Journal Review II

An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations

Glen M. Broom

School of Communication San Diego State University 

This paper contains my summary about journal An Open System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relation by Glen M. Broom. The purpose of this  paper is dispel any ambiguity on the topic at hand building theory in public relations by return to more rigorous science and a more open search for concepts and theoretical frameworks in understanding public relation. In this journal the author explains that theory construction in public relations requires both scientific methods and openness to conceptual and methodological input from the larger fields of communication and human behavior. In building a theory of public relations with an open system approach that is needed is the focal concept bound practices, concepts and theories of explanation, and the testing of hypotheses based on data. The methods that used by the author related to the theory and practice is choosing focal concepts, defining the focal concept, validating the concept, explicating the concept, and building theory in the open system model. In choosing the focal concept, the theory-building process begins most effectively when the researcher selects a concept derived from the practice and viewed by practitioners as important. To borrow the term, this is what Chaffee (1991) called the “focal concept” (pp. 14–15). Not only does this approach give researchers a good reason and motivation for the research, but it also tends to increase the interest of people in practice that are critical to the work and yet perhaps an important participant in completing the research. In defining the focal concept explain the first step in the research process was to identify and define the various roles enacted by practitioners. As a practitioners in forming concepts need to use measure such as analyzing thus forming a correct theory in research. Then the next step is explicating the concept means continue the concept explication process by operationalizing the roles as questionnaire items to measure the degree to which each was being enacted in practice. Using the defining attributes identified in the concept analysis, one must carefully craft and refine questionnaire items that capture the true qualities of the concept (validity) in consistent and precise ways (reliability) (Broom,2006). The last is building theory in open system model, an open system is a system associated with and affected by the external environment, means the system that are open and easily influenced by the outside environment, then a system must have a good control system. A good system should be designed in such a way that a relatively closed because the system will work automatically closed and open only to good effect.

Bibliography

Broom, G. M. (2006). An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations . JOURNAL OF PUBLIC RELATIONS RESEARCH, 18(2) , 141–150 .

Avininda Astya (135120207121024)

Theory Construction of Public Relations Based on Open-System Approach

Theory Construction of Public Relations Based on Open-System Approach

By : Darwis, NIM-135120207121026

Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Social and Political Science

University of Brawijaya Malang

Introduction

How to build a theory is not an easy activity. It needs some requirements that have been legitimated based on scientific principles. Deriving specific requirements in building theory and how they relate to empirical research are necessary to understand to be able to assess statistical set of relationships (Wacker, 2008). Therefore, the purpose of this writing is to review a journal written by Glen M. Broom entitled “An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations”. This journal, in general, discusses how to build a theory of public relations based on approach of an open-system. Beside reviewing the journal, I will also give a comment or my own opinion as a mean of being critical student to contribute to the discussion of class assignment. I also do not forget to support my comment with journals that have been published.

Review Section

            In the beginning, the journal discusses that searching for concepts and theoretical frameworks need to pay more attention in theory construction as a scientific process. In the world of public relations, to build its theory that advances both practice and understanding has challenge called an open-system approach that reaches beyond limited literatures and paradigms because it requires transparency about how research is conducted, how the data are analyzed, and how the findings are linked to the theory and practice.

How theory is built follows the steps as journal’s discussion. Yet, before going to the first step, it needs to choose focal concept. Focal concept as a term that means the process of theory-building when the researcher selects a concept derived from practice and viewed by practitioners as important. Here are the stages. 1), select a concept of interest, 2) determine purpose, 3) identify how the concept has been defined and used, 4) determine defining attributes, 5) create a model case, 6) create related, but different, cases, 7) develop the measures, 8) build theory around the focal concept. Validating concept is also needed for testing for testing the roles as experimental treatments in a controlled environment. And then, before building theory in open-system model, explicating the concept become the next major step to continue the concept explication process by operationalizing the roles as questionnaire items to measure the degree to which each was being enacted in practice.

Now is building theory in open-system model. open-system approach to exploring the literature that produces a long-term stream of public relations research is the initial conceptual work that have been limited to the public relations literature, attempting to describe public relations roles could have led to yet another of the then-often repeated surveys of practitioners to learn how much of their time has spent on various program tactics and activities. Building theory requires the objective, systematic, and controlled gathering of data to test hypotheses deduced from theoretical propositions.

Eventually, we have to work harder to connect the work to the larger concerns with how organizations and its stakeholder publics relate in the increasingly complex global community.

References

Wacker, J. G. (2008). A conceptual understanding of requirements for theory-building research: guidelines for scientific theory building. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 44 (3), 5-15.

An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relation - Annisa A.

Review Journal of Public Relations Research Entitled An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations by Glen M. Broom

This journal is talk about building theory in public relations. The writer thinks that theory construction in public realtions requires both scientific methods and openness for concepts and theoritical frameworks.

It is important to linking the theory into practice so we can undertand how it functions without cluttering the literature with pseudoscience and misleading each other. As an open system approach it also needs transparency in conducting research, about how the data analyzed, and how the findings are linked to theory and practice.

In this journal the writer choose the focal concepts from Chaffee (1991) as a method research. First step is identify and define the various roles encated ny practitioner or called concept analysis process. The process of concept analysis as explained by Broom, first is selecting a concept that make you truly interest of it. Second, determine purpose of inquiry. Then the third is do not limit your seacrh to one definition, keep enrich your source of literature. Next is determine defining attributes. After get many source review all the concepts. Next, the fifth is create a model case, construct prototype. Sixth is construct examples to help illustrating. Seventh is develop the measures. Then next, the last step is build theory around the focal concept, begin construct theoritical model.

From that, we know that building or construct a theory is not easy. There are severel steps, a process, not instantly. And after find or having achieved somthing that contributes to the body of knowledge, it still necessary to do validating the concept, an experiment testing before it applied. Validaty about the qualities the concepts.

The next step major is explicating the concept. “... continue explication process by operationalizing the roles as questionnaire items to measure the degree to which each was being enacted in practice” (Broom, 2006, p. 146).

I think this journal gives nice explanation about building public relations theory in open system approach. He explained step by step the process and some examples, and a map or figure that make the reader more easly to understand the direction of the process.

If I make conclusion from this journal, public relations theory are limited. Scholars need to be more elaborated conducting research linking toward public relation theory and the practice. It will be effective if the research use focal concept as the method, and of course in open system approach. It requires to publish the concepts and model in public relations literature as data. A research with closed system approach will have a very litle access to develop the theory. That is why it’s imporatant to use open system approach, to do more further research, to develop, to fit with the practice and find a new model suitable and applicable with the environment and time.

Bibliography

Broom, G. M. (2006). An open-system approach to building theory in public relations. Journal of Public Relations Research, 18 (2), 141 – 150.

Annisa Arifiana

135120207121009

Resume of Public Relation Journal

RESUME

An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relation

Glen M. Broom

Journal of Public Relations, 2006.

Vol. 18 No. 2: pp. 141-150.

School of Communication, San Diego State University, United States

By: Bela Dina Hakiki - 135120207121027

ABSTRAK:

Theory construction in public relations requires both scientific methods and openness to conceptual and methodological input from the larger fields of communication and human behavior. The alternative is to turn inwardly to the narrowly defined public relations “body of knowledge.” Greater emphasis on focal concepts tied to the practice, on concept and theory explication, and on data-based hypothesis testing is required in the open-system approach to building theory in public relations.

The Resume of Journal

This paper consist of my summary from journal “An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relation” by Glen M. Broom. The purpose of my summary is how to use an open-system approach to building theory in public relation.

            In this journal, Broom try to dispel ambiguity about his position on the topic of his juornal. The purpose of his journal is he attempted to return to more rigorous science and a more open search for concepts and theoretical frameworks on which to base his common mission to building theory in public relation.

“An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations”

Glen M. Broom

School of Communication

San Diego State University

ASTRI NOVIYANTI

135120207121002

JOURNAL REVIEW

                In this paper explains the important of open systems to build Public Relation theory.  This open systems is intended to dispel any ambiguity in Public Relation theory.  Building theories can to  provide a foundation for practice, understanding of how it functions without cluttering the literature and without misleading each other about what was learned.

            The effectively method to choosing the focal concept of building theory is when the researcher selects a concept derived from the practice and viewed by practitioners. A public realtions must be balancing theory and practice. Building Public Relation theory it also requires transparency about how our research is conducted. The step in the research process concept analysis was to identify cases and using literature to apply in research process.

            The process concept analysis, first you can select a concept of interest.  Second, must determine the purpose. Third, find as many sources as you can on how the concept and related concepts have been defined and used. Fourth, develop a literature that has been collected and make a different concept. Fifth, create a model case to understand the concept are created. Sixth, create related case, but different cases to help further clarify the concept. Seventh, develop the measures. After create the concept,  then you can apply. The last, build theory around the focal concept. Walker & Avant (1983) and Chaffee (1991)

            The main steps to continue the process concept is distributing questionnaires and interviews, because to measure the level of validity. The results of questionnaires and interviews identified in the analysis of concept

            The conclusion is open systems greatly simplify the process of research, it can develop a lot of literature to build a concept. Because build a concept must a variety point of view. Theory and practice must be balanced to make a good build Public Relation theory.

Bibliography

Broom, G. M. (2006). An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations. Journal of Public Relation Research, 18(2), 141–150.

Chaffee, S. H. (1991). Communication concepts 1: Explication. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Walker, L. O., & Avant, K. C. (1983). Strategies for theory construction in nursing. Norwalk, CT: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

Task:An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations

Name: Hadin Bramana

Nim: 115120207121026

An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations

Glen M. Broom

This journal is reviewing about how to build a theory in public relations, the specific part is the open-system model. It says in the intro: 

Theory construction in public relations requires both scientific methods and openness to conceptual and methodological input from the larger fields of communication and human behavior.

Public relations is not so developed that we can draw a boundary around a “body of knowledge” and limit our inquiry to what is reported in public relations literature. Rather, we are in the early stages of building theory that may someday provide a foundation for the emerging profession and its practice. The first step is  choosing the focal concept, meaning selecting a concept derived from the practice and viewed by practitioners as important. Then defining the focal concept:

1. Select a concept of interest

2. Determine purpose

3. Identify the concept has been defined and used

4. Determine defining attributes

5. Create a model case

6. Create related but different cases

7. Develop the measures

8. Build theory around the focal concept

After defining the focal concept, the author suggests to validate the concept. It includes a laboratory experiment testing for role differences. The next step is explicating the concept, by operationalising the roles as questionnaire items to measure the degree to which each was being explain in the practice. The process  including in depth interview, questionnaire, etc. (validity and reliability). The next step is building theory in the open-system model. by exploring the literature that produced a long term stream of public relations research.

           

2n Jurnal Review : An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relation (135120207121019)

Journal Review : “An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations”

By Glen M. Broom, School of Communication, San Diego State University

This writing intends to summarize from journal entitle, An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relation written by Glen M.Broom. Public Relation concern building and maintaining the relationship have with various internal and external publics.   

Based on the journal, author explain Open system boundaries identified that the output and input process through permeable boundaries, where this model is appropriate to expedite the appropriate social interaction in public relations activities. The external environtment is always changing, in turn the organization must adapt and envolve.

I found statement the author says “My interest in public relation roles stemmed from my frustration as a beginning faculty member with what I found to be inadequate ways to describe what practicioner do”.  As a field, has had a public relations body of knowledge, which comes from the basic theory theories social science, especially the science of communication. Be a public relations practitioner is not only based on the theory guiding but also know about the culture and perspectives have been there. 

The writer critics, author must create theory in a variable in the form of a concept map, so the future researchers to further develop the research itself. And the reason this journal gives a nice explanation and easy to understand. Open system make continual interaction with feedback (positive or negative), otherwise the minus close system can’t exchange matter, energy or information with environment.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Broom,G.M.(2006).An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations. Journal of Public Relations Research,18(2),141-150.

By : Tio Yolanda R. Simanullang
135120207121019

A Resume of The Journal “An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations” Dea Cindy-135120207121003

Name: Dea Cindy Paramitha Sariputri

NIM: 135120207121003

Class: I-5, Communication Science   University of Brawijaya

A Resume of  The Journal “An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations”

Glen M. Broom

            After i read, studied, and tried to understand the content of the discussion of this journal. I wrote this paper as my summary of these journal. In this journal, Glen M. Broom as an author discussed about the theory construction in public relations.

            What is the definition or the understanding of theory construction? What is theory construction talked or discussed about?

According to Berger and Luckman in the journal “Implementasi Teori Konstruksi Sosial dalam Penelitian Public Relations”, theory construction discussed about the relationship between human thought and the social context where thoughts arise, evolve, and institutionalized. They are argued that, the reality is socially constructed, so that, sociology of knowledge must analyze the process of it. In this theory, human is seen as the creator of objective social reality through the process of externalization, as the objective reality of human influence back through the internalization process (which reflect the subjective reality). (Yuningsih, 2005).

            Theory contruction is a scientific process, period and required to build and test theory (Broom, 2006). The purpose is to to eliminate ambiguity on the topic at the hand to build PR theory, by more rigorous science and search more open for the concept and theoretical framework. In early stages, building theory is provide a foundation for a combination between profession and practice. As a students, scholar or practitioners we are obligated to do research and publish our findings in ways that convince in the integrity of that foundation of public relations.

According to John E. Marshton, Public Relations is planned, persuasive communication designed to influence significant public (Kriyantono, 2008, p. 4).

The open system approach in Public Relations reach over the limited literature and paradigms but requires a transparency on how the research is done.

            The process of build a theory is begin when the researcher select some concept from practice and must viewed by practitioners is important. In the research, practitioners are seen as doer or actors. That is how the focal concept is choosen and begin to build. Then the writer talk about defining the focal concept, which is begin by identify and define the various roles in a research that did by pratitioners. We also broaden our search to add some literature and roles that relevant with public relations. In defining focal concept, the writer also explain the concept analysis process of an open-system model.

There are eight process: first is select a concept of interest, is about what is the most thing that interests you. Second is determine purpose, after you picked something interesting then you have to develop an operational definition. Third is dentify how the concept has been defined and used, it means we have to find as many sources as we can. Fourth is determine defining attributes, is about create criteria to build operatioal definition. Fifth is create a model case, we have to understand about our focal concept. Sixth, create related and different cases, objective. And the last is build theory around the focal concept. Concepts are buliding blocks theory, the quality of theory building in public relations depends on the soundness of the concepts used in the construction (Broom, 2006).

In validating the concept, the plan of the research is to manage role  as experimental tendance in cpntrolled environment. The purpose is to build theory around focal concept of public relations role. In explain the concept, is done by operationalize the role as quistionaire item to measure the degree to which each that valid in practice. Factor analysis provide empirical evidence to guide and confirm that each item is loaded on the same role factor. We have to remember that there is no single true of operational dfinition of a concept and how we measure variable depend on method that  we used. Building theory in the open-system model, it was the open system approach to explore a literatture that produce a long term stream of public relations research. To be successful in build a research requires large investment in conceptual development during the early stage of the research career. Yet another in building theory, it’s require the objective, systematic, and controlled gathering data to test hypothesis from theoritical proportion.

Nowadays, we turn inward to our own publications for theoritical methodollogical guidance. So in long term, we won’t work to our advantages only, but also to inform and create connection of our work in communication and human behaviours at all systems.

In my opinion, the understanding of  Open System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relations is still hard to understand. In other word still confusing. Therefore, The public relations scholars/experts have to make an explanation of these topic is easily to understood by the public, especially for students who take the course of public relations.

References:

           

Broom, G. M. (2006). An open-system approach to building theory in public relations. Journal of Public Relations Research, 18 (2), 141-150.

Kriyantono, R. (2008). Public relations writing: Teknik produksi media public relations dan publisitas korporat (2nd ed). Jakarta: Kencana Prenada Media Group.

Yuningsih, A. (2006). Implementasi teori konstruksi sosial dalam penelitian public relations. Mediator, 7 (1), 59-70. 

Review journal :

An Open-System Approach to Building Theory in Public Relation

by Glen M. Broom

School of Communication, San Diego State University

Stemmed from the writer own experience as a beginning faculty member that faced frustration because he found that it was inadequate to describe public relations practitioners do and the overlapping experiences and interest that he perceived, he tried to build theory that advance both practice and the understanding of how it functions without cluttering the literature and open system approach was picked as it reached beyond their limited literature and paradigms. The focal concept was chosen because it is not only provide the researcher both rationale and motivation for the study, but also it tends to increase interest from [practitioners who often are critical to such a work like this and yet may be essential participant in completing the research.

Choosing the final concept as their base approach, the first step was to identify and define the various roles enacted by the practitioners. The researcher found few and uncertain references to public relations literature thus they need to expand their field and it took a very long time until finally they able to identified and defined the distinctive roles that played by those enacting helping relationship in a wide range of settings.

            There were 8 stages of the concept analysis process that recast by the author which are first, select a concept of interest, something that truly interests you since you will be working on it for a long time and it is better to choose derived terms rather than the primitive one except that are accepted as being commonly understood, meaning that there is shared meaning among users. Second, determine the purpose, clearly spell out the purpose of your inquiry in order to avoid uncertain things that will inhibit the process. Third, identify how the concept has been defined and used. Fourth, determine defining attributes due to build a definition and to differentiate the concept from others. Fifth, create a model case that able you to identify what is and what is not about your focal concept when you were observing certain situations that may or may not include instances of the concept. Sixth, construct examples of borderline, related and contrary cases. Seventh, develop the measures from stage to stage to find out how others measured the attributes of related concept. Finally, build the theory around the local concept, starting by constructing the theoretical model, summarizing the antecedents and consequences of local concept that found in other studies. The quality of theory building in public relations depends on the soundness of the concepts used in the construction thus concepts are the building blocks of theory.

            Researcher usually tend to focused on the wrong point which keep looking the answer in the literature when in the end they got nothing. The key concepts are not defined and are treated as if they are primitive terms understood by all. When concepts are not defined explicitly thus they need to validate the concept. They tend to forget to remember the importance of reliable data in doing research.

            The conceptual foundation are the important key to success in research. Open system approach is purposed to explore the literature that produced a long-term of public relations research. Building theory requires the objective, systematic, and controlled gathering of data to test the hypotheses deduced from theoretical prepositions.

            The author and the team end up using concepts and models limited to only  those who gets what they mean therefore they built boundary that limit their ability to connect public relations scholarship to the larger fields of communication and human behavior and in the end of their attempt to build a body of knowledge in public relations, they have unintentionally build a closed system which is far way from their first prediction while doing the process using the open system.

            As I conclude, the final result of this research was neither clear nor original. They were just kind of improving their mature as a field by increasing some circumstances and they were operating it using a closed system. And the important thing is not to ignore reliable data for the research process. They need to improve in order to get the advantage for their work so they need to connect their own work with the best research in communication and human behavior at all system levels.

References

• Broom, G. M., & Dozier, D. M. (1986). Advancement for public relations role models. Public Relations Review, 12(1), 37–56.
• Broom, G. M., Casey, S., & Ritchey, J. (1997). Toward a concept and theory of organization-public re- lationships. Journal of Public Relations Research, 9(2) 83–98.
• Chaffee, S. H. (1996). Thinking about theory. In M. B. Salwen & D. W. Stacks (Eds.), An integrated ap- proach to communication theory and research (p. 16). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. 

Inge Ade Zinnia

135120207121011

IF-5 Communication Science

`English Class

Theory of Public Relations

Journal Review