Fifty-years of theory-driven research in HCR: prominence, progress, and opportunities

Abstract

Abstract We reviewed Human Communication Research (HCR) articles that included named theories in the: (a) abstract, (b) keywords, or (c) section headers to determine theory trends, identifying 592 instances of named theories in 447 articles. We conducted a follow-up analysis of 76 articles to illustrate how HCR researchers have contributed to theory development. Our review demonstrated systematic growth in theory use; the number of named theories in our sample doubled from the first 10 years to the last. There remains the propensity for theory shopping in the discipline with over 50% of theories in each decade cited only once. We also analyzed theory development strategies. There was evidence of theorizing that: (a) extended the range of theories and (b) explored effects. There was less theory synthesis that might provide frameworks for organizing related but distinct theories. We concluded by offering recommendations for how researchers can contribute to future theoretical development.