Children Are in Families Too! The Presence of Children in Communication Research

Michelle Miller-Day, Annie Pezalla, Ryan Chesnut

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Based on an analysis of top communication journals, this study examines the presence of children in communication research. A content analysis of articles reporting on youth under the age of 18 revealed the extent to which children have been represented in communication research from 1997-2010, as well as the methodologies, topical areas, and theories guiding communication research on children. Results indicate that only 3.7% of all published articles in leading communication journals focused on children, a number far less than the 10% speculated in previous research. This article uncovers a vast array of theories employed in studies of children, with social cognitive/learning theory being the most common and survey methods the most common tool for collecting information. Implications of this underrepresentation of children are discussed for the future of communication scholarship, particularly family communication.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)150-165
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Family Communication
Volume13
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Social Psychology
  • Communication

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