Research on mediated suffering within social sciences: Expert views on identifying a disciplinary home and research agenda

摘要

Drawing on elite interviews with twelve leading scholars, this study attempts to answer questions about the disciplinary home and scope of research on media and suffering by positioning it at the heart of social sciences and humanities as well as at the crossroads of different disciplines. This overall open view is reflected in discussions on the current and future scope of the research. Regarding future directions, empirical audience research is high on the academic agenda as are studies that look into the role of new media with regard to suffering. Other widely shared comments referred to a further opening up of the research in terms of methodological and disciplinary approaches.