Increasing clarity where it is needed most: articulating and evaluating theoretical contributions

ABSTRACT

Improved communication clarity is needed in the presentation and critical evaluation of proposed theory advancements in the field of communication. We encourage communication scholars to be more explicit in detailing the nature of their theoretical pursuits and to utilize with greater frequency established criteria for the assessment of theory. Engaging in these practices will foster more reasoned debate between scholars, produce better informed judgments concerning publication worthiness, allow weaker work to be discarded with less error, and provide an efficient means for the building of stronger, more cogent lines of research.

KEYWORDS:

• Communication science
• theory building
• theory evaluation criteria
• peer review
• theory development

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank our friend, colleague, and mentor Charlie Q. Pavitt. He has helped shape the way we approach theory and provided some much-needed granulation. For that, we are very grateful.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. The four journals utilized for our content analysis are primary outlets for the publication of quantitative, empirical research. The Chaffee and Berger (1987) criteria are offered in relation to advancements in ‘communication science’ and may not be appropriate for the assessment of communication research that does not share a similar epistemological foundation. Communication Theory is an international forum publishing high quality, original research into the theoretical development of communication from across a wide array of disciplines, such as communication studies, sociology, psychology, political science, cultural and gender studies, philosophy, linguistics, and literature. For this reason, communication theory was not included in our analysis.