Daniel J. O'Keefe


Daniel J. O'Keefe is an American communication and argumentation theory scholar. He is the Owen L. Coon Professor Emeritus in the Department of Communication Studies at Northwestern University. His research concerns persuasion and argumentation, with a focus on meta-analytic synthesis of research concerning persuasive message effects. This program of work often addresses the question of whether normatively good argumentation contributes to persuasive success.
O'Keefe is the author of Persuasion: Theory and Research, a review of empirical research on persuasion. His work has been published in the Journal of Communication, Human Communication Research, Communication Monographs, Communication Theory, Communication Yearbook, Argumentation, Quarterly Journal of Speech, Argumentation and Advocacy, and other journals.

Awards

From the National Communication Association:
  • Charles Woolbert Research Award, 1986
  • Golden Anniversary Monograph Award, 1982
  • Rhetorical and Communication Theory Division Distinguished Scholar Award, 2005
From the American Forensic Association:
  • Daniel Rohrer Memorial Research Award, 1977
From the International Communication Association:
  • Fellow
  • Steven H. Chaffee Career Achievement Award, 2024
  • Health Communication Division Article of the Year Award, 2008
  • Best Article Award, 2004
  • Division 1 John E. Hunter Meta-Analysis Award, 2000, 2022
From the International Society for the Study of Argumentation:
  • Distinguished Scholar Award, 2002
From the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign:
  • Humanities Council Teaching Excellence Award, 1999
From Northwestern University:
  • Galbut Outstanding Faculty Award, School of Communication, 2010
  • Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence, 2016