Composed of a mixture of old classics, new classics, reports on state of the art in important areas, and speculations about the future, this second edition of the reader in communication research provides an introduction to questions about how communication works and what it does. Papers by prominent researchers and writers in the field comprise the chapters, and areas covered are divided into two major sections: the nature of communication between humans and the nature of communication effects. Articles and papers under the section on communication between humans deal with media and messages of communication and the audiences of mass communication. Those papers included under the section on communication effects cover attitudes, information, and effects; social effects; public opinion and politics; innovation and change; and the technological future of mass communication. (SH)