Research Guides @ Fordham: Communication & Media Studies: Beginning Research

Communication & Media Studies Research

This guide provides an overview of resources at Fordham University Libraries and beyond for the following programs of study:

Communication and Culture
Film and Television
Digital Technologies and Emerging Media
Journalism
Public Media
New Media & Digital Design

This page offers tips, guiding questions, and reference sources available through the library. Reference sources can provide authoritative background or summary information that will become helpful as you generate a research question, select keywords, and search for primary & secondary sources.

Areas of Focus

Communication & Media Studies focuses on the theories and techniques used to convey meaning to others. Identifying your area of focus helps generate keywords that help determine a direction when researching. Examples might include:

film, television, radio
journalism, news, mass media
legal, ethical, and political aspects
advertising & marketing
public relations, public opinion, propaganda
communications technology and digital design
semiotics & graphic design
video games
digital media & internet studies
linguistics, language
social aspects of communication
political aspects of communication
psychological aspects of communication

Reference Databases

Oxford Bibliographies Online This link opens in a new window
Offers researchers annotated bibliographies by top scholars on a variety of topics under Cinema & Media Studies and Communication. Citations are linked to full text resources when available.
Credo Reference - Academic Core This link opens in a new window
Full text of hundreds of reference books including encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and handbooks.
Gale Ebooks (formerly Gale Virtual Reference Library) This link opens in a new window
Online access to encyclopedias, reference works, and other ebooks covering a wide range of topics.
Oxford Reference Premium This link opens in a new window
Over 300 dictionaries, encyclopedias and subject reference books published by Oxford University Press. Limited to 5 Simultaneous Users.

Guiding Questions

Use the following questions as a guide to help chart a direction and select resources for your research:

What medium/mode of communication will you research? (e.g. film, journalism, blogs, television, gaming, social media, etc.)
Is the focus of your research historical or modern?
What theories and/or philosophies pertain to your research?
Should you consider nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, religion, or affiliation?
Are there legal, political, or ethical considerations?
Are there technical, economic, or industry related considerations?
How much and what type of information are you looking for? (e.g. scholarly articles, popular articles, books, images, data, images, video, sound recordings, etc.)