Research
The Department of Communication produces cutting-edge, collaborative research that upholds the highest standards of rigor and ethics. Our work uses innovative methods to advance understanding of communication processes, effects, and inequalities, as well as the transformative role of media and technology.
Our faculty are renowned experts and exceptional educators, teaching courses on specialized topics and advanced research methods. They mentor and train our graduate students and provide undergraduate researchers with valuable hands-on experiences.
Impact
Communication research helps us understand how people share information and build relationships—essential aspects of everyday life. By studying how communication works, researchers can uncover strategies to resolve conflicts, strengthen relationships, and promote social change.
UConn Communication faculty are widely cited scholars who consistently publish in peer-reviewed journals—on par with top communication research departments across the U.S. They also build successful industry partnerships and secure major awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Areas of Specialty
Health Communication
Health communication analyzes how to deliver health information to individuals and populations. Research examines the most effective methods and channels across health campaigns, interpersonal interactions, and media platforms to influence health attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal communication research explores how people exchange information, ideas, and emotions in one-on-one or small-group interactions. Researchers identify patterns that can enhance communication skills, improve close-knit relationships, and effectively resolve conflicts.
Marketing
Marketing research explores the principles, strategies, and theories of communication in product and brand marketing. Researchers examine how target audiences perceive messages, providing insights for creating effective communication strategies that maximize outcomes.
Mass Communication
Mass communication research focuses on how mass media — such as television, newspapers, audio recordings, and social media — influences public opinion and behavior. Researchers examine how media influences individuals and society, as well as the importance of media literacy.
New Communication Technology
New communication technology research examines the development and impact of modern technologies on communication practices. Research focuses on how technology can reshape social interactions and affect users.
Professional Communication
Professional communication investigates how individuals and organizations exchange information in workplace and professional settings. Researchers study strategies for improving communications across channels to support effective leadership, teamwork, and organizational success.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Researchers in the Department of Communication collaborate closely with scholars across UConn. Examples include:
- College of Engineering
- Department of Anthropology
- Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
- Department of Psychological Sciences
- Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP)
- Neag School of Education