Steven Chaffee and the future of political communication research

This article discusses four basic characteristics of Steven Chaffee's resea rch: going beyond the "common research wisdom," careful explication of conc epts avoiding unsubstantiated charges against the media, and investigation of the social aspects of communication. The evolution of political socializ ation research is used as an example of how these characteristics have stre ngthened Chaffee's contribution to that area and to the larger field of pol itical communication. It is argued that the future of this field would bene fit from emulation of these characteristics. Continuing problems of politic al communication research are noted, and various emerging problems are disc ussed.