本研究的目的，在闡明「文本」概念的內涵與特質，並討論對傳播研究的作用與意義，也試圖透過這樣的方式來摸索傳播學術未來發展的可能方向。 在對文本概念的考察中，本文指出了文本概念的兩個根源，一是在文學的脈絡，二是在社會性的範疇。由這兩個部份的討論，本文嘗試對文本概念提出說明和界定，並指出由此形成的「文本──論述」模式，從方法策略的觀點而言，可視為是文本分析的傳統。 最後，則是以社會科學研究過程的資料解釋角度來思考文本分析，作者認為，不論是量化或是質化的資料型態，文本分析都可作為結果討論與詮釋的方法參考；而對於傳播研究以「意義的建立和訊息的分享」為核心觀念的發展，文本分析當可在訊息和意義的面向上產生更積極的作用，尤其適合社會事務和流行文化的探討。

　　　　　This article tries to define "text" and to explain the tradition of text analysis. First, the concept of text is inherited from literary study. Later, it has become a tradition of research when "text analysis" is broadly applied on social sciences and humanity studies. This article reviews the process of development. As a methodology of thinking, text analysis helps build a universal explanation for social sciences research. As a perspective of theory, it helps discover meanings buried under forms and contents of discourses. The author thinks that the implication of text analysis has positive function to communication studies which is said yet fighting for the legitimacy of the discipline. Communication is possible to be a mature discipline if it focuses on the core idea of "the creating of meanings and the sharing of messages". These recent developments in communication study, particularly the emphasis on text's meaning between message and audience, have created new possibilities for the future.