Together with colleagues, Ahrabhi Kathirgamalingam has published a meta-research article on comparative communication science, analyzing studies published between 2003 and 2021 in 32 communication journals.
Abstract
This article provides a meta-research of comparative communication science articles published in 32 communication journals between 2003 and 2021. Relying on a combination of automated and manual content analysis, we find a gradual increase in the proportion of comparative studies throughout the 19-year span, although their overall presence remains limited. Through a longitudinal lens, we dissect evolving trends in themes, methodologies, studied cases, and authorship of comparative communication research, with political communication emerging as a prominent topic. We also identify a preference for quantitative methodologies over qualitative or mixed-method approaches. Assessing the geographic patterns of cases and authorship locations, our results echo previous meta-research studies by finding that comparative research is yet another subdiscipline with a strong dominance of Western countries. Discussing these findings, we highlight the critical need for future comparative communication research to foster global representation and inclusivity.
The article was published in the International Journal of Communication and can be accessed here:
Lind, F., Song, H., Boomgaarden, H., Kathirgamalingam, A., Syed Ali, K., & Vliegenthart, R. (2025). Research Practices in Comparative Communication Research: Visibility, Topical and Geographical Disparities, and their Longitudinal Patterns. International Journal of Communication, 19, 26. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/23510