Dear ICA Members,
We are excited to announce a Call for Papers for a Special Issue of Human Communication Research (HCR), titled:
Advancements in the Study of Causal Mechanisms across Communication Contexts
Guest Editor: R. Lance Holbert (University of Pennsylvania)
This special issue invites submissions that advance our understanding of causal mechanisms in communication research. We encourage contributions that:
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Propose or test causal mechanisms across diverse communication settings
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Introduce or refine methodological tools to examine mechanisms
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Engage critically with the conceptual, empirical, or theoretical challenges of identifying mechanisms in communication processes
We welcome a wide range of approaches and traditions that share a commitment to deepening causal explanation in communication scholarship.
Submission Process:
Authors are invited to submit an extended abstract (up to 1,000 words) by September 15, 2025.
Full submission details are available here:
🔗 https://academic.oup.com/hcr/pages/causal-mechanisms-cfp
We look forward to receiving your proposals and fostering dialogue on this foundational yet underexamined aspect of communication research.
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Winson Peng, Ph.D.
Professor of Communication, Michigan State Unviersity
Editor-in-Chief, Human Communication Research
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