Editor's Focus, October 2008

Journal of Applied Communication Research - An Observation and Considerable Thanks

This issue marks the completion of my three-term as editor of the Journal of Applied Communication Research (JACR). Although a variety of research areas are represented in the past twelve issues of JACR, submissions to the journal came predominantly from three areas: family communication, health communication, and organizational communication. One could argue that the prevalence of these three areas stems from the fact that they readily avail themselves to practical applications of communication research to solving significant problems. Still, I can think of no area of communication research that lacks the capacity for using theory to solve relevant communication problems. As such, JACR should be a primary outlet for applied research in every arena of communication study.

The most pressing obstacle to conducting applied research is access. JACR requires scholars to generate a database from the actual environment that is studied. In most cases, this requirement excludes the use of college students in large introductory classes. Family communication scholars have managed to recruit participants who fit the parameters of their study. Health communication scholars have gained access to treatment facilities and public health campaigns. Organizational communication scholars have established research relationships with a variety of organizations. The challenge is for more scholars in other areas of communication research to seek such access. Doing so requires considerable time, potential frustration with IRB officials, and added difficulty in maintaining reliability. Still, the challenge is worthwhile. Every facet of communication research has the potential to solve significant social problems. JACR is now and has always been open to all areas of inquiry. My hope is that scholars from all areas will continue to expand their research by gaining access to the natural environments where the communication they study takes place.

As I suspected at the start of my term, I have gained a great deal of valuable experience as editor. Most importantly, I have gained an even greater respect for the many colleagues who have dedicated considerable time to the review process for JACR. Many of the discipline's most established scholars took time from their own research agendas to assure JACR readers that the best applied scholarship was selected and that those articles were edited to the point of maximizing their contribution to both practical applications and theory building. This dedication resulted in the publication of articles by a diverse collection of authors ranging from emerging scholars to established leaders in the communication discipline. A wide range of institutions is also represented including a significant number of international authors. To every person who served as a reviewer, I give my heart-felt thanks.