Table 1.2 Common Areas of Specialization in Communication Research Today
Area of Study	Focus of Study
Rhetorical theory and criticism	The analysis of speeches and other public messages
Argumentation and debate	Persuasion, reasoning, logic, and presentation
Interpersonal communication	Basic two-person (dyadic) processes
Intergroup communication	Ways in which communication within and between groups affects social relationships
Relational communication	Interpersonal communication in close relationships such as romances, families, and friendships
Small group communication	The function, dynamics, and performance of group members
Organizational communication	Communication efficiency and effectiveness in businesses and other organizations
Mass communication and media studies	The design and production of media messages and the identification and evaluation of media effects
Political communication	The study of politicians, voters, and audiences and their impact on one another
Public relations	The production of messages designed to improve the image of individuals and organizations
Intercultural communication	Communication rules and values across cultures and co-cultures
Family communication	Communication between parents and children and between generations
Health communication	The communication messages of health care providers and patients
Conflict management	The reduction of adversarial messages in personal, organizational, and community contexts
Nonverbal communication	Nonlanguage codes that communicate
Communication technology and telecommunication studies	Development and application of new technologies in all communication situations