Analyse bibliométrique des revues Canadian Journal of Communication et Communication 1974-2005

The aim of this study is to obtain an image of the recognizable elements of communication research visible in Canadian Journal of Communication and Communication from 1974 to 2005. This is a bibliometric analysis of the scientific papers and their bibliographies published in these journals by researchers from various Canadian Universities. Bibliometry is "the application of mathematics and statistical methods to books and other media of communication" (Pritchard, 1969). This is the first time that such analysis is attempted with this particular corpus.  We based ourselves on theoretical postulates from the sociology of science and scientific communication studies, that indicate that the scientific activity is a « continuum de création de nouvelles connaissances » (Vassallo, 1999), where the organisation is based on the exchange of information (Price, 1963; Crane, 1972), and is in turn translated in social recognition, scientific authority, and is an investment to acquire credibility (Merton, 1938; Hagstrom, 1965; Bourdieu, 1975; Latour et Woolgar, 1986).  Based on the article analysis, we can identify if they are empirical, theoretical or methodological researches. We can also detect the scientific methods applied by the researchers and their objects of study. Likewise, we observe the most common places to do research (universities and departments). Finally, we do a citation analysis to find the most important sources used by the researchers. Our corpus includes 1154 articles and 12 840 titles of referenced documents.  The bibliometric analysis of the articles published in Canadian Journal of Communication and Communication from 1974 to 2005 shows that the Canadian communication research is qualitative in essence, interested in the historical particularities, the social context and the understanding of the underlying interrelations of the communication phenomenon, especially in Canada and Quebec. The application of content analysis to the media in general is dominant. However, since 1980, the exploration of cinema, audiovisual, internet and the multiplication of objects of study foreshadow the move in the research communication agenda in Canada. Communication and the CJC, however, differ by their thematics, and by the linguistic origin of the researchers who publish in them.  The citation analysis shows the shared interest of researchers from different Canadian universities for regulatory agencies and Canadian government policies, which is often based on content analysis of legislative documents and reports of various commissions of inquiry of the Canadian government. The citation analysis also reveals the most importat theoretical and methodological research influences. Among the most cited, we see Innis, McLuhan, Habermas, Tuchman, Bourdieu, Foucault, Raboy, and Rogers. But these references are evolving over time. We see as well as the distinctions between French and English Canadian communication research traditions.

Keyphrases: scientific communication, sociology of science, scientometrics, bibliometrics, citation analysis, communication studies history