A few research in public relations was based on theories (Botan & Hazleton, 1989). As a result, Public Relations is “lack of theory” (Greenwood, 2010) or “theoretical lateness” (Johansson, 2007). However, as a scientific field, public relations is relatively new (Grunig & Hunt, 1984 Ihlen & van Ruler, 2009 Skerlep, 2001). As a social activity, public relations emerged at the same time with the growth of human life, when individuals had to build relationship to fulfill their needs. Research is a tool to explain, apply and proof theories as well as to build new theories.
Research has important role to develop public relations theories.
The Need for Different Perspective in Public Relations School of Communication, Brawijaya University, Indonsia Conducting critical ethnography: Toward a new method in public relations research in Indonesia