Communication Policy Research: Theoretical and Methodological Challenges

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1 IPMZ Institute of Mass Communication and Media Research Communication Policy Research: Theoretical and Methodological Challenges Dr. Manuel Puppis Invited Lecture at the Graduate Colloquium, College of Communications, Pennsylvania State University State College, PA / February 2, 2011

2 Communication Policy Research: Tradition and State of the Art based on: Just, N. & Puppis, M. (2011): Communication Policy Research: Looking Back, Moving Forward. In: Just, N. & Puppis, M. (Eds.): Communication Policy Research. New Theories, New Methods, New Subjects. (ECREA Book Series.) Bristol/Chicago: intellect (forthcoming)

3 Overview of the Field meaningful area of research but - communication policy issues are low profile (Havick 1983) - communication policy and communication policy research (CPR) regarded with suspicion (McQuail 1994) multidisciplinary field that is a widely disparate body of work about whose dimensions there is relatively little agreement (Rowland 1984) emergence often dated around the 1970s (Pool 1974) definition of CPR (Laswell 1970; Harms 1980) - research about communication policy; and - research that informs communication policy-making Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 3

4 From Self-Consciousness to Self-Confidence looking back: highly self-conscious field of research - history of debate about lacking influence in theory development and communication policy-making - good reasons to be more self-confident moving forward: how to be of relevance - choose topical subjects - advance theoretical and methodological foundations Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 4

5 Moving Forward (I): Topical Subjects necessary to choose subjects that are of societal relevance existing research (Reinard/Ortiz 2005; Galperin 2004; Streeter 1990) - often focuses on regulatory details and specific policies - sometimes looses sight of broader structures and of the policymaking process tasks for future research - keeping pace with convergence - consider tensions between national, regional and global levels - focus on political processes and the actors involved Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 5

6 Moving Forward (II): Theoretical Foundations most of communication policy research is problem-driven (Reinard/Ortiz 2005; Rowland 1984; Mosco/Rideout 1997) - high degree of technical expertise - but more descriptive than theoretically grounded, thus limited to ad-hoc explanations conceptual work needed that connects communication with social and political theory (McQuail 1994) - interest, institutions and ideas in regulation - media governance Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 6

7 Moving Forward (III): Methodological Skills methodological approaches seldom explicated - there is plenty of empirical work, including comparisons - yet neither disclosed nor critically discussed more thorough engagement necessary - what does comparing mean? - scrutinizing and advancing qualitative document analysis and interviews Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 7

8 Theories: The Concept of Media Governance based on: Puppis, M. (2010): Media Governance: A New Concept for the Analysis of Media Policy and Regulation. In: Communication, Culture & Critique, 3(2),

9 Origins of Governance economics new institutional economics corporate governance political science global governance multilevel governance democratic governance new governance politics good governance Governance Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 9

10 Label (I): Narrow vs. Broad Definitions new polities, politics and policies traditional statutory regulation narrow definitions: governance vs. government broad definitions: governance includes government Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 10

11 vertical extension Label (II): Horizontal and Vertical Extension Global level Governance Regional level Government Statutory Regulation Co-Regulation Self-Regulation horizontal extension Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 11

12 Dual Meaning of Governance label for (new and old) regulation: media governance refers to the regulatory structure as a whole, i.e. the entirety of forms of rules that aim to organize media systems analytical concept: new way of describing, explaining and criticizing the entirety of forms of rules that aim to organize media systems - integrated view on rules - theoretically open Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 12

13 level of rule formulation and implementation Analytical Concept (I): Integrated View scope of rules societal/ industry-specific organization-specific outside organization statutory, co- and selfregulation of the media statutory or self-regulatory framework of self-organization Collective Media Governance inside organization self-organization (internal rules and control mechanisms) Organizational Media Governance Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 13

14 Analytical Concept (II): New Institutionalism new institutionalism helps in analyzing influence of regulatory structure on media three pillars of institutions (Scott 2001) - cultural-cognitive pillar - normative pillar - regulative pillar Institutional Requirements Regulatory Structures Media Organizations Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 14

15 Analytical Concept (III): New Institutionalism regulation has punitive, normative and cultural-cognitive quality strategic responses of organizations: acquiescence, compromise, avoidance, defiance, manipulation (Oliver 1991) organizations do not respond to all pillars in the same ways Institutional Requirements Regulatory Structures Media Organizations Organizational Responses Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 15

16 Methods: Comparing Media Policy and Regulation based on: Puppis, M. & d Haenens, L. (2011): Media Policy, Regulation and Governance. In: Esser, F. & Hanitzsch, T. (Eds.): Handbook of Comparative Communication Research. (ICA Handbook Series.) London: Routledge (forthcoming).

17 Benefits & Pitfalls of Comparative Research + general: revealing patterns; advancing theories specific: identifying best-practice models and pointing at possible solutions general: lack of theory-driven research; mostly descriptive specific: documents unavailable/outdated; documents vs. regulatory reality; different institutional environments Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 17

18 Defining Comparative Research (I) comparing means to relate at least two units of analysis to each other and to look for similarities and/or differences beyond nation-states: not only nation-states but also subnational units as well as world regions beyond systems: not only macro- but also meso-societal level of analysis beyond space: not only cross-space but also cross-time comparisons Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 18

19 Defining Comparative Research (II) simple comparisons - systematic analysis of similarities and differences - developing classifications and typologies causal comparisons - hypotheses testing in order to explain similarities and differences - conventional methods: methods of agreement/difference (John Stuart Mill) - macro-qualitative comparisons, e.g. Qualitative Comparative Analysis (Charles Ragin) Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 19

20 Steps of Comparing Policy & Regulation Case Selection Identifying Dimensions Data Collection & Analysis Comparison Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 20

21 Overview of Comparative CPR (I) case studies of foreign countries handbooks nation-by-chapter reporting which leaves the making of comparisons up to the reader (Livingstone 2003) Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 21

22 Overview of Comparative CPR (II) genuine comparisons - regulation in Europe/North America - regulation in other world regions - self- and co-regulation - public service broadcasting Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 22

23 Overview of Comparative CPR (III) mostly interested in instruments and measures of media regulation, often looking for successful models and best practices mostly focused on broadcasting mostly descriptive comparisons with the aim of developing typologies and classifications mostly comparing (Western) European countries Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 23

24 Challenges for Future Comparative CPR advancing the craft of comparing - theory-driven approach is essential (selection of cases; identification of dimensions) - adopt macro-qualitative methods (e.g. QCA) moving beyond the North Atlantic zone analyzing neglected and novel subjects - self- and co-regulation - internal governance and regulatory organizations - internet and convergence - politics (actors, interests, power) Dr. phil. Manuel Puppis (IPMZ/University of Zurich) 24