Communication Studies and Bioethics Lecture Review

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering all key concepts, principles, frameworks, and historical milestones from the Communications and Bioethics lecture notes.

How is communication defined in the lecture notes?

Communication is defined as the ongoing exchange of symbols, signs, and behaviours involving sending, receiving, encoding, and decoding material either face-to-face or digitally.

What are the primary components of the Transactional Model of Communication?

The model consists of the Sender and Receiver (roles are fluid and simultaneous), Message (content communicated), Channel (medium sent through), Noise (barriers to understanding), Feedback (responses showing understanding), and Context (environment, culture, timing).

What are the five main types of communication described in the notes?

Verbal (spoken words, tone, formality), Written (emails, letters, messages), Nonverbal (gestures, eye contact, posture), Active Listening (receiving and responding thoughtfully), and Visual (images, media, symbols).

What are the five major categories of communication barriers?

Physical barriers (noise, faulty tech, lighting), Psychological barriers (emotions, stress, fear, bias), Language barriers (jargon, slang, fluency), Cultural barriers (differing customs or values), and Perceptual barriers (judgements and assumptions).

What requirements define ethical communication?

Ethical communication requires honesty, avoiding misleading statements, showing respect for privacy and beliefs, using inclusive language, avoiding discrimination, and crediting ideas without plagiarism.

What are the four role players / stakeholder categories in biotechnology communication?

Primary stakeholders (directly affected, e.g., patients, caregivers), Key stakeholders (legally or informally influential, e.g., legal guardians), Secondary stakeholders (indirectly affected, e.g., support staff, community), and Allied stakeholders (involved in care but not affected, e.g., nurses, insurance).

What is leakage in non-verbal communication?

Leakage refers to the unintentional release of true feelings or attitudes through non-verbal signals when a person attempts to hide their true emotions, often occurring under stress or dishonesty.

What are the seven categories of non-verbal communication?

Kinesics (gestures, expressions, posture), Paralinguistics (vocal tone, pitch, volume), Proxemics (use of physical space), Haptics (touch), Chronemics (use of time and delays), Physical appearance (clothing, grooming), and Artifacts (personal objects, decor).

What are the three core processes of listening?

Affective (emotional willingness to listen), Cognitive (mental processing and understanding the message), and Behavioural (verbal and non-verbal feedback responses).

What are the five types of listening approaches?

Pretend Listening (Pseudo-listening), Enjoyment Listening (Appreciative Listening), Emotional Listening (Empathetic Listening), Instructional Listening (Comprehensive Listening), and Evaluative Listening (Critical Listening).

How does Edward T. Hall's Cultural Iceberg model divide culture?

It splits culture into Visible Culture above the surface (language, dress, food, arts, greetings) and Invisible Culture below the surface (beliefs, values, communication styles, time/authority attitudes, personal space, decision-making).

What are Geert Hofstede's six key cultural dimensions?

Power Distance, Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance, Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation, and Indulgence vs. Restraint.

What is intrapersonal communication?

Communication that happens within the self—private, often silent, serving as the basis of self-awareness, emotional regulation, internal dialogue, and personal decision-making.

According to the notes, how does interpersonal communication connect to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

Interpersonal communication helps fulfill Love and Belonging (fostering relationships), Esteem (providing feedback, validation, and recognition), and Self-Actualization (enabling mentorship, collaboration, and meaningful dialogue).

What are Martin Buber's two distinct modes of relationships?

I-Thou (engaging with others as unique, whole beings with empathy and presence) and I-It (treating others as objects or means to an end).

What three fundamental needs are identified in William Schutz's interpersonal needs theory?

Inclusion (the need to belong and be recognized), Control (the need for influence and autonomy in relationships), and Affection (the need for emotional closeness and warmth).

How is a small group defined in communication studies?

A small group consists of $3$ to $15$ people who interact verbally or nonverbally, perform informal roles, feel a sense of belonging, and collaborate to achieve a desired goal.

What are the four main speech delivery methods in public speaking?

Manuscript reading, speaking from memory, impromptu delivery, and extemporaneous (unrehearsed) speaking.

How do Mass Communication and Interpersonal Communication compare regarding audience size and feedback?

Mass Communication targets large, diverse audiences (potentially millions) with limited and delayed feedback; Interpersonal Communication involves one-on-one or small groups with immediate, real-time feedback.

What formatting best practices (Do's) should be followed when creating a resume?

Use clear fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman in $10$\text{--}$12\,pt$ size), keep formatting consistent, use action verbs showing measurable results, keep it concise ($1$ page for new graduates, $2$ max), tailor it to the specific job, and send as a PDF.

What is bioethics?

Bioethics is a field of study that explores the ethical issues of health-related sciences and analyzes advances in science and medicine across human, plant, and animal contexts.

What significant research ethics guidelines were established in $1947$, $1964$, and $1979$?

The Nuremberg Code ($1947$; voluntary consent, avoiding suffering), the Declaration of Helsinki ($1964$; global human research standards), and the Belmont Report ($1979$; foundational for IRBs).

What are the four primary core principles of bioethics?

Autonomy (respecting an individual's right to make independent decisions), Beneficence (acting to benefit others), Non-maleficence (doing no harm), and Justice (fairness in treatment and resource allocation).

What are the three main approaches under Consequentialist Theory?

The Utilitarian Approach (greatest good for greatest number), the Egoistic Approach (producing greatest good for oneself), and the Common Good Approach (benefiting the community as a whole).

What philosopher is associated with Deontological (Duty-Based) Ethics, and what is his central formula?

Immanuel Kant ($1724$\text{--}$1804$); his formula for discovering ethical duty is the "categorical imperative."

How does Feminist Ethics critique dominant ethical theories?

It critiques dominant theories like Kantianism and Utilitarianism for being overly abstract, individualistic, and male-centered, while emphasizing care ethics, emotional responsiveness, vulnerability, dependency, and social context.

What are the four steps of the Hastings Framework of Ethical Inquiry?

Step $1$: Awareness (questioning, context, facts, stakeholders), Step $2$: Reasoning/Analysis (evaluating options against principles), Step $3$: Decision (motivated choice and responsibility), and Step $4$: Outcome (implementation, monitoring, and evaluation).

How does Agrobacterium tumefaciens transfer foreign genes into plants during genetic engineering?

In nature, A. tumefaciens enters through a wound and inserts a portion of its circular double-stranded Ti plasmid called T-DNA into the plant cell chromosome. For genetic engineering, the tumor-causing genes in T-DNA are removed and replaced with desired genes.

What are the five main physical/chemical techniques used for plant cell transgenesis?

Biolistic (Gene Gun) Transformation, Electroporation, Microinjection, Protoplast Transformation, and Virus-mediated Transformation.

What are the key statistics regarding GM crop production in South Africa?

South Africa dedicates about $2.74\text{ million}$ hectares annually to GM crops. Cotton is $100\%$ GM, soybean is $95\%$ GM, and maize is more than $85\%$ GM.

What is Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)?

SCNT is a genetic modification strategy used for cloning and generating GM animals where the nucleus of a somatic cell is transferred into an egg cell that has had its nucleus removed.

What are animal bioreactors and what purpose do they serve?

Animal bioreactors are GM animals (such as goats, sheep, cows, or chickens) engineered to produce therapeutic proteins, enzymes, hormones, and antibodies in large quantities at lower costs.

What clinical criteria must be met before evaluating a patient for terminal sedation?

The patient must have a terminal illness, severe symptoms unresponsive to treatment, a "do not resuscitate" order in effect, and imminent death (hours to days).

What are the four required characteristics of sound ethical criteria?

Universalizability (applies consistently), Logical consistency (avoids self-contradiction), Practicality (offers realistic guidance), and Human flourishing (prioritizes reducing harm and promoting well-being).

What four ethical principles are evaluated when assessing contraceptive methods?

Autonomy (voluntary reproductive choices), Beneficence (improving well-being and reducing health risks), Non-maleficence (minimizing physical/social harm and explaining side effects), and Justice (fair access to contraception).