Vol. 8 No. 15 (2021): Researching Communication from Peripheral Perspectives, Theories and Methods
Coordinators: Víctor Silva Echeto (†) (Universidad de Zaragoza), José Agustín Carrillo Vera (Universidad Internacional de Valencia), Juan José Sánchez-Soriano (Universidad de Murcia), and Rebeca Escribano Guillamón (Universidad de Murcia).
Several currents of thought, objects of study and methodologies have traditionally dominated scientific studies in communication. Some examples are empirical and specifically quantitative studies, such as content analyses, or those focused on traditional media (press, television, radio, etc.). This 15 issue of Revista de la Asociación Española de Investigación de la Comunicación, which responds to the V TMIC-AEIC Murcia 2019 Conference and is promoted by the Communication Research Theories and Methods section of the AE-IC, is presented as a monographic on research that is more alien to these elements. To this end, it focuses on research into non-hegemonic perspectives that have traditionally had less voice in research circuits, whether they be conferences, research projects or scientific journals.
In recent years, communication research has undergone a process of assimilation with the natural sciences or those of a more technical nature, making their formats, methodologies, objects of study or ways of publishing their results similar. One example is the predominance of the scientific article over the book or a perspective of a quantifiable nature to the detriment of the qualitative one. The objective, among others, has been to assimilate those patterns that are considered to favour progression in the academic career, since they are associated with a positive evaluation in international journals with a high impact rate, in evaluation agencies or in courts of access to public positions. This implies the minimization of objects of study considered more local or of research of a more reflexive and theoretical nature.
Therefore, today more than ever, it is necessary to have in-depth and rigorous research that reflects on elements that have been left out, in order to break this imbalance. Otherwise, there is a risk of monopolising research in communication and presenting it in a biased and partial manner, failing to show the variety of elements that make up this scientific discipline and which are equally valuable for society and democratic progress. This is the example of research on dialogue between different religions or on racialised populations, such as research on the representation of the Roma community in the media, a population under-represented in communication studies. This is complemented by other examples, such as oriental research that does not focus on traditional American or European studies, or research techniques of a more qualitative nature, such as participant observation.
In this way, it is time to take advantage of the exponential and continuous growth that communication research has experienced in order to unite these types of approaches that have been left aside, with the objective of having a broad and powerful academic corpus that allows alignment with the meaning of this social science: to generate scientific knowledge that makes it possible to fight against inequalities and improve coexistence and well-being as individuals and societies.
In this sense, this issue deals with perspectives that are less well known in the Spanish or Latin American academic world, research that gives a voice to the "other" and that attempts to overcome Western ethnocentrism by putting European and non-European traditions into dialogue. It shows research that explores alternative methodologies, for example, oral history in countries such as Mexico, and proposes reflections on audiovisual writing or gives voice to traditionally non-hegemonic or non-dominant objects of study, such as non-profit organisations in the Third Sector of Social Action. On the other hand, qualitative metainvestigations are proposed or reflections on peripheral communication practices in the media in Spain are included, among others.
This issue, therefore, and due to its contributions, represents a look beyond traditional research that will undoubtedly be useful for future studies and to shed light on perspectives, theories and methods that have so far remained on the margins of hegemonic scientific productions.
These words were to be written together with Professor Victor Silva Echeto, to whom we pay tribute for all his personal and academic career and for the great legacy he leaves, not only in research, but also among the people who had the opportunity to know him. We dedicate this issue to his memory. Rest in peace, fellow.
