Explication

Communication Concepts

by Steven H. Chaffee

The first volume in a series devoted to concepts in the study of communication, this is a book mainly about thinking, concerned with the disciplined use of words, with observation of human behaviour and especially with the connection between the two. Concepts establish the linkage between common communication percepts and theories, which communication scientists and critics build and test. Through examples, much is also revealed here about a number of substantive concepts in the field of communication.

96 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 1991

Reviews

[Катерина Майковська · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should have read it while on something. It would have been a life-changing eye-opening experience of the wonders of the multiverse. But being brutally sober and reading it in my office, I comprehended maybe 10% of the undoubtedly huge intelligence behind this book and felt very inadequate. Will nevertheless use it for my PhD, lol.

Jokes aside, it's a super useful book for anyone who is working with confusing or contested terminology in communication research. However, I found it difficult to understand how to practically apply the ideas from the book, until I read some papers already using the framework.

I love the idea that words without explication are just words which is extremely relevant when you study latent constructs or complex phenomena that are discussed differently in various fields of research. Working out an operational definition is especially valuable and often omitted.

Highly recommend using concept explication in your research!