This document discusses research methodology in the field of communication. It covers various topics such as identifying communication issues, types of communication, theoretical perspectives, methods for studying communicators, messages, media, audiences and processes. Examples of potential research areas involving religion, theology and society are provided. The document emphasizes that communication borrows from other disciplines and there is a growing dialogue between theology and communication. Research should systematically analyze problems and find new strategies to enhance the communication process.

1. Research Methodology
Course
Joshva Raja, UTC, Bangalore
SATHRI,2005

2. Doing Research in the field of
Communication
Communication as a field of Research in
Theological Education – every discipline has to
communicate – communication as a field
borrows methods and theories from every other
field.
Pastors, lecturers and leaders are
communicators – professional and systematic
study on Communication is needed
ICE age – Audio-visual language – Convergent
language – communication failure

3. Research in Communication
 It should enhance the communication process
 Analyze systematically the communication
issues and problems
 Try to explain or interpret or explore and
identify the failures or mistakes of the
communication in the ministry and mission
 Find new means, methods, ways, models,
strategies or principles of communication that
relevant to the new context

4. Communication as a Social Process
Other Social Processes – Modernization…
Society : Community and Individuals
Powerful
Impact
on
Other
Social
processes
Reflect and
being
influenced
by other
Social
processes
Both
Processes
are inter-
dependent
Both
processes
are
independent

5. Identifying Issues in Communication -
Examples
• Communication Gap between –
-Theological Colleges and Churches
- Church leaders and Lay people -youth
-Information Rich and Information Poor
-Government and Citizens
• Misrepresentation of
- Women, Children, disabled, Refugees
- Religious, Linguistic, racial Minorities
• Converting the above issues into a Research
Problem is the task of the researcher –
Statement of the problem

6. Types of
Communication
Inter-personal Communication
Intra-personal
Communication
Extra-personal
Communication
Group
Communication
Mass
Communication
Folk
Communication
Technological Communication
Community
Communication
(Indian theories)
(Gesture,
dialogue)
(Interactivity, virtual
body of Christ)
(Mediated, public
sphere, opinion
shaping)
(leadership, youth,
fellowship)
(Eco-concerns)
(Grassroots,
developmental)
(traditional, alternative)

7. Literature Review
 Search and Identify the Primary Sources or areas of
research -ATLA-Google-Online Library Catalogues-
Communication research abstracts….
 Read previous reviews – Paul Soukup’s Theo and
Comm Review – Buddenbaum’s Religion and Media
Review…
 Develop Critical thinking – Read Reviews of the
books – try to narrow down the subject

8. Major Theoretical Perspectives (Barrie
Gunter – Media Research Methods)
 Positivism – method for combining logic with precise empirical
observations of individual behavior (Durkheim) – a law supported by facts
obtained through empirical research techniques
 Interpretative Social Science – a theory of embedded
meanings – a detailed reading or examination of text (Oral, written, visual
or convergent) – The reading will reveal insights into a person’s feeling
and motives (Max Weber)
 Critical Social Science – Reveal, explain and understand
power structures and relationships within society (Marx) – analyzing
values and ideologies in the media used for controlling and propagating
false consciousness
 Post Modern –Demystifying the world – to deconstruct or tear
surface appearances to reveal the internal hidden structure…

9. Issues in Communication-
Concerns for a Religious
researcher?
Social Integration
Power and inequality
Political economy
and concentration
of ownership
Technology
Determinism
Developmental
Dissemination
Human Rights
Advocacy
Alternative
Communication
Democratization of
Communication
Globalization
of media
New Media
Culture
Gender
and Media
Normative roles –
Freedom of press,
access to Public,
diversity
Segregating
Public Sphere

10. Communication
Anthropology
Social Science
Science & Technology
Cultural
studies
Psychology
Borrowing Methods and Logics
Participant
observation
Content analysis
Audience studies
Textual analysis
Questionnaire
Interview
Lab experiment
Demonstrational test

11. Blurring the Difference
 Qualitative Versus Quantitative
 Deductive Vs Inductive
 Descriptive Vs Analytical
 Applied Vs Fundamental

12. Identifying research areas in
Communication
 Communicator – Source Research
 Message – Content/textual Research
 Channel – Medium Research
 Receivers – Audience Research
 Impact – Effect Research
 Process research; feedback research;
technology research…

13. Communicator Message Medium Audience
Political Economy
Cultural Studies
In-depth Interview
Participant
observation
Case studies
Content analysis
Discourse
Rhetorical
Semiotics
Inter-textual
Ideological Criticism
Psychoanalytic criticism
Technological
determinism
Institutional
analysis
Questionnaire
Interview
Depth
Ethno-method
Lab experiment
Observation
Surveys/statistics
Focus group
interview
Identify the Universe and Samples
Selected
institutions/Communicators
within a possible area
Period of magazines,
newspaper, TV serials…
Household/church
members/clubs

14. Communication and Religion
 Religious use of and attitude towards
Communication – preaching/FEBA
 Religious Role of Communication -
Ramayana
 Religious advocacy and Ethical Principles of
Communication – Communitarian Values
 Inter-religious and inter-cultural
Communication – perceptional changes
 Impact of Media Culture and Language on
Religion

15. Communication
Religion Society
Updated issues: Representation of the other in the Religious
Narratives
Representation of Religion in the Media
Fundamentalist Approaches in Religious Communication
Media’s Impact on Religious believers
Neo-virtual religious Communities and their networking
communication
Time =history
Space =culture
Faith,
Narrative,
behavior
Content,
medium,
communicator

16. Communication and Theology
Learning from Communication in doing
theology (Soukup)
Use of communication (Horsefield)
Ethics and advocacy in communication
(Clifford Christians)
Christian attitude towards
Communication (William Fore)
Communicative Theology (Eilers)
Theology of Communication (Rahner)

17. Theologizing as Communication and
Communication as Theological Praxis
Theology as Trialogue between God, believer
and faith community - Theologizing is a continuous and
renewed process of interpretation, systematic reflection,
articulation and praxis after encountering a God who
communicates himself with humans and their world.
Faith communication as response to God’s
communication – discovering God’s presence in human
contact, relationship and understanding which is guided by
Faith narratives.
Church and community on the model of
Trinitarian concept of God – It is prophetic, nourishes
culture and build community
Palakeel

18. Old Testament/
New Testament
Interdisciplinary Researches
Theology/Ethics
Rhetoric of Paul
/Discourse
analysis of
wisdom Literature
Biblical themes in
Films/Visual
Hermeneutics –
Passion of Christ?
Ministry – Christian
Education, Homiletics,
Counseling and Worship
Communitarian
values/Role of
Aesthetics
Religion
Mission/
History
Stereotypical
representation,
inter-religious
Intercultural
/ tract/radio
mission
Gender
Studies
Women
in ads
CE text
analysis, online
counseling,
visual worship
Ramayana
in TV and
Hindutva

19. Possible Researches in
Media and theology
• Tele-evangelists and people’s faith
• Virtual Church and theology of body of
Christ
• Relationship in SMS and Kingdom Values
• Breakdowns in Call Centers and Pastoral
Counseling
• Shaping faith through Ads
• Puppet for Human rights advocacy
• Newspapers and end of Print culture…

20. Growing Dialogue between
Theology and Communication
 Linguistic Analogue –
Communication is connected to verbal process
– Religious discourse, narrative, stories,
symbols and signs…
 Aesthetic Analogue –
Communication as art and thus the
representation of emotions, forms and
transcendental truth – artistic expression as
theological reflection
 Cultural Analogue – Communication
as a Cultural process – making historical or
psychological effect

21. Continued…
 Dialogical Analogue – Communication
as a face to face communication at community level
through dialogue- group media – divine human
communication
 Broadcast Analogue – technological
sense, sender-receiver model
 Theological Analogue –
communicative language within theological learning
and practice