经过20多年的发展，中国新媒体研究已生产和集聚了大量的学术成果。就其研究路径而言，这些学术成果大体可分为描述性、解释性和批判性等三类，其在各自的研究实践中表现出不同的应用状况、功能作用及未来走向。作为新媒体研究的基础，描述性进路的应用普遍广泛，但需提升学理性；作为新媒体研究的深化，解释性进路的应用日益凸显，但仍需加强学术规范性；作为新媒体研究的升华，批判性进路的应用相对匮乏，因而亟须增进学术建构力。随着研究的深入，以上三种路径日趋呈现融合之势。探讨中国新媒体研究路径的目的不仅在于总结研究经验，更在于为未来新媒体研究提供方法论的指引。

China's new media research has achieved tremendously over the past two decadesAs far as the research method is concerned,the achievement can be divided into descriptive,explanatory,and critical approaches with their due application,function,and path to the futureThe descriptive approach is widely used as the basis of new media research,but more reasoning vigor is required to enhance this approachThe explanatory approach becomes increasingly useful recently,yet more work is needed to improve its academic standardCompared with the descriptive and explanatory approaches,the critical approach has not been widely applied even though it is considered highly promising in the research of new mediaThese three research approaches are evidently becoming more and more integratedThe purpose of this discussion is not to merely list the research approaches,but to provide methodological guidance for future study also