Pandemic as boundary condition in service to communication theory building. Issue 3 (3rd July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Holbert, R. Lance; Baik, Elizabeth S.; Tallapragada, Meghnaa; Hardy, Bruce W.; Tolan, Colleen M.; LaMarre, Heather L.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the International Communication Association. Volume 46:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 231
• Page End: 246
• Publication Date: 2022-07-03
• Subjects: Theory building -- boundary condition -- pandemic -- moderation; Communication -- Periodicals; 302.205
• DOI: 10.1080/23808985.2022.2108878
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2380-8985

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The coronavirus pandemic is a unique context that can allow researchers to address boundary conditions. This essay details four different types of boundary conditions and emphasizes they are not created equal. A review of pandemic-related research published in nine communication journals reveals a relative dearth of studies exploring moderation-based effects, with even fewer of the proposed conditional relationships stemming from pandemic-driven rationales. A series of pandemic-as-boundary condition arguments are offered for three theories or models used within the field's extant pandemic-related research. The proposed insights offered by a pandemic-as-boundary-condition approach are shown to be unique accompaniments to the field's dominant research agendas. The essay closes with a call for a more systematic approach to identifying, testing, and assessing boundary conditions .