Theoretical Perspectives Influencing Communication Research
A Classification Based on Hollis’ Model (1994)
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22115352 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Gloria Gómez Diago (0000-0002-9783-3847, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos), Gloria Gómez-Diago (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 24 |
| Pages | raeic122412 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-26 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Revista de la Asociación Española de Investigación de la Comunicación (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2341-2690 • E-ISSN: 2341-2690 |
| Publisher | Asociacion Espanola de Investigacion de la Comunicacion (AE-IC) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.24137/raeic.12.24.12 |
| OpenAlex | W7117306293 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 25 |
Drawing on the usefulness of models as heuristic tools for reflecting on communication research (McQuail, 1997), Hollis's (1994) model for classifying social science theories was employed to organise some of the most influential theoretical perspectives in communication research. This model is structured around two dichotomies: Explanation versus Understanding, and Holism versus Individualism. These dichotomies generate four quadrants: Systems, Games, Agents and Actors. In the The Systems quadrant includes positivism, functionalism, and Bertalanffy's general systems theory. The Games quadrant includes Wittgenstein's theory of games, hermeneutics, Ricoeur's theory of action, symbolic interactionism, semiotics and Habermas's theory of communicative action. Pragmatism and post-positivism are included in the Agents quadrant, while phenomenology and ethnomethodology are included in the Actors quadrant. While the model does not aim to cover all theoretical proposals that influence communication research, it highlights different conceptions of research and society that impact this scientific field. It also reveals the need to develop theoretical approaches to communication research that recognise the dual condition of people as subjects and objects, depending on the context (Rosengren, 1989)
Communication theory · Dichotomy · Ethnomethodology · Holism · Metatheory · Models of communication · Pragmatism · Semiotics · Symbolic interactionism · Appreciative Inquiry and Organizational Change · Cultural and Communication Design Research · Media and Communication Studies
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |