An Approximation in the study of Communication Research: Digital Evolution and the study of this subject in Spanish Academic Journals

Abstract

The general objective of this research is to carry out a theoretical-methodological assessment of the digital environment as an object of study in the field of communication sciences in Spain, through the analysis of articles included in specialized journals in this area. By means of the bibliometric analysis, we assess the texts published in specialized journals in this field and, among the important variables, the authors take into account the theoretical features of discourse related to this subject matter, the framework for scientific disciplines, and research categories or concepts. The methodological designs will be mentioned as regards those that evidence scientific discourse, areas of analysis, privileged research techniques, and which in specific have been used the most, as well as the predominant forms of triangulation. This new study will complete a decade of analysis of research productivity in communication at Spanish universities, which began with research projects based on communicative intra-history such as MAPCOM by designing a map of the research system on communication practices.