Noting that there are signs of a relaxation in the long tension caused by the methodological "cold war" between quantitative and qualitative research proponents, this paper points to communications research as one area where the trend is developing. Placing communications studies in the framework of current public attitudes toward research and the evolution of academic research methods, the paper finds evidence of an eclectic consensus on research growing out of external needs in society and internal needs for communications theory. The paper closely examines the rediscovery of communications by sociologists using the critical approaches of participant/observation, and explores some unorthodox research tools such as use of media technology as a method, archeology as a part of the historical tradition, and the use of science fiction as a predictive technique for communications. (Author/FL)