Review of Communication Research

04/07/2022

Are you interested in reviewing an article titled "Images of cancer in social media: a systematic review of the literature"? Show your talent. Here the procedure: https://www.rcommunicationr.org/index.php/rcr/about/open-peer-review

23/06/2022

We are happy to announce that Dr. Gary Yeritsian (Pomona College, USA) is the new RCR team coordinator. Welcome aboard, Gary!

22/06/2022

Open Peer Review. "The effect of anonymity on online aggression: A systematic review" is one of the manuscripts being reviewed now. Are you interested in assessing the editor? Contact the editor and work on it! https://www.rcommunicationr.org/index.php/rcr/about/open-peer-review

17/06/2022

We are happy to announce that Sergei Shchebetenko, an excellent scholar who works at HSE University, Moscow, Russia, joins the RCR Editorial board team! Welcome, Sergei!

06/06/2022

We are very excited to announce that two outstanding scholars, Serena Miller (Michigan State University) and Deborah Chung (University of Kentucky) are the new Editors for the Methodology in Communication and Journalism Studies sections respectively

20/01/2022

17/09/2021

You can be a referee for the manuscript titled "Consumer Approach to Corporate Activism: A Theoretical Model". Read more here: https://buff.ly/2Twkgvd

Abstract
Corporate activism is a recent trend that consists of companies or their CEOs taking up positions - typically controversial - on social, political or environmental issues as a contribution to social change. So far there has not been much research into this subject, and no conclusive results. Work is therefore needed to study corporate activism and the effect such actions could have on companies and their relations with stakeholders. This article a) reviews the literature and analyzes in depth the concept of corporate activism and the relations established between this concept and trust, authenticity, reputation and brand equity; b) proposes a theoretical model that groups these concepts into two categories, the antecedents and effects of corporate activism from the perspective of consumers; and c) suggests opportunities and challenges for future research, together with the main implications at a professional level.

16/09/2021

We are happy to announce the advance online publication of a new framework for studying FRAMING experimentally. The text is authored by Prof. McLeod et al., and you can read it here: https://buff.ly/39eWIDb

Abstract
This review introduces a conceptual framework with three elements to highlight the richness of the framing effects literature, while providing structure to address its fragmented nature. Our first element identifies and discusses the Enduring Issues that confront framing effects researchers. Second, we introduce the Semantic Architecture Model (SAM), which builds on the premise that meaning can be framed at different textual units within a text, which can form the basis of frame manipulations in framing effects experiments. Third, we provide an Inventory of Framing Effects Research Components used in framing effects research illustrated with salient examples from the framing effects literature. By offering this conceptual framework, we make the case for revitalizing framing effects research.

16/09/2021

You can be a referee for the manuscript titled "Socio-cultural and individual factors in verbal irony use and understanding: What we know, what we don’t know, what we want to know". Read more here: https://buff.ly/2Twkgvd

Abstract
A significant part of everyday verbal communication consists of nonliteral language, including irony (Gibbs 2000). Efficient irony use can serve a wide range of pragmatic goals, while deficits in irony comprehension can have negative social consequences. Whereas a large body of research has been produced on irony use and understanding by adults, little attention has been paid to the socio-cultural characteristics of this phenomenon so far. Some individual factors that have been identified as correlates of irony use include personality of the speaker, gender, age or speaking a second language. In this article, we argue that it is necessary to bring the aspects of socio-cultural variables and individual characteristics together in the further study of irony across cultures. To this end, we present an overview of theoretical and empirical literature on both cultural and individual/psychological factors impacting the use and understanding of verbal irony in communication.

23/08/2021

Interested in Instagram? Participate in our *open-peer review* for the manuscript "A Participant Observation Method Review: An Introduction and Content Analysis of News Social Settings from 1960-2020". Read the abstract below and here how to participate: https://buff.ly/2Twkgvd

Abstract
We investigated the practices of one scholarly group that coalesces around the participant observation method to identify patterns of how scholars interpreted it. We content analyzed journalism researchers’ reporting of methodological information in studies involving news contexts and assessed scholars’ adherence to methodological reporting best practices in 150 journal articles. Our systematic evaluative results showed participant observation researchers in the sample employed data validation by primarily using qualitative formal interviews and providing site selection logic. Our results, however, also showed evidence of methodological conceptual ambiguity when referring to participant observation method techniques and low reporting of several specific techniques associated with participation observation. An adherence to transparency improves our collective understanding of a method, and we put forth eight recommended participant observation reporting practices to increase the clarity and rigor of the method. Our hope is that our review and proposed concepts will illuminate and initiate discussions surrounding the practice of participant observation.

23/08/2021

Pre-published article about politicians and Instagram! "Politicians, Parties, and Government Representatives on Instagram: A Review of Research Approaches, Usage Patterns, and Effects" authores by Jennifer Bast. Read it here: https://buff.ly/2VPaCZy

Abstract
The photo and video-sharing social network Instagram attracts an impressive number of users, among them political actors such as politicians, parties, and members of the government. Instagram's focus on images, which can be accompanied by lengthy captions, as well as a range of other communication tools suggest that the platform has high potential for political communication. It is therefore no surprise that it has attracted the interest of scholars of various research areas. This article provides a systematic review of 37 studies on Instagram usage by politicians, parties, and governments. The aim is to gather substantiated knowledge while identifying research gaps. To this end, the review focuses on three key areas of Instagram research: who uses Instagram, how do they use it, and with what effect? Methodological approaches, data basis, and applied theories are included to provide a comprehensive overview of research on Instagram. Based on the findings, points of departure for future research are identified.

18/08/2021

Newly published article! "Thinking and Feeling through Mobile Media and Communication: A Review of Cognitive and Affective Implications" authored by Scott W. Campbell and Morgan Quinn Ross. Read the abstract below and download the full article from here:

Abstract
In recent decades, mobile media and communication have become integral to human psychology, including how people think and feel. Although the popular press, parents, and educators often voice concerns about the integration of mobile media into everyday life (e.g., “smartphone addiction”), the growing body of scholarship in this area offers a mix of positive, negative, and conditional effects of mobile media use. This review article traverses this variegated scholarship by assembling cognitive and affective implications of mobile media and communication. It identifies information processing, offloading, spatial cognition, habit, attention, and phantom vibrations as cognitive themes, and feelings of pleasure, stress/anxiety, safety/security, connectedness, and control as affective themes. Along the way, it helps bring structure to this growing and interdisciplinary area of scholarship, ground psychological work on mobile media in theorizing on technological embedding, inform academic and public debates, and identify opportunities for future research.

In recent decades, mobile media and communication have become integral to human psychology, including how people think and feel. Although the popular press, parents, and educators often voice concerns about the integration of mobile media into everyday life (e.g., “smartphone addiction”), the gr...

16/08/2021

Open peer review for the ms "Socio-cultural and individual factors in verbal irony use and understanding: What we know, what we don’t know, what we want to know". Read about the process and send the review by the end of september:

Review of Communication Research (RCR) allows any scholar to participate in its peer-review process. The documents that participate in a reviewing process have not been published yet, therefore their authorship must be protected. Maintaining confidentiality and respect for authorship are essential v...

12/08/2021

RCR has pre-published the article titled "Communication Strategies to Improve Medication Adherence: A Systematic Review of Literature". The paper is authored by Kristin Maki & Katy Harris and edited by Nathan Walter. You are invited to read the galley here: https://buff.ly/3jKL8EL

07/07/2021

Health Communication section: We are happy to announce that the ms titled "Communication Strategies to Improve Medication Adherence: A Systematic Review of Literature" by Kristin Maki and Katy Harris has been accepted for publication by editor Nathan Walter. It will be soon available online!

07/07/2021

A manuscript about social media and self-concept is running our OPEN-PEER-REVIEW. TITLE: "How do social media machines affect self-concept research? Systematic literature review of the latest trends." It is simple to participate! Read here how: https://buff.ly/2Twkgvd Send review by August 31.

Abstract:

Advanced digital technologies, such as algorithms, machine learning, or artificial intelligence, broadly pe*****te self activities. This change is most evident on social media, where contents, attitudes, and evaluative judgments meet on technology-driven platforms. Moreover, human networks also started to communicate with social bots or conversational interfaces. All these challenges can trigger a redesign of self-concept via technology. Therefore, our paper investigates how social media machines affect self-concept-related academic research. First, we present pioneers of the field. Second, we summarize the self-concept research in the context of digital technology and social media. Topic networks illustrate the key research fields with the latest trends and future implications. Last but not least, we also investigated, how emerging media phenomena affect academic trends in the case of social bots or fake news. The purpose of the study is to support the connected research in psychology, business, management, education, political science, medicine, and media studies with an understanding of the latest trends. Our additional goal is to highlight the potential of market-based research cooperations with academia supporting effective developments and funding.

06/07/2021

We are happy to announce that the ms "THINKING AND FEELING THROUGH MOBILE MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION: A REVIEW OF COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE IMPLICATIONS" by Scott W. Campbell and Morgan Ross has been accepted for publication! it will be soon available online. Stay tuned!

06/07/2021

A manuscript for the Health Communication & Social Media subfields is running our OPEN-PEER-REVIEW process. Title: "Are Emotion-Expressing Messages More Shared on Social Media? A Meta-Analytic Review."
It is simple to participate. Read about it here: https://buff.ly/2Twkgvd
Send the review by JULY 25th

Abstract:
Given that social media have brought significant change in the communication landscape, researchers have explored factors, such as emotion-expressing as a message feature, that can influence audiences' information sharing on social media. The effect of such message feature on audiences' information sharing, however, have been mixed and needs a synthesis. The present study meta-analytically summarized 19 studies to advance the understanding of the associations between emotion-expressing messages and information sharing on social media in health and crisis communication contexts. Additional moderator analyses took into account study contexts, social media platforms, study design, theory-guided or not, sampling and coding methods, and emotion valences. Our study supported previous studies' claim that emotion-expressing messages are more likely to motivate audiences’ sharing behavior on social media in health and crisis contexts (r = 0.11, k = 19, N = 140,987). Moreover, results from our study showed that sampling and coding methods applied in previous studies moderated the effect size. Implications for future study of emotion-expressing messages and information sharing in health and crisis communication contexts are discussed.

05/07/2021

A manuscript for the Audience and Reception Studies subfield is running our OPEN-PEER-REVIEW process.
Title: "An Overview of the Reception of Black Women in Mediated Spaces."
It is simple to participate. Read here how: https://buff.ly/2Twkgvd
Send your review by August 1st.

Abstract:
With Black women being historically left out of conversations surrounding audience reception, this literature review intends to examine how Black women as audiences have been examined over time, focusing on methodologies that have been used, findings, and theoretical challenges. The paper will provide a history of audience reception studies, an overview of the quantitative, qualitative, and film studies approaches, the reception of Black women specifically in mediated spaces, areas for future research, and the current limitations of the literature.

01/07/2021

A manuscript about social media and self-concept is running our OPEN-PEER-REVIEW process. Title: BRAND COMMUNITY AND SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM: A LITERATURE REVIEW. It is simple to participate: https://buff.ly/2Twkgvd Send your review by August 15th.

Abstract:
This paper reviews existing literature on symbolic interactionism (SI) and on brand communities (BC). On the one hand, after reviewing key theories of SI and identifying main developments during the 20th century, it was found a recent interest on SI as a sociological perspective to address a wide range of topics affecting human behavior. On the other hand, advances on BC were found to come mostly from the fields of marketing and branding, although it has been demonstrated that these collectives have evident sociological basis. Based on this review, the present study synthesizes existing research on both SI and BC and identifies connection points between them. Our review identified several SI premises able to explain BCs as social contexts of symbolic interaction. This paper connects different areas of research: social psychology, marketing, communication, and brand management; being its main contribution double: first, a review on the three traditions of SI revealed that their principles may be combined to describe brand communities as social phenomena; second, it offers relations between SI and BC. Our study suggests new paths of inquiry and constitutes a new framework for future research on the social-symbolic nature of BC; especially, for the growing area of online BCs. This paper broadens the scope for sociological research applied to marketing and brand management.

29/06/2021

We are proud to announce that SCOPUS has ranked RCR in the top 1% in Social Science journals ( #104/8,420) and Q1 in Communication. Read more in the High Impact section: https://buff.ly/35OEJ4H We invite you to publish with us your best literature reviews and meta-analyses!

29/06/2021

Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) production and visualization techniques have changed visual communication. RcR invites the submission of relevant literature reviews and meta-analyses on the topic. You can read the call here: https://buff.ly/3j9Et8g
The manuscript submission deadline is Nov. 7, 2021.
Feel free to contact the section editor for more information! Roi Méndez ([email protected])