as well as related issues such as validity, reliability and association with social desirability. (MH)

Proposes and tests a model of the relationship between beliefs and behavioral intentions based on a mathematical probability theory. (MH)

Discusses present trends in research, teaching, and practice in the field of behavioral development. Describes behaviorism and cognitivism as two basic theoretical influences on research in Brazil. An action-oriented approach prevails, including work with underprivileged and mentally retarded children. However, the number of published scientific…

Introduces the basic concepts of chaos theory and chaos modeling. Relates chaos theory to qualitative research and factor analysis. Describes some current research in education and psychology using chaos theory. Claims that the philosophical implications of chaos theory have been misapplied in practical terms. (KS)

Examines communication effects gaps in the levels of knowledge and adoption of new ideas between more-advantaged and less-advantaged segments of a social system. (MH)

Discusses a survey of one hundred speech communication departments to determine practices and policies regarding selection and use of subjects in research. Looks at potential effects of generalizing research results from such a population and suggests methods for resolving generality problems in speech communication research. (MH)

An important area for communication researchers has been the relationship between persuasive messages and their impact on attitudes, beliefs, and behavior. A model is presented to clarify the relationship between persuasive messages and attitudes. In an effort to establish the validity of the model, six hypotheses are set forth concerning the…