Long before there were formal organizations or mass media, there was
face-to-face interaction--the practice which comprises very core of the
study of communication. Until recently, however, research in the field
of interpersonal communication has been dominated by a behavioral
science approach closely aligned with experimental social psychology.
This timely and provocative volume critiques the limitations of past
models, exploring a range of social approaches which help bring
communication up to date. Social approaches, writes Leeds-Hurwitz,
question whether the traditional theoretical assumptions and research
methods followed in the field are still valid and appropriate. While the
roots of these approaches are diverse and interdisciplinary, they
overlap in their concern for the social construction of self, other, and
event, and in their acknowledgment of the researcher's role in
establishing not only the research questions but also the research
context. Social approaches stress the necessity of recognizing the
impact of cultural differences on communication research, and identify
the ways in which research inquiry creates meanings at the same time as
it investigates them. Most importantly, they focus on instances of
contact between individuals, the actual social transactions in which
people engage. Together they demonstrate the ability to disregard labels
in pursuit of a common goal, the construction of a more adequate
understanding of human interaction.
Robert T. Craig's Foreword describes the historical tension in
interpersonal communication between behavioral science approaches, on
the one hand, and interpretive social approaches, on the other. Parts I
and II of the volume highlight the theoretical underpinnings of social
approaches and the philosophical grounding of some of the more central
ideas. Part III elaborates on the assumptions shared by social
approaches, focusing on a series of key concepts, including the
dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative research; reflexivity;
social constructionism; and the individual. Part IV begins the task of
applying social approaches to particular research topics, including the
use of case studies, rapport in research interviews, ethnography as
theory, continuity in relationships, and the co-construction of personal
narratives. Part V examines where the various chapters lead us, making a
strong case for practical theory as the necessary next step.
A unique overview of current theoretical innovations in the study of
interpersonal communication, SOCIAL APPROACHES TO COMMUNICATION belongs
on the shelf of every professional and student in communication. It will
be especially valuable to those interested in communication theory,
interpersonal communication, and social interaction.
