Viability of state communication associations in the 21st century: A critical historical analysis.

摘要

This dissertation chronicles ten state communication association histories highlighting the achievement of each organization from its inception, offering insights relative to accomplishments and summarizing each organization's success as it pertains to organizational goals and purposes. Next, an in depth case study of the Kentucky state association is analyzed to determine the extent to which the other ten association histories are similar in terms of purpose, activity, and organizational structure. Finally, conclusions are drawn regarding strategies that state associations should implement in order to remain active, viable, and necessary in the twenty-first century.An historical critical analysis of state communication associations provides the connection, context, and roots central for determining the identity of what they were, what they are, and what they might become. An examination of historical letters, reports, and original documents brings to life the genesis of state communication associations within the broader intellectual discipline of communication and provides a context for understanding the past in order for state communication associations to better prepare for the future.The purpose of this dissertation is to ascertain the functional value of state communication associations to the communication discipline using a critical "historical analysis" which includes: (1) a general review of the history, structure, and accomplishments of several state communication associations in order to identify key functions to assess the historical value of state associations to the communication discipline (2) an in-depth critical "historical analysis" of the Kentucky state association using the key functions by which KCA has historically been instrumental to the development of the communication discipline and (3) a discussion of the implications and strategies by which state associations can continue their viability into the 21st century.In order to accomplish the intended goals, the dissertation will be organized into five chapters. Chapter one will: (1) provide an introduction to the importance of professional associations to the communication discipline, (2) establish a rationale for understanding the historical functional value of state communication associations within the communication discipline and (3) identify the specific research questions to be answered by the dissertation. Chapter two will review the literature pertinent to historical communication research, state speech education histories and other relevant state organizations. Chapter three will detail the elements of critical "historical analysis" as the primary method for examining the functional value of state communication associations to the communication discipline and outline the strategies for determining the key functions by which KCA has historically been instrumental to the development of the communication discipline. Chapter four provides the results of the analysis and is divided into two sections. Section one provides the history, structure, and accomplishments of ten state communication associations and identifies the key functions to assess the historical value of state associations to the communication discipline. Section two applies the key functions within an in-depth critical "historical analysis" of the Kentucky state association. Finally, chapter five details the implications and strategies by which state associations can continue their viability into the 21 st century.