Communication Theories Guide - LSC-North Harris

Starting Point

1. Think about your specific communication theory and the name(s) of the developer of the theory.
2. Remember during your research that many of communication theories have been borrowed or based on theories from other fields of study such as education, business, psychology, anthropology, and many more. 
3. Look up your theory in your textbook, then move on to other library sources.

Reserve Room

The Reserve Room is located on the second floor of the library, room LB210.  

Browse the communication books in the Speech cart. 

Look up your theory in the Table of Contents, or in the Index.

• A First Look at Communication Theory 
• Handbook of Interpersonal Communication  
• Engaging Theories in Interpersonal Communication  

Reference Books

Located on the third floor of the library.

Look up your theory in the Index.  (The index is usually last volume of the set.)

• Encyclopedia of Communication and Information P87.5 E53 2002
• Encyclopedia of Communication Theory REF P87.5 E496 2009
• Encyclopedia of Human Behavior, 4 vols. REF BF31 .E5 1994
• Encyclopedia of Psychology, 8 vols. REF BF31 .E52 2000
• International Encyclopedia of Communications, 4 vols. REF P87.5 .I5 1989

Search Strategy

• List possible search keywords (terms or phrases that best represent your theory).
• Initially, omit the word "theory" or "communication."  
• Possible keywords:
  • name of your theory
  • name of the theorist(s)
  • alternative name of the theory (if any)
  • related theories
  • related keywords that describe the focus of your theory
• Not enough results?
  • Try alternative or related names for your theory.
  • Instead of the name of your theory, try terms or phrases that describe the concept of your theory.
• Too many results?  
  • Add the terms "theory" or "communication" to your search string.

• Name of theory. First, omit the word theory. Then, add it only if initial search results bring up too many unrelated articles.
  • cognitive dissonance (narrow: cognitive dissonance theory)
  • social judgment (narrow: social judgment theory)
• Name of person. Use the name of the author connected with the theory.
  • Delia, Jesse
  • Sherif, Muzafer
  • McClelland, David
• Combine terms with and.
  • delia and cognitive and dissonance
  • sherif and social and judgment
  • hierarchy and needs and Maslow
  • acquired needs and mcclelland or try mcclelland and motivation
  • social information procession or try computer mediated communication

Research Databases

E-Books

Find e-books from eBook Collection.

• Developing Communication Theories
• Emerging Theories of Human Communication
• Human Communication Theory and Research: Concepts, Contexts, & Challenges
• Interpersonal Communication Research

Citation Help

1. Keep track of all of the information and sources you used during your research.
2. Ask your professor about the required citation style.
3. Consult Citation Help Guide from LSC-North Harris Library to help you construct your citations.

Each citation should answer the questions:

• Who wrote the material you are using?
• What did the author(s) entitle the piece he/she/they wrote?
• Where and when was it published (for a book, what city; for an article, which periodical)?
• If it's an article or a chapter, what pages is your source on?

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