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Conceptualization, operationalization, and performance of longitudinal studies in communication research: a systematic review

Jonathan J H Zhu et al.

Journal of Communication2025https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqaf047article
ABDC A
Weight
0.37

Abstract

We report a systematic review of longitudinal studies published in SSCI-Communication journals over the 50 years, focusing on how time is conceived, measured, and analyzed as a scientific concept. To facilitate the review, we devised two novel classification schemes to distinguish between longitudinal and non-longitudinal studies and to measure how time is treated. We manually coded a random sample of 1,080 research articles, supplemented with computerized keyword scanning of the study population. The results show that longitudinal studies have steadily accounted for about 9% of the publications. Panel data studies outnumber time-series studies in a ratio of 3:2. Three-fourths of the longitudinal studies treat time as a timing index and aim to test causal effects, whereas a quarter treat time as a parameter to capture temporal dynamics. Longitudinal studies make more conceptual contributions and receive more citations than non-longitudinal studies. We offer practical recommendations for longitudinal communication research.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqaf047

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@article{jonathan2025,
  title        = {{Conceptualization, operationalization, and performance of longitudinal studies in communication research: a systematic review}},
  author       = {Jonathan J H Zhu et al.},
  journal      = {Journal of Communication},
  year         = {2025},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqaf047},
}

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Conceptualization, operationalization, and performance of longitudinal studies in communication research: a systematic review

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Evidence weight

0.37

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.16 × 0.4 = 0.06
M · momentum0.53 × 0.15 = 0.08
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.