Published in book form, this is a scholarly periodical of academic research in public relations, containing refereed reviews and reports of original studies. It follows the current trend toward more solidly grounded, theoretical research in a field that has only begun to mature. The studies and reviews presented represent the most contemporary thought and investigation brought to bear on this subject. Many relevant topics are discussed, including communication roles, women's issues in the feminization of the field, the concepts of symmetry and game theory, and finally, publics — dealing with roles, risk takers, and how audiences receive, process, and retain messages on public policy issues.