The Handbook of Communication Science

Book excerpt: In 1987, publication of the Handbook of Communication Science signaled the "coming of age" for one of the most exciting interdisciplinary fields in the social sciences. With the 2nd edition of The Handbook of Communication Science almost twenty years later, editors Charles R. Berger and David Roskos-Ewoldsen bring together again a stellar cast of communication scholars to contribute to this volume. Opening chapters address the methods of research and the history of the field. In subsequent parts, the authors examine the levels of analysis in communication (individual to macrosocial), the functions of communication (such as socialization and persuasion), and the contexts in which communication occurs (such as couples, families, organizations, and mass media).