Annotated Bibliography
Botan, C. H., &
Taylor, M. (2004). Public relations: State of the field. Journal of
communication, 54(4), 645-661.
Public relations is
a subfield of communication, containing its own bases of theory and
research. It is a relatively new
discipline of study, but it has the potential to become one of the most
researched areas of communications. More
than other communications subdivisions, public relations has developed its own
specialized journals and information networks.
There is a misconception that public relations is only a technical area
of study. In reality, people who work in
public relations must have research skills in addition to technical skills.
Daymon, C., & Holloway, I. (2010). Qualitative
research methods in public relations
and marketing communications.
Routledge.
There are two types of research in public relations,
qualitative and quantitative. This book
focuses on qualitative research. Choosing
which qualitative tool to use is not as difficult as trying to uncover the
thought process behind research questions.
Researchers have to be willing to probe the unknown by looking at things
from different vantage points. Qualitative
research shows that relationships in communication are inseparable from their
social and historical contexts.
Grunig, J. E.
(2006). Furnishing the Edifice: Ongoing Research on Public Relations As
a Strategic Management Function. Journal of Public Relations
Research, 18(2), 151-176. Retrieved from http://tandfonline.com.
The research in this article is based
of The Excellence study. Since its
completion, more research has been conducted to assist those in the public
relations field participate in strategic decision processes. The research covers a wide variety of
topics. A major challenge for public
relations scholars is institutionalizing strategic public relations as an
accepted practice. Some organizations
are wary of public relations research, mainly because they do not truly
understand what it encompasses.
Karlberg, M.
(1996). Remembering the Public in Public Relations Research: From
Theoretical to Operational Symmetry. Journal of Public Relations
Research, 8(4), 263-278. Retrieved from http://tandfonline.com.
This article focuses on addressing the concerns to public
relations research. A two-way
symmetrical model proposed by J. Grunig and his colleague intends to make
public relations more inclusive and balanced.
For public relations research to have validity, researchers must not
exclude any parts of the population. The agenda of state and commercial
communications should not come above all else.
Research should address the needs of public communications in order to
achieve balance.
Sussmann, L. (1948).
The Personnel and Ideology of Public Relations. The
In this article, the duties of a person working in Public
Relations are detailed. One of these
duties is of course, research. Since big
businesses were the first entity to be interested in public relations, the
research begins there. Public relations
research in regards to businesses is more qualitative, because the focus is on
the outlooks of many social groups. A
more liberal mindset is ideal, especially when delving into the unknown.
Summary
Research is built upon other research, so anyone who
contributes is also potentially helping researchers in the future. It is essential in both communication and in
its subfield, public relations. Public
relations is rapidly developing to and has the opportunity to provide
information to many areas of communication as it continues to grow. The knowledge that researchers gain from
doing research shapes how they experience public relations. All in all, research in this field provides
insight to how the manipulation of communication can influence cultural
reality.
Botan, C. H., &
Taylor, M. (2004). Public relations: State of the field. Journal of
communication, 54(4), 645-661.
Daymon, C., & Holloway, I. (2010). Qualitative
research methods in public relations
and marketing communications.
Routledge.
Grunig, J. E.
(2006). Furnishing the Edifice: Ongoing Research on Public Relations As
a Strategic Management Function. Journal of Public Relations
Research, 18(2), 151-176.
Retrieved from http://tandfonline.com.
Karlberg, M.
(1996). Remembering the Public in Public Relations Research: From
Theoretical to Operational Symmetry. Journal of Public Relations
Research, 8(4), 263-278.
Retrieved from http://tandfonline.com.
Sussmann, L. (1948).
The Personnel and Ideology of Public Relations. The
