Chapters 1-2 Study Guide: Worldviews, Research Methods, and Communication Traditions

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, worldviews, philosophical foundations, reasoning types, hypotheses, and communication traditions from Chapters 1 and 2.

Postpositive Worldview

A worldview emphasizing cause and effect, objective theories that can be tested or verified, and viewing human behavior as predictable, measurable, and generalizable.

Constructivist Worldview

A worldview focusing on individuals constructing their own subjective understanding and meaning of the world, viewing human behavior as individualistic, unpredictable, and subjective.

Transformative Worldview

A worldview focusing on social oppression, marginalized groups, challenging assumptions, and creating social change.

Pragmatism Worldview

A worldview focused on "what works" and practical solutions, often utilizing mixed methods.

Worldview I

A perspective that views human behavior as predictable, measurable, and generalizable, fitting quantitative methods such as surveys and experiments.

Worldview II

A perspective that views human behavior as individualistic, unpredictable, and subjective.

Ontology

The branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of existence and what exists or what is studied.

Epistemology

The branch of philosophy dealing with how we know what we know.

Rhetorical Tradition

A communication tradition that emphasizes discourse, debate, and the power of words.

Semiotic Tradition

A communication tradition that studies signs, symbols, and how meaning is constructed.

Phenomenological Tradition

A communication tradition that studies people's experiences and perceptions.

Cybernetic Tradition

A communication tradition that views communication as information processing and feedback.

Critical Tradition

A communication tradition that focuses on power, oppression, and challenging assumptions.

Craig's Seven Communication Traditions

A set of seven traditions in communication theory comprising Rhetorical, Semiotic, Phenomenological, Cybernetic, Sociopsychological, Sociocultural, and Critical.

Induction

A type of reasoning that moves from specific observations to a general theory.

Deduction

A type of reasoning that moves from a general theory to specific observations.

Abduction

A type of reasoning that moves from an effect backward to possible causes.

Hypothesis

A statement predicting a relationship between variables.

Two-tailed Hypothesis

A hypothesis that predicts a relationship between variables exists, but does not predict the direction of the relationship.

One-tailed Hypothesis

A hypothesis that predicts a relationship exists between variables and predicts the specific direction of that relationship.

Null Hypothesis ($H_0$)

A hypothesis stating that there is no relationship between variables.

Construct

An underlying idea or concept, such as academic performance.

Operationalize

To define an abstract construct so that it can be measured (for example, using GPA as a variable to measure academic performance).

Variable

A measurable value.