Research Practices in Comparative Communication Research: Visibility, Topical and Geographical Disparities, and their Longitudinal Patterns

Abstract

This article provides a meta-research of comparative communication science articles published in 32 communication journals between 2003 and 2021. Relying on a combination of automated and manual content analysis, we find a gradual increase in the proportion of comparative studies throughout the 19-year span, although their overall presence remains limited. Through a longitudinal lens, we dissect evolving trends in themes, methodologies, studied cases, and authorship of comparative communication research, with political communication emerging as a prominent topic. We also identify a preference for quantitative methodologies over qualitative or mixed-method approaches. Assessing the geographic patterns of cases and authorship locations, our results echo previous meta-research studies by finding that comparative research is yet another subdiscipline with a strong dominance of Western countries. Discussing these findings, we highlight the critical need for future comparative communication research to foster global representation and inclusivity.