Discusses how the validity and reliability of business communication research can be improved by using both quantitative and qualitative methods and studying both real life and simulations. Suggests that studies should build on both American research on strategy and innovation and European research on psycholinguistics and perception. (SC)

Responds to a critique by M. Murphy in this issue (itself a critique of earlier articles). States that Murphy's arguments are at times "misguided and misdirected." Clarifies arguments in the earlier articles. Examines issues of definition and identity, methodologies, and the power that discourse and language have as media for managing…

Discusses what makes business communication research interdisciplinary and why interdisciplinary research is difficult yet desirable. Details the value of interdisciplinary concepts, methods, and perspectives. Notes how business communication research might be made interdisciplinary and points out the need for tolerance in interdisciplinary…

Responds to an article is this issue regarding the challenge of interdisciplinary research in business communication. Maintains that business communication currently has individual research projects from various perspectives rather than true interdisciplinary research. Argues that researchers simply bring their own disciplinary training to the…

Critiques three essays published in the July 1996 issue of this journal. Argues that the identity of the field of business communication should be determined by the conceptual problematic underlying its intellectual inquiry rather than by its vocabulary or instructional practices. Argues that business communication, management communication, and…

Responds to a critique in this issue of earlier articles in this journal. Explains that the project was not designed to conceptualize the study of business communication; that as researchers they cannot refrain from drawing conclusions and limiting those conclusions to the data observed; and they do not consider all research not based on…

Responds to an article in this issue regarding the challenge of interdisciplinary research. Suggests that the primary motivation for avoiding interdisciplinary research is political, not epistemological. (SR)