Interpersonal communication takes many forms and occurs in many contexts. In beginning your research, plan out what aspects of interpersonal communication you are interested in.
This will help guide both where to search and what kind of terms to use.
For example, think about:
· Context: communication at work, in school, on a sports team, at a party, at home, etc.
· Type of relationship: friendship, family (spouse, sibling, parent-child), romantic relationship, etc.
· Form of communication: speech, nonverbal, writing, phone, IM, etc.
· Purpose of communication: persuasion, conflict resolution, support, information gathering, etc.
· Other influences: race, age, gender, culture, etc.
Be as specific as possible in formulating your search terms, covering all aspects you're interested in, but be sure to use alternative/related terms as well.
Use the words and phrases below to find useful information on interpersonal communication in IUCAT, Indiana University's online library catalog, and our Resources A-Z, an alphabetical listing of sites that allow you to search for journal articles, e-books and other information:
These resources are a starting point for research. Depending on your topic, other resources in the All Resources tab may be more helpful. If you need help, please Ask a Librarian.
Use Google Scholar to check if we have access to a specific article online, by searching for the full article title. This feature only works off campus for IU Northwest students, faculty and staff, and will require a login from off campus. Advanced Search available on Google Scholar's main page.
The Interpersonal Communication Book by 
Interpersonal Communication by 
The Cambridge Handbook of Personal Relationships by 
Handbook of Family Communication by 
Handbook of Interpersonal Communication by 
Handbook of Political Communication Research by 
International Encyclopedia of Communications by 
Marriage Family and Relationships by 
