History and Present Patterns of Media and Communication Research Orientation in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14037483Keywords:
Research Orientation, Paradigm, Media and Communication Research, HistoryAbstract
The researcher traced the historical precedents that shape media and communication
scholars’ adherence to a research orientation. Questionnaire and in-depth interview
guides were administered to Nigerian media and communication scholars through mail,
WhatsApp and face-to-face methods. It was found that Nigerian media and
communication research has transitioned between three paradigms:
interpretivism/critical, empiricism and pragmatism. Factors such as prioritising craft over
research at the beginning, American influence and domiciliation of mass communication
departments under the faculty of arts contributed a lot to the patterns of research
orientation in Nigeria. The findings showed that quantitative research is dominant while
qualitative research, either as a mono-method or mixed-method is gaining ground.