ABSTRACT
The rapid development of television in China during the last decade provokes a wide range of fascinating and important research questions. Unfortunately, however, empirical and critical research in the Chinese social sciences, especially in communication, remains underdeveloped. The political atmosphere, of course, also limits the range of questions that can be asked. Still, many Chinese scholars are fighting to find support for research projects and foreign scholars continue to be attracted to the intriguing country. In this chapter I will discuss China's social and cultural research traditions and practices, including investigations of the television audience, work that is undertaken mainly by personnel inside the television institutions. I will also describe how I researched China in order to write this book.
