Communication Studies Subject Guide

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Communication Resources

Reference Books | Databases | Organizations | Electronic Journals | Web Sites

Reference Books and Indexes

• Communication Abstracts
  Ref. P90.C6275, Counter 5 - Abstracts of books and of articles from a broad range of journals in communication.


• Dictionary of Media and Communications Studies
  Ref P87.5.W38 2003 (6th ed.) - From "Acceleration Factor" through "Media Mogels: Four Sources of Concern" to "Zoopraxography," this title covers interpersonal and intercultural communication, theory of communication, media history and literacy, technology, globalization, and more. the Topic Guide lists entries by broad subjects, and the Appendix is "A Chronology of Media Events" from AD 105 to 2003.


• Dictionary of Worldwide Gestures (2nd Ed.)
  Ref. PN4165.P37 1997- includes an informative introduction; hundreds of entries arranged by part of body and emotion or meaning conveyed, with references; and an index by country and group.


• Encyclopedia of Communication and Information
  Ref. P87.5.E53 2002 (4 vols.) Recent articles, with illustrations and bibliographies, on information science and technology, literacy, interpersonal communication, and media topics. Use Subject Index in Vol. 4.


• Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics
  Ref. P29.E48 1994 (10 vols.) - See Vol. 10 for a list of articles related to sociolinguistics, such as Conversation Analysis, Discourse, Phatic Communication, Telephone Conversation, Politicized Language, and many more.


• Encyclopedia of New Media: An Essential Reference Guide to Communication and Technology
  Ref. QA76.575.E5368 2003 - Covers technologies, artifice, people, ideas and trends in a historical, social and global perspective. The 275 entries include bibliographies (with many web sites), Further Reading Suggestions, and Related Topics, Name Index and Comprehensive Index.


• Index to Journals in Communication Studies Through 1995
  Ref. P87.M27 - Covers the core communication journals for all years through 1995.


• International Encyclopedia of Communications
  Ref. P87.5.I5 1989 (4 vols. ) - the first encyclopedia for the entire field of communication; includes bibliographies and many illustrations.


• International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences
  Ref. H41.I58 2001 - In Vol. 4, see "Communication and Social Psychology" and "Communication: Philosophical Aspects."


• National Communication Association Directory
  Ref, PN4073.N2534 2003 - Members listed both alphabetically and geographically.

Databases

• Academic Search Premier

Full text of over 3,900 scholarly publications, with abstracts for almost as many others. Some pdf files back to 1965.

• ComAbstracts

Abstracts of articles from 72 core journals in communication.

• Communication and Mass Media Complete

New index to almost 400 communication and media journals, books, conference proceedings and more, some with full text. Includes references and citations which cite a given article.

• Dissertation Abstracts

Searchable database of thesis and dissertation abstracts from 1980 to the present. Type "Communication and [your keyword]" in the search box.

• Ingenta

Comprehensive journal index, with document delivery option for faculty and graduate students. There are some links to full text articles.

• LexisNexis Academic

Full-text newspaper and magazine index, updated daily.

• MLA Bibliography

Comprehensive coverage of language and literature journals and books. Click on "Find Text" to link to full-text articles.

• Web of Science

Indexes all refereed journals; can be limited to social sciences and humanities sections. Click on "Find Text" to link to full-text articles.

Organizations

• American Rhetoric: Communication, Mass Media, and Rhetoric Associations

Four-page list of associations, with links to their web sites.

• American Communication Association

A virtual professional association for both scholars and practitioners [with a Communications Studies Center with important links.]

• Association for Business Communication (ABC)

An international group for the organizational communication field.

• Association for Progressive Communications

An international network of organizations using information and communication for peace, human rights, and protection of the environment.

• Association for Women in Communications

A worldwide professional association focused on the advancement of women in all communication fields.

• Center for Nonverbal Studies

A nonprofit research center especially interested in mass media, body movement, gesture, facial expression, fashion, architecture, and product design.

• Communication Institute for Online Scholarship (CIOS)

Devoted to the use of computer technologies in communication. Scroll down to "Especially for Students," "CommJobs" for current job listings, or "ComWeb MegaSearch" to find web sites in communication.

• Conference on College Composition and Communication

Includes news, positions and guidelines and a searchable "Bibliography of Composition and Rhetoric, 1984-1999."

• East Tennessee Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication

Includes links to events, a newsletter, and job announcements.

• ECA/Eastern Communication Association

The oldest professional communication organization in the U.S., publisher of Communication Quarterly, Quarterly Research Reports in Communication, and Communication Research Reports.

• Foundation for American Communications (FACSNET)

Provides excellent background and news information on current issues, including "News Backgrounders" (under Reporting Tools).

• International Communication Association (ICA)

For those in all communication fields, this group promotes research and public debate.

• National Communication Association (NCA)

The oldest and largest organization for the discipline (formerly the Speech Communication Association).

• Religious Communication Association (RCA)

A nonsectarian scholarly organization on public religious communication. It publishes the Journal of Communication and Religion.

• Southern States Communication Association (SSCA)

A regional organization promoting study, research and teaching of communication. It sponsors 15 divisions and four interest groups.

• Union for Democratic Communication (UDC)

Promotes more democratic and participatory communications.

Electronic Journals

• American Behavioral Scientist

Refereed journal with in-depth coverage of the social sciences;; each issue covers a different topic.

• American Communication Journal (ACJ)

The premier online scholarly refereed journal in communications, according to its publisher, the American Communication Association.

• American Rhetoric - Rhetoric & Communication Journals

Six-page list of journal web sites. Those with Full Text are also listed below and in the "Rhetoric" and "Discourse" sections.

• Business Communication Quarterly

A refereed journal on the teaching of business communication.

• Communication Research

Refereed, with articles on all aspects of communication in society.

• Communication Theory

Refereed research articles on the theoretical development of communication.

• Currents in Electronic Literacy

Addresses the use of electronic technologies in reading, writing, teaching and learning in communications and related fields.

• Electronic Journal of Communication/La Revue Electronique de Communication (EJC/REC)

Refereed articles on communication theory and practice, with each issue devoted to one theme.

• Etc.: A Review of General Semantics

Refereed articles on the impact of language and symbols on behavior.

• European Journal of Communication

International refereed journal of both empirical and theoretical articles.

• European Journal of Cultural Studies

International, refereed journal including media and broadcasting-related articles.

• Federal Communications Law Journal

International, refereed journal on communication regulation.

• Gazette: The International Journal for Communication Studies

Refereed journal on media, telecommunications, and information technologies.

• Human Communication Research

One of the top refereed journals on human communication.

• IJCLP, International Journal of Communications Law and Policy

Refereed journal on telecommunications, broadcasting and computing law.

• International Journal of Cultural Studies

Refereed journal on culture and media.

• Journal of Business Communication

Peer-reviewed research articles on business communication.

• Journal of Business and Technical Communication

Covers the latest trends in both business and academic sectors.

• Journal of Communication

Covers theory, research, practice and policy; with extensive book reviews.

• Journal of Communication inquiry

Interdisciplinary, comprehensive coverage of communication/society relationships.

• Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (JCMC)

Each issue covers one aspect of computerized communication. Originally published by the the Annenberg School for Communication, now sponsored by Indiana University School of Library and Information Science and School of Informatics, and an official journal of the International Communication Association.

• Journal of Diplomatic Language

New, peer-reviewed periodical on language and international relations.

• Journal of Electronic Publishing

Refereed articles on electronic publishing of books and journals.

• Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly

Original,refereed articles on the theory and methodology of communication; includes book reviews.

• Kaleidoscope, A Graduate Journal of Qualitative Communication Research

Articles by graduate students on the philosophy, theory and applications of qualitative communication research.

• Language and Communication: An Interdisciplinary Journal

Refereed journal on verbal and nonverbal communication.

• Management Communication Quarterly

Covers the theory, research and practice of organizational communication.

• Media, Culture and Society

Articles on the media and new communication technologies, in cultural context.

• Media Development

In-depth articles from the World Association for Christian Communication.

• Media History Monographs

Peer-reviewed publications which are longer than regular journal articles, on history of the media.

• New Media & Society

Perspectives on changes in media technology and information.

• Review of Communication (ROC)

Book reviews and refereed articles from the National Communication Association.

• Semiotica

Refereed articles on all aspects of semiotic studies.

• Web Journal of Mass Communication Research

One scholarly article per issue on mass communication research.

• Women's Studies in Communication (WSC)

A refereed journal published by the Organization for Research on Women and Communication (ORWAC) of the Western Speech Communication Association.

Web Sites

• Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania

Links to research reports and polls, especially in political and health communication.

• Communication Links Web Navigation

Comprehensive site with links to graduate programs, periodicals and media, speech resources, communication subfields, research methods, listserves, and more.

• Communication Studies Center (American Communication Association)

An index of web resources on communication.

• Nonverbal Dictionary of Gestures, Signs and Body Language Cues

Provides both definitions and illustrations.

• Speech Communication Resources

Burkian, feminist and classical criticism, with research links.

• U of Iowa Department of Communication Studies Resources

Links to resources in all communication fields; includes listservs.

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