Communication Research for Development: The ISRO Experience

A small group of social scientists and communication researchers were involved for conducting the social impact study of India’s State llite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE August 1975- July 1976) and since then some of them continue to work in this area. Some more joined to work in this area. Some more joined to work with Kheda Communication Project after the SITE was over. Since then this group has contributed a lot in understanding the theoretical, methodological as well as process aspects of communication and communication research. The book based on mostly the first hand experience of the authors documents the historical background of the communication research in India, examines the validity of anthropological methods of communication research vis-a-vis conventional methods. It also reviews the contribution Indian television has made for women and youth employment and it gives interesting accounts of the field experience in field data collection particularly from rural areas. The book would be a historical document of the contribution of a scientific and technological organization in the field of communication and rural development. It will be useful to those who want to understand the educational and development role of communication as well as to those who want to have a feel of field realities.