The Handbook of Applied Communication Research
1st Edition
Published on 17. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
978-1-119-39988-9 (ISBN)
Description
An authoritative survey of different contexts, methodologies, and theories of applied communication
The field of Applied Communication Research (ACR) has made substantial progress over the past five decades in studying communication problems, and in making contributions to help solve them. Changes in society, human relationships, climate and the environment, and digital media have presented myriad contexts in which to apply communication theory. The Handbook of Applied Communication Research addresses a wide array of contemporary communication issues, their research implications in various contexts, and the challenges and opportunities for using communication to manage problems. This innovative work brings together the diverse perspectives of a team of notable international scholars from across disciplines.
The Handbook of Applied Communication Research includes discussion and analysis spread across two comprehensive volumes. Volume one introduces ACR, explores what is possible in the field, and examines theoretical perspectives, organizational communication, risk and crisis communication, and media, data, design, and technology. The second volume focuses on real-world communication topics such as health and education communication, legal, ethical, and policy issues, and volunteerism, social justice, and communication activism. Each chapter addresses a specific issue or concern, and discusses the choices faced by participants in the communication process. This important contribution to communication research:
Explores how various communication contexts are best approached
Addresses balancing scientific findings with social and cultural issues
Discusses how and to what extent media can mitigate the effects of adverse events
Features original findings from ongoing research programs and original communication models and frameworks
Presents the best available research and insights on where current research and best practices should move in the future
A major addition to the body of knowledge in the field, The Handbook of Applied Communication Research is an invaluable work for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and scholars.
The field of Applied Communication Research (ACR) has made substantial progress over the past five decades in studying communication problems, and in making contributions to help solve them. Changes in society, human relationships, climate and the environment, and digital media have presented myriad contexts in which to apply communication theory. The Handbook of Applied Communication Research addresses a wide array of contemporary communication issues, their research implications in various contexts, and the challenges and opportunities for using communication to manage problems. This innovative work brings together the diverse perspectives of a team of notable international scholars from across disciplines.
The Handbook of Applied Communication Research includes discussion and analysis spread across two comprehensive volumes. Volume one introduces ACR, explores what is possible in the field, and examines theoretical perspectives, organizational communication, risk and crisis communication, and media, data, design, and technology. The second volume focuses on real-world communication topics such as health and education communication, legal, ethical, and policy issues, and volunteerism, social justice, and communication activism. Each chapter addresses a specific issue or concern, and discusses the choices faced by participants in the communication process. This important contribution to communication research:
Explores how various communication contexts are best approached
Addresses balancing scientific findings with social and cultural issues
Discusses how and to what extent media can mitigate the effects of adverse events
Features original findings from ongoing research programs and original communication models and frameworks
Presents the best available research and insights on where current research and best practices should move in the future
A major addition to the body of knowledge in the field, The Handbook of Applied Communication Research is an invaluable work for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and scholars.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Hoboken
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-1-119-39988-9 (9781119399889)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
H. Dan O'Hair | Mary John O'Hair
The Handbook of Applied Communication Research
E-Book
04/2020
1st Edition
Wiley
€354.99
Available for download
H. Dan O'Hair | Mary John O'Hair
The Handbook of Applied Communication Research
E-Book
04/2020
1st Edition
Wiley
€354.99
Available for download
H. Dan O'Hair
Handbook of Applied Communication
Book
04/2020
1st Edition
Wiley-Blackwell
€382.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
H. Dan O'Hair, Ph.D., is Professor of Communication in the Department of Communication at the University of Kentucky. He served as the President of the National Communication Association, the world's largest and oldest professional association devoted to the study of communication. He has published over 100 research articles and scholarly chapters in organizational communication and risk and health communication and has authored and edited over twenty books.
Mary John O'Hair, Ed.D., is Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership Studies at the University of Kentucky. She previously served as Dean of the UK College of Education and Vice-Provost and K20 Center Director at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. O'Hair has authored and co-authored numerous scholarly articles, books, and book chapters in communication, educational leadership, and teacher education.
Mary John O'Hair, Ed.D., is Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership Studies at the University of Kentucky. She previously served as Dean of the UK College of Education and Vice-Provost and K20 Center Director at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. O'Hair has authored and co-authored numerous scholarly articles, books, and book chapters in communication, educational leadership, and teacher education.
Content
Volume 1
List of Contributors
The Promise of Applied Communication Research: Introduction to Volume 1
H. Dan O'Hair, Mary John O'Hair, Erin B. Hester, and Sarah Geegan
Part 1 - Theoretical Perspectives
1. Inoculation Theory as a Strategic Tool
Bobi Ivanov, Kimberly A. Parker, and Lyndsay Dillingham
2. Addressing Life Transitions of Aging: Integrating Indigenous and Communication Theory to Develop a TuakanaTeina/Peer Educator Model-
John G. Oetzel, Brendan Hokowhitu, Mary Simpson, Sophie Nock, and Rangimahora Reddy
3. Connecting Attitudes and Motivating Behavior: Vested Interest Theory
Bradley Adame
4. Comparative Analysis of Theoretical Propositions Focusing on Apologia
Michel Haigh
5. Applying Social Marketing Strategy to Social Change Campaigns
Kimberly A. Parker, Sarah Geegan, and Bobi Ivanov
6. Engaged Communication Scholarship: The Challenge to Translate Communication Research into Practice
Gary L. Kreps
7. The Role of Negative Emotions in Applied Communication Research
Elana Bessarabova, John A. Banas, and Daniel R. Bernard
Part 2 - Media, Data, Design, and Technology
8. Adventures in "Big Data" Application in Strategic Applied Communication Research, Theory, and Method
Ye Grace Ji and Don W. Stacks
9. Serious Games as Communicative Tools for Attitudinal and Behavioral Change
Jessica Wendorf Muhamad and Soyoon Kim
10. Leveraging Social Media for Applied Problems: Case Studies in Mapping Cyberspace to Realspace
Brian H. Spitzberg, Ming-Hsiang Tsou, and Chin-Te Jung
11. Exploring Applied Practices in Entertainment Marketing: How Brands Connect with Today's Modern Family
Laura H. Crosswell and Meghan S. Sanders
12. Enhancing Public Resistance to "Fake News": A Review of the Problem and Strategic Solutions
Marcus W. Mayorga, Erin B. Hester, Emily Helsel, Bobi Ivanov, Timothy L. Sellnow, Paul Slovic, William J. Burns, and Dale Frakes
13. Data Visualization for Health and Risk Communication
Fan Yang
14. Visual Communication as Knowledge Management in Design Thinking
Beth S. Rous and John B. Nash
Part 3 - Organizational Communication
15. Communication Technology and Organizational Life
Keri K. Stephens and Courtney J. Powers
16. Understanding Maxcers: Are All Opinions Equal?
William A. Donahue, Richard Spreng, and Charles Owen
17. The Intersections of Organizations, Health, and Safety: Designing Communication for High Reliability Organizations
Tyler R. Harrison, Elizabeth A. Williams, and Ashley R. Reynolds
18. Anticipatory Model of Crisis Management and Crisis Communication Center (CCC): The Need to Transfer New Knowledge to Resources
Bolanle Olaniran and Juliann Scholl
19. Communication Challenges of Volunteers
Michael W. Kramer and Laurie K. Lewis
20. Towel Cards Revisited: The Environmental Communication of Green Hotels
Finn Frandsen and Winni Johansen
Part 4 - Risk and Crisis Communication
21. Discourse of Renewal: State of the Discipline and a Vision for the Future
Andrew S. Pyle, Ryan P. Fuller, and Robert R. Ulmer
22. Visual Framing of Conflict and Terrorism in the MENA Region
Michael D. Bruce
23. Revisiting the Best Practices in Risk and Crisis Communication: A Multicase Analysis
Shari R. Veil, Kathryn E. Anthony, Timothy L. Sellnow, Nicole Staricek, Laura E. Young, and Pam Cupp
24. Evolving Coverage of Risk in the Mass and Social Media
Sharon M. Friedman and Jeannette Sutton
25. Terror Management Theory Perspectives on Applied Communication Research
Claude H. Miller and Zackary B. Massey
26. The Consequences of Risk Amplification in the Evolution of Warning Messages during Slow-Moving Crises: Hurricane Irma as a Case Study
Deborah D. Sellnow-Richmond and Timothy L. Sellnow
27. Psychological Reactance and Persuasive Message Design
Claude H. Miller, Zackary B. Massey, and Haijing Ma
Volume 2
List of Contributors
Introduction - Applied Communication Research: An Engaging Process - Introduction to Volume 2
Mary John O'Hair, H. Dan O'Hair, Sarah Geegan, and Erin Hester
Part 1 - Education and Instructional Communication
1. Effective Superintendents: Communication and Team Leadership
Lars G. Bjoerk, Tricia Browne-Ferrigno and Theodore J. Kowalski
2. Narrativity in Instructional Communication
Eero Ropo & Sari Yrjaenaeinen
3. How Data Guides Communication Within Democratic Organizational Change
Linda Atkinson, Jean L. McGregor Cate, Sharon Dean, Sharon Wilbur, Leslie A. Williams, and Scott N. Wilson
4. Communication Challenges of Creating Personalized, Learner-Centered Instruction
Erica Friis and Mary John O'Hair
5. The Power of Application in Learning Life Skills: A Case Study of a Game-Based Learning Approach
Scott N. Wilson, Leslie A. Williams, William Thompson, Elizabeth Kuehn, Jessica E. Black, Sharon Dean, Javier Elizondo, Robert Terry, and Gregg Garn
Part 2 - Legal, Ethical, and Policy Issues
6. Communication Ethics as a Foundational Construct in Applied Communication Theory, Research, and practice
Shannon A. Bowen
7. Paternity Leave: It's Time Has Finally Come in the USA, or Has It?
Scott Sellnow-Richmond and Deanna D. Sellnow
8. The Role of Popular Film in Fraternity Recruitment: Persuasive Narrative Tropes in the "Frat-Film" Genre
Alan D. DeSantis
9. Sexual Harassment, Communication, and the Bystander: Setting an Applied Agenda
Debbie S. Dougherty and Tyler A. Sorg
10. Policy Communication: Engaging Multiplicity
Heather E. Canary and Julie L. Taylor
11. Applied Deception Detection
Timothy R. Levine
Part 3 - Strategies of Hope: Volunteers, Survivors, Interventions, and Social Justice
12. Autoethnography As Applied Communication Research
Arthur P. Bochner and Tony E. Adams
13. Communication Activism for Social Justice Research
Lawrence R. Frey, Vincent Russell, and Jeanette German
14. Rawabi: A Palestinian City for the Future
Randall G. Rogan with Jack Nassar
15. Belonging in Practice: Using Communities of Practice Theory to Understand Support Groups
Kathryn E. Anthony, Carrie E. Reif-Stice, Joel O. Iverson, & Steven J. Venette
16. Design and Interactional Challenges of Informal Justice Practices in the U.S. Storytelling and Progressive Action: A Model of Engaged Scholarship
Karen Tracy
17. Storytelling and Progressive Action: A Model of Engaged Scholarship
Lynn M. Harter, Stephanie M. Pangborn, Margaret M. Quinlan, Taylor Walker, and Courtney Hook
Part 4 - Health Communication
18. Meeting the Challenges of Communication and Uncertainty in Medical Care: Tradition, Recent Trends and their Limits, and Directions for Further Developments
Austin S. Babrow
19. Obesity-Related Health Information Sharing and Receiving Between Midlife Adults and Their Adult Children and Aging Parents
Amber K. Worthington and Jon F. Nussbaum
20. New Technologies and Health Communication
Kevin B. Wright
21. The Effects of Media and Technology on Provider-Patient Interaction and Health Outcomes
Mary Anne Fitzpatrick and Moira A. Kyweluk
22. Evidence-Based Communication in Clinical, Mass Media, and Social Media Contexts to Enhance Informed Consent for Participation in Clinical Trials and Precision Medicine Initiativesp
Susan E. Morgan, Aurora Occa, Wei Peng, and Soroya J. McFarlane
23. The Communicative Ecology of End of Life Care: Respecting Wishes and Lessening Caregiver Burden
Kellie W. Smith, Jennifer Freytag, and Richard L. Street, Jr.
24. Air Pollution and Health in China
Xianlin Jin and H. Dan O'Hair
25. Converging Innovations in Health Communication and Public Health: The Vibrant Role of Social Capital
John C. Pollock, Carolina M. Borges, and Judi Puritz Cook
26. The Emerging Area of E-health Communication Research: Using Data to Enhance the Effectiveness of Health Information Systems
Gary L. Kreps
List of Contributors
The Promise of Applied Communication Research: Introduction to Volume 1
H. Dan O'Hair, Mary John O'Hair, Erin B. Hester, and Sarah Geegan
Part 1 - Theoretical Perspectives
1. Inoculation Theory as a Strategic Tool
Bobi Ivanov, Kimberly A. Parker, and Lyndsay Dillingham
2. Addressing Life Transitions of Aging: Integrating Indigenous and Communication Theory to Develop a TuakanaTeina/Peer Educator Model-
John G. Oetzel, Brendan Hokowhitu, Mary Simpson, Sophie Nock, and Rangimahora Reddy
3. Connecting Attitudes and Motivating Behavior: Vested Interest Theory
Bradley Adame
4. Comparative Analysis of Theoretical Propositions Focusing on Apologia
Michel Haigh
5. Applying Social Marketing Strategy to Social Change Campaigns
Kimberly A. Parker, Sarah Geegan, and Bobi Ivanov
6. Engaged Communication Scholarship: The Challenge to Translate Communication Research into Practice
Gary L. Kreps
7. The Role of Negative Emotions in Applied Communication Research
Elana Bessarabova, John A. Banas, and Daniel R. Bernard
Part 2 - Media, Data, Design, and Technology
8. Adventures in "Big Data" Application in Strategic Applied Communication Research, Theory, and Method
Ye Grace Ji and Don W. Stacks
9. Serious Games as Communicative Tools for Attitudinal and Behavioral Change
Jessica Wendorf Muhamad and Soyoon Kim
10. Leveraging Social Media for Applied Problems: Case Studies in Mapping Cyberspace to Realspace
Brian H. Spitzberg, Ming-Hsiang Tsou, and Chin-Te Jung
11. Exploring Applied Practices in Entertainment Marketing: How Brands Connect with Today's Modern Family
Laura H. Crosswell and Meghan S. Sanders
12. Enhancing Public Resistance to "Fake News": A Review of the Problem and Strategic Solutions
Marcus W. Mayorga, Erin B. Hester, Emily Helsel, Bobi Ivanov, Timothy L. Sellnow, Paul Slovic, William J. Burns, and Dale Frakes
13. Data Visualization for Health and Risk Communication
Fan Yang
14. Visual Communication as Knowledge Management in Design Thinking
Beth S. Rous and John B. Nash
Part 3 - Organizational Communication
15. Communication Technology and Organizational Life
Keri K. Stephens and Courtney J. Powers
16. Understanding Maxcers: Are All Opinions Equal?
William A. Donahue, Richard Spreng, and Charles Owen
17. The Intersections of Organizations, Health, and Safety: Designing Communication for High Reliability Organizations
Tyler R. Harrison, Elizabeth A. Williams, and Ashley R. Reynolds
18. Anticipatory Model of Crisis Management and Crisis Communication Center (CCC): The Need to Transfer New Knowledge to Resources
Bolanle Olaniran and Juliann Scholl
19. Communication Challenges of Volunteers
Michael W. Kramer and Laurie K. Lewis
20. Towel Cards Revisited: The Environmental Communication of Green Hotels
Finn Frandsen and Winni Johansen
Part 4 - Risk and Crisis Communication
21. Discourse of Renewal: State of the Discipline and a Vision for the Future
Andrew S. Pyle, Ryan P. Fuller, and Robert R. Ulmer
22. Visual Framing of Conflict and Terrorism in the MENA Region
Michael D. Bruce
23. Revisiting the Best Practices in Risk and Crisis Communication: A Multicase Analysis
Shari R. Veil, Kathryn E. Anthony, Timothy L. Sellnow, Nicole Staricek, Laura E. Young, and Pam Cupp
24. Evolving Coverage of Risk in the Mass and Social Media
Sharon M. Friedman and Jeannette Sutton
25. Terror Management Theory Perspectives on Applied Communication Research
Claude H. Miller and Zackary B. Massey
26. The Consequences of Risk Amplification in the Evolution of Warning Messages during Slow-Moving Crises: Hurricane Irma as a Case Study
Deborah D. Sellnow-Richmond and Timothy L. Sellnow
27. Psychological Reactance and Persuasive Message Design
Claude H. Miller, Zackary B. Massey, and Haijing Ma
Volume 2
List of Contributors
Introduction - Applied Communication Research: An Engaging Process - Introduction to Volume 2
Mary John O'Hair, H. Dan O'Hair, Sarah Geegan, and Erin Hester
Part 1 - Education and Instructional Communication
1. Effective Superintendents: Communication and Team Leadership
Lars G. Bjoerk, Tricia Browne-Ferrigno and Theodore J. Kowalski
2. Narrativity in Instructional Communication
Eero Ropo & Sari Yrjaenaeinen
3. How Data Guides Communication Within Democratic Organizational Change
Linda Atkinson, Jean L. McGregor Cate, Sharon Dean, Sharon Wilbur, Leslie A. Williams, and Scott N. Wilson
4. Communication Challenges of Creating Personalized, Learner-Centered Instruction
Erica Friis and Mary John O'Hair
5. The Power of Application in Learning Life Skills: A Case Study of a Game-Based Learning Approach
Scott N. Wilson, Leslie A. Williams, William Thompson, Elizabeth Kuehn, Jessica E. Black, Sharon Dean, Javier Elizondo, Robert Terry, and Gregg Garn
Part 2 - Legal, Ethical, and Policy Issues
6. Communication Ethics as a Foundational Construct in Applied Communication Theory, Research, and practice
Shannon A. Bowen
7. Paternity Leave: It's Time Has Finally Come in the USA, or Has It?
Scott Sellnow-Richmond and Deanna D. Sellnow
8. The Role of Popular Film in Fraternity Recruitment: Persuasive Narrative Tropes in the "Frat-Film" Genre
Alan D. DeSantis
9. Sexual Harassment, Communication, and the Bystander: Setting an Applied Agenda
Debbie S. Dougherty and Tyler A. Sorg
10. Policy Communication: Engaging Multiplicity
Heather E. Canary and Julie L. Taylor
11. Applied Deception Detection
Timothy R. Levine
Part 3 - Strategies of Hope: Volunteers, Survivors, Interventions, and Social Justice
12. Autoethnography As Applied Communication Research
Arthur P. Bochner and Tony E. Adams
13. Communication Activism for Social Justice Research
Lawrence R. Frey, Vincent Russell, and Jeanette German
14. Rawabi: A Palestinian City for the Future
Randall G. Rogan with Jack Nassar
15. Belonging in Practice: Using Communities of Practice Theory to Understand Support Groups
Kathryn E. Anthony, Carrie E. Reif-Stice, Joel O. Iverson, & Steven J. Venette
16. Design and Interactional Challenges of Informal Justice Practices in the U.S. Storytelling and Progressive Action: A Model of Engaged Scholarship
Karen Tracy
17. Storytelling and Progressive Action: A Model of Engaged Scholarship
Lynn M. Harter, Stephanie M. Pangborn, Margaret M. Quinlan, Taylor Walker, and Courtney Hook
Part 4 - Health Communication
18. Meeting the Challenges of Communication and Uncertainty in Medical Care: Tradition, Recent Trends and their Limits, and Directions for Further Developments
Austin S. Babrow
19. Obesity-Related Health Information Sharing and Receiving Between Midlife Adults and Their Adult Children and Aging Parents
Amber K. Worthington and Jon F. Nussbaum
20. New Technologies and Health Communication
Kevin B. Wright
21. The Effects of Media and Technology on Provider-Patient Interaction and Health Outcomes
Mary Anne Fitzpatrick and Moira A. Kyweluk
22. Evidence-Based Communication in Clinical, Mass Media, and Social Media Contexts to Enhance Informed Consent for Participation in Clinical Trials and Precision Medicine Initiativesp
Susan E. Morgan, Aurora Occa, Wei Peng, and Soroya J. McFarlane
23. The Communicative Ecology of End of Life Care: Respecting Wishes and Lessening Caregiver Burden
Kellie W. Smith, Jennifer Freytag, and Richard L. Street, Jr.
24. Air Pollution and Health in China
Xianlin Jin and H. Dan O'Hair
25. Converging Innovations in Health Communication and Public Health: The Vibrant Role of Social Capital
John C. Pollock, Carolina M. Borges, and Judi Puritz Cook
26. The Emerging Area of E-health Communication Research: Using Data to Enhance the Effectiveness of Health Information Systems
Gary L. Kreps