Building theory in public relations: Interorganizational relationships as a public relations paradigm

ABSTRACT

This article suggests that agreement on a paradigm focus for public relations scholarship would greatly enhance the probability of productive theory development. The author argues, influenced by Thomas Kuhn, that until those who call themselves public relations scholars come to agreement on the focus of public relations research and theory development, there may be much activity we call research in public relations, but there will not be much theory development.

本文建议，就公共关系学术范式的焦点达成一致将大大提高生产理论发展的可能性。作者认为，受托马斯库恩的影响，在那些自称公共关系学者的人们就公共关系研究和理论发展的焦点达成一致之前，我们可能会有很多我们称之为公共关系研究的活动要进行，但不会有太大的理论发展。

Este documento sugiere que el acuerdo sobre un enfoque de paradigma para las becas de relaciones públicas aumentaría en gran medida la probabilidad de desarrollo de la teoría productiva. El autor argumenta, influenciado por Thomas Kuhn, que hasta aquellos que se llaman a sí mismos académicos en relaciones públicas lleguen a un acuerdo sobre el enfoque de la investigación de relaciones públicas y el desarrollo teórico, puede haber mucha actividad que llamamos investigación en relaciones públicas, pero no habrá mucho desarrollo teórico.

Notes

¹ The reference to “the past 9-plus years” uses the original manuscript’s 1984 presentation year as the anchor date.

² Although the articles are listed only in one category, I recognize the folly in doing so. If I’ve offended any of the authors by putting a particular article into a class or subclass they don’t agree with, or more likely omitting it from a cross-classification, I ask that they suspend retribution. I have no defense for my actions other than my own biases and the desire for parsimony in the presentation of these articles.

³ I have listed the data for these observations in the appendix. The interested reader will want to carefully examine these data for insight into past, present, and perhaps future trends in the field.