Research

Guides & Tutorials

Research Guides by Subject:

 

Communication Studies

Getting Started

Which information sources will help you find what you need?

If you are looking for:Try looking in:
Defintions of TermsSpecialized Dictionaries
Glossaries in Textbooks
Background/Introductory informationSpecialized Encyclopedias
Books
Handbooks
In-depth coverage of a topicBooks
Reports
Results of current research and study on a topicScholarly Journal Articles
Reports
Dissertations
Statistics relating to a topicReports produced by government and private organizations
Instructions on how to do or make somethingManuals
Patents
Speech transcripts/audio/video
Historic advertisements		Library/Museum/Private Collections and their Publications
News of current eventsNews Articles and Reports
Biographical informationBiographies
Encyclopedia Entries
List of additional sourcesBibliographies
References at the end of Scholarly Journal Articles, Reports, Books, Dissertations, and Encyclopedia Entries

Reference Materials

Communication StudiesMedia/TelevisionTheaterPeopleTechnology/ProductionOther

This is just a selected list. Check IUCAT for more options. Keep in mind that you can search for a topic and add the terms Handbooks, manuals, etc.; Dictionaries; Encyclopedias; or Bibliography to your search. If you need to find an e-book, you can also add the keywords electronic resource. For help with searching IUCAT, please see Books/DVDs/CDs/Videos or Reference Help.

Communication Studies

  • Dictionary of media and communication studies / James Watson and Anne Hill
    Detailed explanations of terms in media and communication studies. Some entries include examples, historical context, and opinions of the authors. P87.5 .W38 2003 in Reference
  • A guide to publishing in scholarly communication journals
    2004 / Mark L. Knapp and John A. Daly. Includes background information on the publishing process and advice from editors of scholarly Communication journals
  • The nonverbal dictionary of gestures, signs & body language cues
    2006 / David B. Givens. Includes definitions, diagrams, usage, and references to related research reports
  • Style manual for communication studies / John Bourhis ... [et al.]
    Includes information on locating and evaluating sources and guidelines on composing speech outlines, annotated bibliographies, research critiques, literature reviews and research reports. Also includes condensed APA and MLA style guides. P96.A68 S89 2002 in Reference

Media/Television

  • Dictionary of media literacy / Art Silverblatt and Ellen M. Enright Eliceiri
    Detailed entries on media concepts, issues and international developments, as well as organizations and people in the field P91.3 .S527 1997 in Reference
  • Encyclopedia of television / Museum of Broadcast Communications ; Horace Newcomb, editor
    Signed entries on television topics, biographies and information on specific shows including cast and producers lists along with programming history. The emphasis is on US, Canadian and British television, but overviews of television in other countries are also given. Includes bibliographical references. PN1992.18 .E53 2004 v.1-4 in Reference Also available electronically through netLibrary
  • Encyclopedia of television news 1999 / edited by Michael D. Murray
    Includes biographies and covers programs and issues relating to broadcast journalism
  • The encyclopedia of 20th-century American television / Ron Lackmann
    Includes appendixes with top rated shows from 1952-1999 and Emmy awards from 1948-1999. PN1992.18 .L33 2003 in Reference
  • History of the mass media in the United States: an encyclopedia / edited by Margaret A. Blanchard
    Covers the years 1690-1990 for topics in mass media. Contains few biographies. Entries are signed and include suggestions for further reading. P92.U5 H55 1998 in Reference
  • International dictionary of broadcasting and film / Desi K. Bognár
    Brief definitions of terms along with the meanings of many acronyms PN1990.4 .B64 2000 in Reference Also available electronically through netLibrary
  • The media in Europe : the Euromedia Research Group 2004 / edited by Mary Kelly, Gianpietro Mazzoleni, Denis McQuail
    National profiles of 23 European countries covering the history, structure and ownership of the media along with political and legal aspects, statistics, and bibliographical references
  • Webster's New World dictionary of media and communications / Richard Weiner
    Covers advertising, publishing, broadcasting, journalism, marketing, public relations, film, television, and graphic arts P87.5 .W45 1996 in Reference
  • Women and American television: an encyclopedia / Denise Lowe
    Entries on shows featuring female characters in lead roles, women working in television, and related topics. Also includes lists of directors, writers, Emmy winners, and a bibliography. PN1992.8.W65 L69 1999 in Reference

Theater

  • Asian American Drama
    A database of Asian American plays, biographies, and related production and theatrical information
  • Black Drama
    A database of more than 500 previously unpublished plays from the mid eighteen hundreds to the present. Includes biographical data and related images and documents.
  • International dictionary of theatre / editor, Mark Hawkins-Dady; picture editor, Leanda Shrimpton
    Includes descriptions and bibliographies of criticism for plays; biographies, descriptions and lists of works, and criticism for playwrights; biographies, descriptions of works, and credits for actors, directors and designers. PN2035 .I49 1992 v.1-3 in Reference
  • MagillOnLiterature (Online Edition of MasterPlots Complete - one of the EbscoHost databases)
    Includes brief plot summaries and reviews
  • North American Women's Drama
    Plays, some previously unpublished, by North American Women along with related information
  • The Oxford companion to American theatre 2004 / Gerald Bordman, Thomas S. Hischak.
    Concise encyclopedic entries on plays, theatrical organizations and concepts, and people associated with the theatre
  • The Oxford encyclopedia of theatre & performance / edited by Dennis Kennedy
    Includes entries on theatrical centers worldwide along with short biographies PN2035 .O94 2003 v. 1-2 in Reference
  • StoryFinder
    Includes plays and speeches along with poems, short stories, and essays.
  • The World encyclopedia of contemporary theatre / editor: Don Rubin
    Signed entries for each country with coverage including background information, artictis profiles, music, dance, youth, and puppet theatre, training, design and criticism. Also includes bibliographical references. PN1861.W67 1994 v. 1-6 in Reference

People

  • African Americans in the performing arts / Steven Otfinoski
    Biographical entries along with suggestions for further reading, viewing, listening. PN2286 .O88 2003 in Reference
  • A to Z of American women in the performing arts / Liz Sonneborn
    Biographical entries. PN2286.8 .S66 2002 in Reference
  • Biography Resource Center (one of the Gale databases - scroll down to find link) Includes biographies from hundreds of biographical periodicals

Technology/Production

Other

  • Dictionary of quotations in communications / compiled by Lilless McPherson Shilling and Linda K. Fuller
    Short quotations on a variety of topics related to communication and media P90 .D488 1997 in Reference
  • Encyclopedia of social and cultural anthropology 1998 / edited by Alan Barnard, Jonathan Spencer
    Signed entries covering anthropological concepts, methods, and history along with suggestions for further reading
  • Gale Virtual Reference Library (one of the Gale databases)
    Includes a range of specialized encyclopedias which can be searched individually or simultaneously for communication topics

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Finding Books

(and DVDs, CDs, and Videos)

Library Catalogs
What is available & where is it?		Subject Searching
Some tips on subject searching		Locating/Viewing
After finding the IUCAT record
or if you just want to browse

Library Catalogs

Library catalogs have been created to help you find out what a library has in its collection and where these items are located. IUCAT and WorldCat are two libraries catalogs that will be helpful to you.

IUCAT

IUCAT can be used to find out what is available in all of the Indiana University Libraries.

This catalog is open to the public, but as an IU student, staff or faculty member you have special privileges. For example, if you live near any of the Indiana University Libraries, you will want to log in so that you can use Request Delivery to request that books not available at your local IU campus library be delivered to the campus library of your choice.

Options for learning to use IUCAT features:

WorldCat

OCLC's WorldCat can be used to find out what is available in many public and university libraries in this country and in some other countries.

If you find a book, CD, DVD, or video in WorldCat that is not available through the Indiana University libraries, you can make an Interlibrary Loan request for the item. Keep in mind that it will usually take at least 7-10 days for the item to come in and these items must be picked up and returned to IUPUI University Library if you are an IUPUI student, staff or faculty member. If you are not able to pick up items at IUPUI, please make an Interlibrary Loan request through your local public library instead of through University Library.

Options for learning to use WorldCat features:

Some general search tips:

If you are searching by keyword or subject heading:

  • Before you start entering any search terms, spend a few minutes trying to think of as many relevant terms and combinations as you can. This will help you to avoid getting stuck in a rut with the first terms that come to mind.

If you are searching by title:

  • Leave out the first word of the title if it is a common article such as "the" or "an"
  • If you are searching in WorldCat, do not include punctuation such as a ":"

Learn at least a few of the search features

  • The most common one is Boolean searching:
    • using AND between terms to narrow the results to items containing both (or all) of the search terms
    • using OR between terms to expand the results to include items containing any one of the search terms

Subject Searching

Searching library catalogs by Subject Heading, rather than by Keyword, can help to target your search. The catalog records for most of the books and other items in IUCAT and WorldCat include Subject Headings that come from a list defined by the Library of Congress. This can be helpful because it narrows down the options for useful search terms, but you need to know the approved Subject Headings in order to take advantage of this system.

Options for finding/using applicable Library of Congress Subject Headings:

  • Most library Reference departments will have a copy of the "Red Books" containing the Library of Congress Subject Headings
  • WorldCat has a feature that allows searching for subject headings.
    • Go to the Advance Search screen and click on the button.
    • Or see the Flash tutorial on using this feature.
  • When you do run across a catalog record for a book that is relevant to your topic, both IUCAT and WorldCat allow you to click on the hyperlinked subject headings to find more books on that topic.
  • This Word document shows a list of some Subject Headings relevant to Communication Studies topics.

Locating/Viewing

When you want to view an e-book:

Click on the link in the IUCAT record. For a demonstration, see the Viewing e-books Tutorial or ask for Reference Help.

When you want to find an item on the Library shelves:

University Library and many other academic libraries use the Library of Congress Classification System and Call Numbers, not the Dewey Decimal System that you may have seen at your local public library.

At the bottom of an IUCAT record, you will see the call number and basic location for the item as shown in this example:

Indpls - IUPUI University Library (I-UNIVLIB)Location
P90 .G354 2006 (this is the call number)1) Stacks

If the location for an item in the University Library collection says "Stacks" the item will be on the:

  • 3rd floor shelves if the call number starts with the letters A-N
  • 4th floor shelves if the call number starts with the letters P-Z

Reference materials, Current Periodicals, Microforms, and Government Documents are all in the Reference Room on the 2nd floor.

IUPUI's Philanthropic Studies Library is on the 2nd floor.

DVDs are kept behind the Circulation desk on the 2nd floor.

Special Collections are on the Lower Level

Library Maps

If you want to browse the shelves of University Library (or another academic library):

The following list will give you an idea of the ranges of call numbers associated with topics in or related to Communication Studies.

P87-96Communication, Mass media
P94.7Interpersonal Communication
P95-95.6Oral communication, Speech
P99-99.4Semiotics, Signs and symbols
P99.5-99.6Nonverbal communication
P301-301.5Style, Composition, Rhetoric
P302-302.87Discourse analysis
PN980-995Fables
PN1560-1590The performing arts, Show business
PN1600-3307Drama
PN1720-1861Drama - History
PN1990-1992.92Broadcasting
PN2000-3307Dramatic representation, The theater
PN4001-4355Oratory, Elocution, etc.
BF636-637Applied psychology
HD58.7-58.95Organizational behavior, change and effectiveness, Corporate culture
HD59-59.6Public relations, Industrial publicity
HD66-66.2Work groups, Team work in industry
HE8689-8700.95Radio and television broadcasting
HM621-656Culture
HM711-806Groups and organizations
HM1041-1101Social perception (including perception of self and others)
HM1106-1171Interpersonal relations, Social behavior
HM1176-1281Social influence, Social pressure
HQ503-1064The family, Marriage, Home
GR1-950Folklore
GT1-7070Manners and customs
JZ5-6540International relations
R5-130.5Medicine - General works
RA421-790.95Public health
T10.5-11.9Communication of technical information

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Finding Articles

(and Reports, Book Chapters, etc.)

Scholarly/Popular
What are the Differences?		Searching Databases
Background/Search Tips		Suggested Databases
for Communication Studies		Access
Print/Locate/Borrow
if you know it exists

Scholarly / Popular

How can you tell the difference between and scholarly and popular periodicals? The table shown below lists some differences between scholarly and popular sources.

ScholarlyPopular
Geared to scholars, researchers, professionalsGeared to the general public
Long articles; in-depth coverage of research/studyShort articles summarizing research/issues
Articles include many bibliographical referencesFew, if any, bibliographical references
Few ads; few photos unless related to researchMany ads and photos
Often issued quarterlyUsually issued weekly or monthly or daily (newspapers)
Often sponsored by academic/professional group 

For examples, see the Inflite tutorial.

Searching Article Databases

Background

References for specific articles are found in article indexing Electronic Databases, which are available to you through University Library once you have logged in with your user ID and password. (Library catalogs will tell you if the library has a particular journal in its collection and will tell you which issues are in the collection, but they do not list all of the articles contained in these journals.)

Some of these databases provide only the citation information but many include the article abstract, so you can get an idea of how useful the article might be to you. Other databases even include the full text of the articles. In many cases, even if the database you are searching does not include full text (ComAbstracts is a good example), you may still be able to access the full text of the article through another University Library database. The section below on Access gives more information on accessing an article once you know it exists.

Search Tips

To find out which databases are most likely to have the kinds of articles that will be helpful to you, check the "Database Descriptions", "Title List", or other "information" or "about" options available in a particular database. (Or see the section below on Suggested Databases or the page on Public Policy Information)

Before you start entering any search terms, spend a few minutes trying to think of as many relevant terms and combinations of terms as you can. This will help you to avoid getting stuck in a rut with the first terms that come to mind.

If you need help in coming up with terms, you may want to try the databases' "Thesaurus" or "Subject Headings" features.

Check out the "Help" or "Search Tips" to learn some of the search features specific to that database. Most databases provide similar features, but the methods may vary.

Try the databases' Advanced Search feature, which usually gives you the ability to search multiple fields (author, title, keyword, subject, etc) with one search and may offer additional ways to expand or limit your search.

If your first search strategy does not work, try another approach. Remember, too, that you can ask for Reference Help.

Suggested Databases

Dedicated to Communication Studies topics:

  • ComAbstracts
    contains thousands of abstracts of articles in the scholarly Communication Studies journals. The years of coverage vary. See the brief Flash tutorial for an introduction to using ComAbstracts.
  • Communication & Mass Media Complete (one of the EbscoHost databases)
    includes abstracts and some full text for articles in hundreds of Communication, Mass Media, and related journals. Coverage years vary. For an introduction to using Communication & Mass Media Complete, see the EbscoHost Tutorials.
  • International Index to the Performing Arts
    includes abstracts and full text for journal articles covering film, theater and dance. Coverage years vary.

Covering topics related to Communication Studies:

  • ABI/INFORM
    Articles from business, finance, and economics journals and news sources. Coverage years vary.
  • PsycINFO (one of the CSA databases)
    Includes abstracts and references for journal articles, chapters, reports, books and dissertations from the international literature in psychology. Coverage years vary, but can date back to 1806.
  • Sociological Abstracts (one of the CSA databases)
    Includes abstracts and references for journal articles, chapters, books, conference papers, and dissertations from the international literature in sociology. Coverage years vary, but can date back to 1952.
  • MLA Bibliography
    Includes citations, dating back to 1963, for articles, books, and dissertations covering language, literature, the dramatic arts, and related academic disciplines

Covering a broad range of academic topics:

  • Academic Search Premier (one of the EbscoHost databases)
    Covers articles from periodicals in a wide range of academic disciplines, with some full text. Coverage years vary, but can date back to 1985.
  • Expanded Academic ASAP (one of the Gale databases)
    Includes scholarly journal articles and news articles, with some full text, from a variety of academic disciplines. Coverage years vary, but can date back to 1980.
  • JSTOR
    Full text of articles from scholarly journals, generally dating back to the first issue of the journal up to issues published 3 to 5 years ago.

Covering news and current events:

  • LexisNexis Academic
    Full text of news articles, dating back to 1979, along with legal and business information.
  • InfoTrac OneFile (one of the Gale databases)
    Covers news and periodical articles on a wide range of topics, dating back to 1980
  • Newspaper Source (one of the EbscoHost databases)
    Includes news articles, some in full text, as well as television and radio news transcripts

Access

When you find a reference for an article by using a database:

In the record for the article, if there is an icon for the PDF of the article (PDF Full Text - or something similar), click on it and the PDF of the article will open. You can then read, print, email, or save it. (If you want to print, be sure to use the Adobe printer icon or you will only get blank pages.)

If there is a choice between PDF and HTML, use the PDF because it will look like a photocopy of the article. If you need to quote something from the article, you will be able to see the correct page numbers of the quote (which you will need when citing your sources). In most cases, the HTML version will not indicate page breaks and will sometimes not include graphics.

If PDF full text is not an option in the database you are searching, there should be a linking icon such as or something similar. In ComAbstracts you will see this icon:

Check your library for fulltext access

Clicking on this icon will lead you to a menu of Access options. Please see this brief Flash tutorial if you have questions about this menu.

If the article is not available electronically or in print through University Library, or if you are a Distance Education student and the article is only available in print, you can place an Interlibrary Loan for the article. When the article comes in (which usually takes at least a week), you will receive an email explaining how to access it electronically.

When you find a reference for an article from some source other than a database:

To find out if University Library has access to an article that you have found in a bibliography or some other source, you can:

Enter the citation (reference) information into Citation Linker. This should bring you to the Access menu. Please see this brief Flash tutorial if you have questions about this method.

Or

Check the Electronic Journal List to see if the journal and issue are available electronically. If not, search IUCAT by Periodical Title for the journal and check to see if University Library has access to the journal and issue you need. If you would like to see how to check IUCAT for access to journal holdings, please see this brief Flash tutorial.

As always, if you have questions, please ask for Help.

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Finding Speeches, Ads, Clips, and Images

Speech SourcesAd SourcesAudio/Video ClipsNews/Theatre Images

Sources for Speeches

Videos, DVDs, and Audio tapes are also available in University Library. Check IUCAT. Examples include the collection of Great Speeches. For help with searching IUCAT, please see Books/DVDs/CDs/Videos or ask for Reference Help.

Presidential libraries are another good source for speeches.

Sources for Advertisements

Sources for other Audio and Video Clips

Sources for News and Theatrical Images

  • AccuNet/AP Multimedia Archive
    Associated Press photos, audio clips, graphics and text from the past 160 years. Log in through University Library to access this database
  • Black Drama
    A database of more than 500 previously unpublished plays from the mid eighteen hundreds to the present and includes related images and documents.
  • George Grantham Bain news photograph collection
    Online collection of news photographs taken primarily from 1900 to 1920
  • GloPAD
    A work in progress currently with around 4,500 records, "(Global Performing Arts Database) records include authoritative, detailed, multilingual descriptions of digital images, texts, video clips, sound recordings, and complex media objects related to the performing arts around the world, plus information about related pieces, productions, performers, and creators." (GloPAD homepage)
  • The New Deal Stage
    Selections from the Federal Theatre Project 1935-1939. Digital images of playscripts and administrative records of the FTP along with images of artifacts from the productions of Macbeth, Power, and The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.

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Finding Evidence for Your Public Policy Speech

University Library DatabasesGovernment WebsitesOther Related Websites

If you are taking R110 and need to find evidence for your Public Policy speech, you will want to try some of the sources shown below. This is not a complete list, but it should help you. If you have questions, please ask for Help.

University Library Databases

Resources covering a wide range of public policy topics:
  • CQResearcher
    In-depth reports on issues in the national news Covers pros and cons and includes extensive bibliographies
  • Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (one of the Gale databases)
    Information on opposing viewpoints of controversial topics including essays, background information, statistics, and news articles
  • PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service) (one of the CSA databases)
    Database of citations for articles, reports, and books from 120 countries covering public affairs and social policy issues
  • PolicyFile
    Contains links to documents on public policy research from a variety of organizations
Resources for specific disciplines:
  • Applied Science and Technology Full Text (one of the Wilson databases)
    Provides references for journal articles related to applied science and technology articles dating back to 1983 and includes some full text of articles back to 1997
  • Business and Company Resource Center (one of the Gale databases - scroll down to find the link)
    Business and industry information including statistics, articles, and company and industry data and overviews
  • CINAHL (one of the EbscoHost databases)
    Includes references for journal articles in the fields of nursing and allied health dating back to 1982
  • Criminal Justice Periodicals
    Database of citations and some full text articles from journals covering criminal justice topics
  • Education Full Text (one of the Wilson databases)
    Provides journal articles related to education topics dating back to 1983 and includes some full text of articles back to 1996
  • ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) Through CSA or Through EbscoHost
    Database of citations for information relating to education from elementary school through adult education Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education
  • SPORTDiscus (one of the EbscoHost databases)
    Includes references to articles and dissertations relating to sports and fitness dating back to 1800
There are many more subject specific databases available through University Library. See the list of Resource Guides to find more sources for your topic.

Government Websites

Other Related Websites

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Evaluating Sources

Some things to consider when evaluating information sources:

1.

Who is the author?
  • First of all, the author should be identified. The author can be one or more people or organizations.
Is the author credible?
  • At a minimum, in order to be considered credible, the author of the information source should have credentials and expertise, such as academic degrees and experience, relevant to the topic.
Has this information source been reviewed by experts in the field?
  • Even authors with credentials and expertise in a field may be biased or may have made a mistake in their research or writing. The most credible information sources are those that have been reviewed and accepted by a group of experts in the field.

2.

Who published this information?
  • The organization(s) that published and/or sponsored the information source should be identified.
Why was this information published?
  • The most credible information sources are those that have been published in order to present balanced, unbiased coverage of a topic or at least to present both sides of an issue.
  • The least credible sources are those that have been published in order to promote a certain point of view.
  • Check the publication for information about the organization(s) that published/sponsored the information source. This can usually be found in the front or back of a printed book or journal, or in the "About Us" or "Mission" section of a web site. You may need to look a little further to determine whether or not the organization has a hidden agenda or bias.

3.

Is the content of the information source relevant for your project or paper?
  • It should cover the specific aspects of your topic.
  • It should be up-to-date, if timeliness is critical for your topic. (Check the publication date or, for web sites, the date of the last update.)
  • It should be well thought out, well presented, and well supported with credible sources.
  • It should be unbiased. (A bias can be obvious or subtle. It can be hard to perceive a bias if you tend to agree with the arguments presented. If you are uncertain, check with an expert in the field, such as your professor.)
For more information, see:

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Citing Sources

Why is it important to cite sources?

  • To give credit to the author of your sources (avoiding plagiarism)
  • To allow your readers the opportunity to check your sources (giving your work more credibility)

What are the elements of a citation?

  • If you have questions about the parts of a citation, please see this page of the inflite Tutorial

Some sources for information on citing references:

APA style:

MLA style:

Additional resources:

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If you have any questions, comments, or would like research help, please contact Robert A. Hinton, Communication Studies Librarian.

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