As a consequence of the rapid diffusion of online media, the conditions for political communication, and research concerning it have radically changed. Is empirical communication research capable of consistently describing and explaining the changes in political communication in the online world both from a theoretical and methodological perspective? In this book, Gerhard Vowe, Philipp Henn, and a group of leading international experts in the field of communication studies guide the reader through the complexities of political communication, and evaluate whether and to what extent existing theoretical approaches and research designs are relevant to the online world. In the first part of the book, nine chapters offer researchers the opportunity to test the basic assumptions of prominent theories in the field, to specify them in terms of the conditions of political communication in the online world and to modify them in view of the systematically gained experiences. The second methodological section tests the variations of content analysis, surveys, expert interviews and network analyses in an online environment and documents how successful these methods of empirical analysis have proven to be in political communication. Written accessibly and contributing to key debates on political communication, this bookshelf essential presents an indispensable account of the necessary tools needed to allow researchers decide which approach and method is better suited to answer their online problem.

As a consequence of the rapid diffusion of online media, the conditions for political communication, and research concerning it have radically changed. Is empirical communication research capable of consistently describing and explaining the changes in political communication in the online world both from a theoretical and methodological perspective? In this book, Gerhard Vowe, Philipp Henn, and a group of leading international experts in the field of communication studies guide the reader through the complexities of political communication, and evaluate whether and to what extent existing theoretical approaches and research designs are relevant to the online world. In the first part of the book, nine chapters offer researchers the opportunity to test the basic assumptions of prominent theories in the field, to specify them in terms of the conditions of political communication in the online world and to modify them in view of the systematically gained experiences. The second methodological section tests the variations of content analysis, surveys, expert interviews and network analyses in an online environment and documents how successful these methods of empirical analysis have proven to be in political communication. Written accessibly and contributing to key debates on political communication, this bookshelf essential presents an indispensable account of the necessary tools needed to allow researchers decide which approach and method is better suited to answer their online problem.

Ein Ende der offentlichen Diskussion uber das Verhaltnis von Medien und Gewalt ist nicht abzusehen. Taglich werden uns neue Falle prasentiert, bei denen gewalttatiges Handeln auf mediale Gewalt, z. B. auf Fernsehserien oder Musiktexte, zuruckgefuhrt wird. Die Zahl der "Bildschirmtoten" dient als mediengerechte Erklarung fur Verrohung und Anstieg der Kriminalitat. Mehr oder weniger seriose Experten bieten konkurrierende Theorien an, wie Gewaltdarstellungen auf Gewalthandeln wirken. In diesem Sammelband werden die Aufgeregtheiten und Kurzschlusse der aktuellen Diskussion vermieden und statt dessen von Experten aus verschiedenen Disziplinen solide Fakten, plausible Erklarungen und diskursfahige Bewertungen prasentiert. Ziel ist es, jenseits von Allmachts- und Ohnmachtsthesen eine differenzierte Antwort auf die Frage nach der Wirkung von Medien zu finden.
"(...) Der Sammelband vermittelt einen guten Einblick in die gegenwartige Diskussion (...)."
Das Parlament 51/96
"(...) Eine ruhmliche Ausnahme in einer schrillen und aufgeregten Debatte."
'Redaktion 1997'. Almanach fur Journalisten"

" (...) Ohne Zweifel wird ein rundrum tiefschurfendes, auch zum Selbststudium geeignetes Lehrbuch angeboten, das dem Adressatenkreis uber den Berufsalltag hinaus horizonterweiternde Sichtweisen und problematisierende Denkhilfen nahebringt."Das Parlament 9/95"