ABSTRACT
Where do the communication scholars begin when conducting research? This chapter establishes the types of question researchers in general, and communication researchers in particular, ask as they begin a program of research into a topic, area, or field of interest. We begin by looking at the process we call “communication.” Next, we extend that discussion to the research process in general, noting that all research begins when a scholar asks a research question—asking what if, for example. The research question and other questions over time begin to build a body of research that leads to an approach or theory of communication that answers several questions. Some areas of research, such as descriptive and qualitative research, focus on better understanding particular elements of the communication process, whereas others look for a larger understanding of the variables that influence communication strategies and practices. This chapter looks at four questions that the communication researcher answers—and answers typically in some sort of order: (1) questions of definition, (2) questions of variable relations, (3) questions of value, and (4) questions of policy. We then look at what constitutes a “good” research question. Finally, the rest of the book is overviewed.
