Investigación Cualitativa y Comunicación en la era Digital: Una Revisión Crítica de la Literatura Científica

From a critical reading of the scientific literature published in the last ten years, we reflect on the different trends in qualitative research in the field of communication, paying special attention to the treatment of new media and digital environments. The following thematic axes are proposed to understand the discussion: the use of research methods and techniques, the application of information and communication technologies and the contributions to qualitative analysis. The analysis of current practices shows that research in communication sciences has evolved from a positivist theoretical perspective to a more phenomenological one, from an analysis centered on measurement to an analysis centered on processes, language and human experience where culture and communication are inexhaustible sources of meanings. However, there is a need for greater flexibility and variety in the study of communicative phenomena, in terms of the theoretical and methodological principles employed. Qualitative research has recently gained momentum in this field, despite its recognizable impact on the social sciences. This manuscript offers researchers a first approach to the practice of qualitative research in digital communication and at the same time different options and methodological tools for the development of their academic work.