Chapter 4
The Main Thesis
The main thesis is the presence of a rich, deep, and eventful history of epistemological movements in communication, where more advanced views replaced “traditional” ones.
The Main Points
The chapter’s main points are primarily based on the analysis and synthesis, as well as consistent, structural, and multidimensional interpretation of the articles on the specific topic. The authors selected, investigated, and compared publications in epistemological movements in communication by coding the classification and unique computer textual analysis. Such components differentiated the papers as a relative privilege, the claim to generalizability, the structure of meaning, and the nature of the claims. According to Gehrke and Keith, such a variety of sources to determine epistemological communities took place based on the concepts of Anderson (84). The researchers focused direct attention on studying these works in several aspects: metrical, interpretive empiricism, rhetoric, and criticism.
Key Terms and Ideas
In order to establish a clear vision of the epistemological movement development picture, several stages should be noted. The 50s of the last century paid close, special attention to the “big Four.” Moreover, the three main variables were communication, regulation, and training (Gehrke and Keith 91). Three topics were distributed – theater, language, and public speaking, but by 2000 their importance was also being lost, as well as training (Gehrke and Keith 92). In this period, discovering new ideas laid the foundation for studying new theories that would be best known by the beginning of 1975 concerning rhetorical problems. As a rule, Aristotelian perspectives and rhetorical moments covered more than half of scientific research (Gehrke and Keith 87). Nonetheless, by the beginning of the 70s, the high-interest rate in these components was gradually fading (Gehrke and Keith 87). The Aristotelian orientation was displaced by Burkow and ideological theories in 1975 and 1985 (Gehrke and Keith 88). They focused on criticism from rhetorical and critical science.
The two thousandth years clearly illustrate the consequences of the changes of the 70s and 80s, when classical theories are not able to satisfy research fully. “Traditional” approaches affect niche publications, and new theories move towards the disciplinary center. In particular, “management theory” is in particular “demand” during this period (Gehrke and Keith 89). By 2005, several famous theories, such as Marxist, feminist, psychoanalytic, constitutive, and others, “play” with entirely new colors. Today, such a theoretical position as cognitivism occupies a leading role, followed by empiricism, psychology, and effects.
Major Metaphors
Firstly, one of the primary metaphors of the chapter should be emphasized. This metaphor focuses on the “import” of theorizing from various areas of philosophy and psychology by the early 2000s (Gehrke and Keith 90). Its significance implies the development of such a trend as the emergence of new forms of rhetorical aspects from a source with no particular framework and boundaries. Therefore, this statement has a close connection with the very progressive growth of the development of new trends based on “traditional” as well as similar movements. Secondly, according to Gehrke and Keith, “newcomers in the 2000s reflected the critical shifts within rhetorical study” (92). Hence, it becomes evident that the new century implies a cardinal shift towards improvements, progress, innovation, and improvement, in the transition from old to new forms of thinking. In this case, there is a correlation between the previous and the thesis statement, focusing on “imports” and “novices.” Thirdly, they also said: “criticism is the undisputed coin of the realm in rhetorical research” (Gehrke and Keith 95). Criticism becomes a fundamental aspect, a “role model,” and a pillar in research. It was criticism that prompted changes, modernizations, and improvements in theories.
Chapter 5
The Main Thesis
The central thesis of the chapter – monitoring new, relevant, and significant trends and identifying essential elements is a prerequisite for the development of the field of communication in scientific discourse.
The Main Points
The chapter’s main points are based on identifying critical changes in the field of communication over one century. There is quite a significant gap between some of the first and recent publications demonstrating progress and development in the field. Scientists should pay attention to such a rapidly changing environment to provide more reliable, proven, and adequate access to the process of scientific communication. In particular, this study attempts to explore the shift in emphasis over time in scientific publications.
Key Terms and Ideas
The discipline in communications covers an extensive range of different concepts, principles, and perspectives. These aspects seem challenging to articulate clearly, mainly if one uses different terminology (Gehrke and Keith 110). The area that reached the 100-year milestone was concentrated primarily on several Western countries. However, researchers also note the presence of some signs in Asian regions (Gehrke and Keith 110). 1970 – the heyday of communication and its rapid diversification; emphasis on rhetorical studies and humanities. Rhetoric has been and remains one of the dominant classification terms in absolute frequency. However, recently there has been a decrease in the share of articles affecting rhetoric, public speeches, and debates, which are more related to communication.
Moreover, the literature was not appropriately grouped at that time, and the discipline studied some areas before moving to a more concentrated configuration. The number and volume of articles in this period are steadily growing upwards (Gehrke and Keith 120). However, today, most scientists rely on interpersonal, intercultural, medical, political, and mass communications and many others in their research (Gehrke and Keith 111). Even in the 21st century, there are difficulties establishing systematic data on communication in Western countries. The rapid launch of such a large amount of information makes it challenging to track trends in the literature in the field of communication (Gehrke and Keith 122). It remains unclear whether the number of specialists has increased or the number of articles written by the same authors. However, recently data sources have improved due to a comprehensive database and improved information retrieval methods (Gehrke and Keith 112). For example, the study began to be conducted based on a closed coding system used for more than 15 years (Gehrke and Keith 121). The system has many advantages over the open version and offers the user ample opportunities to find the necessary information.
Major Metaphors
Firstly, it should be noted that the trend of comprehensive, complex, and multifaceted study of publications in communication for a reasonably long period has appeared relatively recently. The authors state that “at one hundred years, the field is still young enough for some senior scholars of long experience” (Gehrke and Keith 124). Despite its “youth” and “serenity,” the area needs a more detailed and thorough study. Secondly, it should also be emphasized that the “curriculum is keeping pace with the changing focus of the field’s discourse” (Gehrke and Keith 109). Thus, knowledge changes and adapts to current trends that should be known and applied in practice despite the novelty and “youth.” Thirdly, even based on this position, “the modern field of human communication studies has multiple points of origin and permeable boundaries” (Gehrke and Keith 110). Points of origin are a kind of reference and original primary sources, and permeable boundaries do not allow them to be modified radically. Hence, it is necessary to extract new information carefully while relying on the best examples and role models.
Work Cited
Gehrke, Pat J., and Keith, William M. A Century of Communication Studies: The Unfinished Conversation. 1st ed., Routledge, 2014.