Communication Theory Midterm

epistemology

the way in which we come to know what truth is

objective

the ___ approach assumes that truth is singular and is accessible through unbiased sensory observation; committed to uncovering cause-and-effect relationships

interpretive

the ___ approach refers to the linguistic work of assigning meaning or value to communicative texts; assumes that multiple meanings or truths are possible

objective

an ___ view of epistemology holds that we come to truth through:

• empirical observation

• “T”ruth

• being free of bias

interpretive

an ___ view of epistemology holds that we come to truth through:

• socially constructed meaning

• “t”ruth

• intersubjectivity

• inevitable bias

objective

___ scholars subscribe to determinism, or the assumption that behavior is caused by heredity and environment

interpretive

___ scholars subscribe to the idea of free will, ie. people are free agents who could decide to respond differently under an identical set of circumstances

objective

___ theories rely on research methods like experiments and surveys

experiment

an objective research method involving:

• a controlled environment

• manipulation of independent variable to establish relationship with dependent variable

survey

an objective research method involving:

• self-reported data that tells researchers what people think/feel

• compilation into statistical reports

interpretive

___ theories rely on research methods like textual analysis and ethnography

textual analysis

an interpretive research method involving:

• describing and interpreting messages

• finding categories and explaining what is going on

ethnography

an interpretive research method involving:

• researcher who learns through immersion in a culture or participant observation

• “Thick description” (culturally/contextually conscious)

• “Getting it right means seeing it from their point of view”

objective

the goal of ___ theories is to understand and predict

interpretive

the goal of ___ theories is to describe and/or to create positive social change (critical)

objective

___ scholars rely on deductive reasoning

inductive

___ scholars rely on inductive reasoning

objective

___ scholars view truth as like looking into a mirror

interpretive

___ scholars view truth as like looking at an object from different angles/in different light

objective

good ___ theories offer the following:

1. Explanation of the Data

2. Prediction of Future Events

3. Parsimonious

4. Testable Hypothesis

5. Practical Utility

explanation of the data

a characteristic of good objective theories that brings clarity and understanding to the communication phenomenon; explains communication processes and results

prediction of future events

a characteristic of good objective theories that enables accurate forecast of human behavior

parsimonious

a characteristic of good objective theories that refers to simplicity; uncertainty reduction lacks it

testable hypotheses

a characteristic of good objective theories that offers researchers the ability to collect evidence against or in support of its claims

practical utility

a characteristic of good objective theories that offers pragmatic insight for life; refers to a theory’s usefulness

interpretive

good ___ theories offer the following:

1. New Understanding of People/Salience

2. Clarification of Values

3. Aesthetic Appeal

4. Community of Agreement

5. Reform of Society

new understanding of people/salience

a characteristic of good interpretive theories that offers an important insight into human communication and provides an effective explanatory mechanism

clarification of values

a characteristic of good interpretive theories that unmasks ideologies within communication

aesthetic appeal

a characteristic of good interpretive theories that sparks appreciation; the ideas creatively captures some aspect of human communication

community of agreement

a characteristic of good interpretive theories referring to scholars’ support and use of the theory

reform of society

a characteristic of good interpretive theories that challenges the guilding assumptions of a culture and furthers social change

socio-psychological

objective tradition seeking universal laws of how communication influences thoughts, attitudes, & behaviors; focuses on empirical, cause-and-effect relationships and scientific observation

3 causes of persuasive variation:

• Who (source)

• What (content)

• Whom (audience characteristics)

cybernetic

studies communication as the processing and exchange of information within systems

rhetorical

studies the art and practice of persuasive communication, especially public speaking

semiotic

this tradition studies how signs and symbols create and communicate meaning

socio-cultural

this tradition examines how communication creates, maintains, and changes shared social realities and cultural norms

critical

examines how communication and language reinforce or challenge power, privilege, and oppression

phenomenological

studies communication through people’s lived experiences and their subjective understanding of others

symbolic interactionism

this communication theory posits that identity is created through communication with others

symbolic interactionism

this communication theory posits that if we define a situation as real, it will be real in its consequences, regardless of objective reality

symbolic interactionism

this communication theory posits that meaning is created through language

looking-glass self

in symbolic interactionism, the mental self-image that results from taking the role of the other; the objective self; me

symbolic interactionism

this communication theory holds that “individuals’ self-conceptions result from assimilating the judgments of significant others”

generalized other

in symbolic interactionism, the composite social comparison group a person refers to in assessing their sense of self

self-fulfilling prophecy

in symbolic interactionism, the tendency for our expectations to evoke responses that confirm what we originally anticipated

I

in symbolic interactionism, the subjective self; the spontaneous force that fosters all that is novel, unpredictable, and unorganized in the self

me

in symbolic interactionism, the objective self; the image of self seen when one takes the role of the other

symbolic interactionism

this communication theory holds that symbolic naming is the basis for human society

coordinated management of meaning

this communication theory holds that persons-in-conversation co-construct their own social realities and are simultaneously shaped by the worlds they create

coordinated management of meaning

this communication theory holds that the way people communicate is often more important than the content of what they say

lived

in coordinated management of meaning, ___ stories refers to real life

telling

in coordinated management of meaning, story ___ refers to the way we choose to communicate

told

in coordinated management of meaning, ___ stories refers to our subjective account of reality

unknown

in coordinated management of meaning, ___ stories refers to missing information

untold

in coordinated management of meaning, ___ stories refers to what we choose not to say

unheard

in coordinated management of meaning, ___ stories refers to what is spoken but not acknowledged

untellable

in coordinated management of meaning, ___ stories refers to stories that are forbidden/painful

coherence

in coordinated management of meaning, ___ is learning to tell another’s story with integrity, to accept them on their own terms; does not mean finding or agreeing on the “true” story lived

bifurcation

in coordinated management of meaning, the ___ point is the critical point in a conversation where what one says next will affect the unfolding pattern of interaction and potentially take it in a different direction

coordination

in coordinated management of meaning, ___ entails the meshing of stories lived; collaborating in an attempt to bring into being their vision of what is good

cosmopolitan

in coordinated management of meaning, a ___ communicator seeks out conversation with differing perspectives

dialogic

in coordinated management of meaning, ___ communication refers to conversation in which parties remain in the tension between holding their own perspective while being profoundly open to the other

constructivism

this communication theory seeks to explain how some people communicate more skillfully than others to achieve communication goals

constructivism

this communication theory holds that cognitive complexity determines communication aptitude

constructivism

this communication theory uses the Role Category Questionnaire (RCQ) to assess cognitive complexity

cognitive complexity

in constructivism, ___ ___ can benefit a person in the following ways:

• organizational effectiveness

• better at reading others

• better at delivering comforting communication and showing empathy

• effective problem-solving skills

• better at listening comprehension

• more fluid family communication patterns

• less romantic jealousy

• improved interpersonal outcomes (with qualifiers for romantic relationships)

personal constructs

in constructivism, ___ ___ refer to contrasting features we use to perceive differences in people; necessary but not sufficient for person-centered messages

person-centered

in constructivism, ___-___ messages reflect an ability to predict and adapt to the receiver; attends to objective, identity, and relationship

social penetration theory

an objective theory of relational development

onion

social penetration uses the model of the ___ to illustrate layers of intimacy

self-disclosure

social penetration assumes we become more intimate through ___-___ that slows with increased depth; includes a depth and breadth of information

depenetration

in social penetration theory, ___ refers to layer-by-layer withdrawal of intimacy

outcome (O)

in social penetration theory, ___ refers to the value we assign to our relationships; if benefits > costs, social penetration proceeds

comparison level (CL)

in social penetration theory, ___ refers to the value one needs to be satisfied in a relationship; determined by relational history

comparison level of alternatives (CLalt)

in social penetration theory, ___ refers to the value you think you could get from a different relationship

relational dialectics

this communication theory holds that tensions are inherent in relationships

connectedness-separateness

inclusion-seclusion

certainty-uncertainty

conventionality-uniqueness

openness/closedness

revelation-concealment

interactional view

this communication theory holds that interpersonal interaction occurs within a system; understanding the system is central to navigating and changing our relationships

one-up

in the interactional view, a conversational move to gain control of the exchange; attempted domination

own-down

in the interactional view, a conversational move to yield control of the exchange; attempted submission

one-across

in the interactional view, a conversational move to neutralize or level control within the exchange

reframing

in the interactional view, the process of instituting change by stepping outside of a situation and reinterpreting what it means; can change the punctuation of the interaction

coordinated management of meaning

Name that Theory! We can’t access another person’s understanding of reality…but we can still find ways to tell his/her story with integrity, and we can still work together to pursue our mutual values.

relational dialectics

Name that Theory! If you experience tension, you must be in a relationship.

expectancy violations theory

Name that Theory! When someone does something we don’t expect, we react on the basis of our evaluation of the unexpected action and the likeability and power of the person.

symbolic interactionism

Name that Theory! Communication from others shapes our identities.

constructivism

Name that Theory! Cognitive complexity determines our ability to accomplish our communication goals.

social penetration theory

Name that Theory! Relationships form through self-disclosure. We weigh the costs and benefits and decide how to proceed (i.e. how much to disclose).

interpretive

the interactional view is more objective/interpretive

objective

social penetration theory is more objective/interpretive

objective

expectancy violations theory is more objective/interpretive

objective

constructivism is more objective/interpretive

interpretive

relational dialectics is more objective/interpretive

interpretive

coordinated management of meaning is more objective/interpretive

interpretive

symbolic interactionism is more objective/interpretive