ABSTRACT
Correspondence: Raul Roman, Center for Internet Studies, University of Washington, Box 353055, Seattle, WA 98195-3055; email: rroman@u.washington.edu
Communication Yearbook 29, pp.311-331
RAUL ROMAN University of Washington
This chapter analyzes the role of theory in development communication, an area of study conventionally concerned with practical problems and applied research topics. The author provides a review of the theoretical evolution of development communication through the analysis of its three social scientifi c traditions: the media effects-oriented tradition, the critical theory tradition, and the pragmatic philosophy tradition. Based on this analysis, the author indicates actual prospects for theory building in development communication by discussing opportunities for the formulation of normative theories. This chapter concludes that reaffi rming the practical orientation of development communication and supporting intellectual convergence among its intellectual traditions constitute the core tasks that will encourage theoretical creativity in the future.
