Annie Waldherr, Stephanie Geise, Merja Mahrt, Christian Katzenbach, and Christian Nuernbergk published their new article "Toward a stronger theoretical grounding of computational communication science" in Computational Communication Research. Congratulations!
Computational communication science (CCS) is embraced by many as a fruitful methodological approach to studying communication in the digital era. However, theoretical advances have not been considered equally important in CCS. Specifically, the authors observe an emphasis on mid-range and micro theories that misses a larger discussion on how macro-theoretical frameworks can serve CCS scholarship. With this article, they aim to stimulate such a discussion. Although macro frameworks might not point directly to specific questions and hypotheses, they shape our research through influencing which kinds of questions we ask, which kinds of hypotheses we formulate, and which methods we find adequate and useful. The authors showcase how three selected theoretical frameworks might advance CCS scholarship in this way: (1) complexity theory, (2) theories of the public sphere, and (3) mediatization theory. Using online protest as an example, they discuss how the focus (and the blind spots) of our research designs shifts with each framework.
Waldherr, A., Geise, S., Mahrt, M., Katzenbach, C., & Nuernbergk, C. (2021). Toward a stronger theoretical grounding of computational communication science. Computational Communication Research, 3(2), 152-179.
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