Knowledge linkage structures in communication studies using citation analysis among communication journals

TL;DR

This study maps the position of communication studies within academia using citation analysis, revealing its connections to psychology and media journals, and highlighting its American-centric focus.

Contribution

It provides a citation-based mapping of communication journals, identifying their scholarly links and the field's integration with related disciplines.

Findings

Psychology journals are primary sources for communication research.

Media and advertising journals are weakly connected to communication studies.

Communication research is predominantly American in origin.

Abstract

This research analyzes a "who cites whom" matrix in terms of aggregated, journal-journal citations to determine the location of communication studies on the academic spectrum. Using the Journal of Communication as the seed journal, the 2006 data in the Journal Citation Reports are used to map communication studies. The results show that social and experimental psychology journals are the most frequently used sources of information in this field. In addition, several journals devoted to the use and effects of media and advertising are weakly integrated into the larger communication research community, whereas communication studies are dominated by American journals.