Current issues in the sociological support of the development of communication strategies (in the context of armed conflicts)
https://doi.org/10.21453/2311-3065-2026-14-2-60-72
Abstract
This article examines a range of pressing issues in the sociological support of media research necessary for designing effective communication strategies in the context of contemporary armed conflicts, including hybrid and cognitive warfare. It identifies an epistemological crisis in conventional data collection methods used in combat zones, stemming from institutional barriers, the social desirability effect (the «spiral of silence»), and the deep traumatization of audiences. As a methodological response, the article proposes a multi-level architecture of applied research combined with a strategy of methodological triangulation. Drawing on a theoretical synthesis of practical experience in both international and domestic military media analytics, as well as socio-psychological theory, the author substantiates the principles for constructing target audience personas (TAP) based on a four-axis segmentation model. Particular attention is paid to overcoming the cognitive filters of neutral audiences, countering wedge-driving operations, and legitimizing information through the «third-party» effect. The article also argues for the application of computational sociology methods, including natural language processing (NLP) algorithms and network graph analysis, to identify latent audience sentiments and detect hidden nodes of trust. It concludes that the shift from intuitive media planning to a data-driven approach, together with the development of an integrative framework for the sociological support of media research, is critically important for achieving information superiority in cognitive warfare.
About the Author
D. B. Ikramov
Military University named after Prince Alexander Nevsky of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ikramov Dmitrii Burkhanovich – Cand. Sci. (Soc.), Lecturer
Moscow
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For citations:
Ikramov D.B. Current issues in the sociological support of the development of communication strategies (in the context of armed conflicts). Communicology. 2026;14(2):60-72. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21453/2311-3065-2026-14-2-60-72
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