The journal specializes in the publication of reports-style manuscripts using social scientific methods (such as quantitative data analysis). The most common type of manuscripts published are research reports, which often feature "scales, causal models, novel correlations, and immediate observations — constitute the 'nuts and bolts' of human communication..."[1]
In 2016, the journal was rated as the third-most central to the field of human communication.[2]
Since April 2019, the journal supports several of the open science initiatives sponsored by the Center for Open Science, including the use of badges on certain articles that allow readers unfettered access to research materials, sharing copies of study materials (questionnaires or stimulus materials used in experiments), as well as sharing data analysis files.[3][failed verification]
^Griffin, Darrin J; Bolkan, San; Holmgrem, Jennifer; Tutzauer, Frank (October 2015). "Central journals and authors in communication using a publication network". Scientometrics. 106 (1): 91–104. doi:10.1007/s11192-015-1774-4. S2CID14069862.
^"Open Science Badges". Center for Open Science. Center for Open Science. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
^Bolkan, San; Griffin, Darrin; Holmgren, Jennifer; Hickson III, Mark (2012). "Prolific Scholarship in Communication Studies: Five Years in Review". Communication Education. 61 (4): 380–394. doi:10.1080/03634523.2012.699080. S2CID144842729.