Communication Theories

Some examples of communication theories are Spiral of Silence by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann and Agenda-Setting by Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw. These web sites list the names and authors of additional theories to begin your research:
http://www.ic.arizona.edu/~comm300/mary/alpha.html (list of theories)
http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/theory/contexts.html(grouped by categories) http://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/westturner/student_resources/theories.htm (gives a brief overview of theory)

• A First Look at Communication Theory (5th ed.) P90 .G725 2003
• Clarifying Communication Theories: A Hands-On Approach P90 .S8176 1999
• Communicating Across Cultures HF5549.5 .C6 G84 1999
• Communication Theories in Action : an Introduction P90 .W619 2000
• Communication Theories : Perspectives, Processes, and Contexts P90 .M479 2002
• Nonverbal Behavior in Interpersonal Relations BF637 .N66 R53 2000
• Nonverbal Communication; Notes on the Visual Perception of Human Relations P90 .R8
• Theories of Human Communication (7th ed.) P90 .L48 2002

Check the book index or table of contents to determine if your specific theory is included.

• Encyclopedia of Psychology, 8 vols. REF BF31 .E52 2000
• Handbook of Interpersonal Communication REF BF637 .C45 H287 2002
• International Encyclopedia of Communications, 4 vols. REF P87.5 .I5 1989

Note: Use indexes in final volume of each set.

Try these keywords to search for additional books. You can use theor* in your query to find both theory and theories.

• communication theory
  communication-philosophy
  interpersonal communication
  interpersonal communication theory
  interpersonal communication research
  speech communication

These journals are displayed in alphabetical order in the periodicals section on 2nd floor.

• Communication Quarterly (current 5 years)
• Communication Research Reports (current 5 years)

NetLibrary is listed in the online databases, or you may access it at netLibrary.** If you choose to access the books directly, you must have a netLibrary account.

• Developing Communication Theories
• Emerging Theories of Human Communication
• Human Communication Theory and Research: Concepts, Contexts, & Challenges
• Interpersonal Communication Research

**To access netLibrary from off campus, you must first create a netLibrary account from an on campus computer.

From the library's article databases, “Social Sciences” web page.

• Communication & Mass Media Complete - subject specific; many full-text
• Academic Search Complete - general resource for journal articles; many full-text
• ProQuest - general resource for journal articles; many full-text
  

Database searching can use more specific terms than the library's catalog. Try the following as keywords:

• Name of theory. First, omit the word theory. Then, add it only if initial search results bring up too many unrelated articles.
• Example: cognitive dissonance (narrow: cognitive dissonance theory)
• Example: social judgment (narrow: social judgment theory)
• Name of person. Use the name of the author connected with the theory.
  Example: Delia, Jesse
  Example: Sherif, Muzafer
• Combine terms with and.
  Example: delia and cognitive and dissonance
  Example: sherif and social and judgment
  Example: hierarchy and needs and Maslow

Search Strategy

• Check full-text box.
  Enter search terms suggested above as keywords.
  
• If there are not enough articles, trying unchecking the full-text box to get citations. Then, see whether we subscribe to the journal by looking at the Periodical Holdings List.
  
• Check scholarly journals box. Compare to results obtained without checking this box.
  
• If results not focused enough, add “and communication” to the search terms.
  
• If there are alternate terms for the theory, try several different searches using alternate terms. Alternate terms may appear as hot links on articles you locate.

Created by Karen Parker

If you need additional help, please feel free to contact a librarian during open hours.

Or call us at: 281-618-5707. Our email is nhc.libweb@LoneStar.edu