The "Communication as a Cognitive Science" (C-CS) project is an effort to link communication studies to cognitive science research.  In the concluding section, "Coming of age: downwards and outwards," of their "The Life of Cognitive Science," (A Companion to Cognitive Science) Bechtel, Abrahamsen, and Graham argue that cognitive science needs to move "outwards" to the social contexts in which cognition takes place. Since communication research is largely into varying communication situations and their impact on exchanges of meaning, there is a significant opportunity for collaboration between the two areas of study.

The C-CS web site is a "database" structured as a reference work on issues related to Communication and Cognitive Science. Its chapters can be read consecutively. Each page is a self-contained essay on a particular topic. However, they are arranged as a sequence of arguments. The site is designed so that the basic argument can be tracked in the abstracts for each entry. The table of contents for an entry allows users to go into more detail on each topic. Links to appendices provide extended discussions of the topics. Links to illustrations and examples provide clarifications of particular statements or arguments. Links to discussions of concepts are also provided.

Visitors may download its pages, illustrations, and bibliographies for their own use in teaching, etc.  In addition, response links are included on every page so that users can contribute interactively.  A discussion board will be added to the site as well.

jjs

last revised: September 15, 2008 Send comments to jjs.

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