DEVC 101 - Long Examination
Griffin, Ledbetter, & Sparks (2018)
Chapter 1 – Launching Your Study of Communication Theory
What is a Theory?The Nature of "Systematic, Informed Hunches"
Text:
A theory is a formal response to the “why” and “what if” questions that emerge when people care about a subject like communication. The authors initially present Ernest Bormann’s broad definition:
“An umbrella term for all careful, systematic, and self-conscious discussion and analysis of communication phenomena.”
However, they adopt a more specific, operational definition from communication theorist Judee Burgoon:
Key Definition:
A Theory is a set of systematic, informed hunches about the way things work.
Three Key Features
A Set of Hunches
A theory is not a single inspired thought but an element of speculation or conjecture.
Theorists are engaged in risky business because their ideas go beyond accepted wisdom.
Good theories must define key terms and indicate scope (e.g., Are some humans crazier than others? Are other animals included?).
Example (Taglish):
Ang ideya mo na “mas mahilig mag-Dota ang mga lalaki kaysa babae” ay isang hunch. Para maging theory, kailangan mo itong i-define, halimbawa: “anong age group at anong klase ng laro” ang kasama?
Informed Hunches
Theories are not based on vague impressions; they are “educated guesses” (Fred Casmir).
Theorists must prepare by reading articles, observing actions, running experiments, and being familiar with alternative explanations for the phenomena they study.
Systematic Hunches
A theory is an integrated system of concepts.
It must specify the relationships among its multiple ideas.
The goal is to “connect the dots” so that a clear pattern or conceptual framework emerges.
Images of TheoryMetaphors for Understanding
Text:
Theorists use metaphors to help visualize and understand what a theory is and what it does.
Theories as Nets (Karl Popper)
Core Idea: Theories are like nets cast to “catch what we call ‘the world,’” with the goal of making the mesh finer and finer.
Relevance: Highlights the ongoing labor of the theorist; can refer to grand theories (to catch all communication) or smaller, specific ones.
Caution: The idea that a net could snag everything humans think, say, or do seems naive and raises questions about free will.
Theories as Lenses
Core Idea: Theories act like camera lenses, shaping perception by focusing attention on certain features of communication while pushing others into the background.
Relevance: Explains why two scholars can analyze the same event and interpret it differently (e.g., argument as breakdown vs. democracy in action).
Example (Taglish):
Depende sa lens na ginamit mo, yung pag-aaway ng couple sa jeepney, makikita mo as sign of imminent breakup (breakdown lens) o normal lang na pag-express ng frustration (functional/relational lens).Caution: May lead to abandoning the attempt to discern what is real or true, viewing perception as solely dependent on the theoretical stance of the viewer.
Theories as Maps
Core Idea: A theory is a map designed to help you navigate part of the topography of human relationships. The book itself is like a scenic atlas of communication theories.
Relevance: Helps us understand unfamiliar terrain.
Key Takeaway: The map is not the territory. No theory can fully portray the richness, variation, and constant change of human interaction.
What is Communication?Defining the Relational Process
Text:
The field of communication has a “lack of discipline in the discipline,” with hundreds of definitions proposed and no single standard one rising to the top. The authors propose a working definition to highlight the essential features of what they study.
Working Definition:
Communication is the relational process of creating and interpreting messages that elicit a response.
Five Key Features
Messages
Messages (talking, writing, performing) are the core of communication study.
Crossroads Discipline: Communication focuses on messages, intersecting with fields like psychology, sociology, and literature.
Text (Key Term): A record of a message that can be analyzed by others, regardless of medium (e.g., book, transcript, film, or text message).
Creation of Messages
The content and form of a message are usually constructed, invented, or selected by the communicator—implying a conscious choice.
Conscious choice implies mindfulness. Raising awareness of message choices is a goal of many theories.
Interpretation of Messages
Words don’t mean things; people mean things. Meaning is assigned by both creator and receiver.
Author (Herbert Blumer): “Humans act toward people or things on the basis of the meanings they assign to those people or things.”
Polysemic (Key Term): Symbols are open to multiple interpretations.
Example (Taglish):
Ang salitang ‘text’ sa Pilipinas polysemic ‘yan. Pwede siyang: (1) message, (2) libro, o (3) pwedeng gawing verb na ‘mag-text’.
A Relational Process
Communication is always in flux; it’s a process, not a “freeze-frame snapshot.”
Author (Heraclitus): “One cannot step into the same river twice.”
Relevance: Communication is about relating (Celeste Condit) and affects how connections among people change and evolve.
Messages That Elicit a Response
Communication must stimulate a cognitive, emotional, or behavioral reaction.
Author (Frank Dance): Defined communication as “the eliciting of a response.”
If a message “falls on deaf ears” and stimulates no reaction, it isn’t communication.
Responses can be internal (e.g., feeling bad or glad) or external (e.g., grunt, silence).
Key Takeaways and Connections
Text:
The 32 theories in the book are organized into four major divisions based on their primary communication context.
Theories are tentative answers to practical problems in specific situations.
Grouping by setting helps classify and retrieve theories effectively.
The organization serves as a convenient structure for understanding communication contexts.
Connection:
The division of theories highlights the scope (a key part of an effective “set of hunches”) of each theory. The Communication Context dictates the kind of problems and questions a theorist will try to answer.
What Is Theory?
Theory Is Caring to Ask QuestionsThe Core Activity of Problematizing
Text:
While difficult to define once and for all, theory is an activity or process. The foundational assertion of theory is that a phenomenon—like two girls discussing a funny YouTube video—means “more than meets the eye.”
Theory is necessary because many people hold their own ideas (e.g., people watch films for enjoyment) unproblematically. The difference between an ordinary person and a theorist is awareness.
Key Activity: Problematizing
Definition: Asking questions and attempting to answer them.
Relevance: To problematize means to interrogate stories and experiences instead of taking them for granted.
Goal: To ask the more complex, theoretical questions of “how” and “why”, beyond just the “who” and “what.”
Core Dispositions for “Doing Theory”:
Caring (to ask).
Attempting to understand.
Key Takeaway (Self-Awareness):
One important benefit of doing theory is the development of self-awareness about the tentativeness and contingencies of one’s own ideas.
Example (Taglish):
Instead of simply saying, “Sobrang ganda nung love story, perfect ending!” a theorist will problematize by asking, “Bakit kailangang mag-sacrifice ng babae para maging ‘complete’ siya sa dulo, at bakit tayo natutuwa doon?”
Theory Is a Set of Systematic, Informed HunchesThe Formal Definition and Structure of Theoretical Inquiry
Text:
The process of theorizing is about making a series of interrelated questions and guesses.
Definition (Judee Burgoon):
A Theory is a set of systematic hunches about the way things operate.
Key Components of Theory:
A Set of Hunches
A hunch is a guess or conjecture that suggests uncertainty about something not yet fully understood.
Theory must be based on a group of ideas that collectively seek to explain a phenomenon.
Systematic Hunches
The ideas and questions must be interrelated and systematically connected to form a coherent pattern.
The theory must show how parts function together to make sense of the whole.
Its systematic nature is a precondition for calling it a theory.
Informed Hunches (Educated Guesses)
The hunches must be founded, grounded, and informed.
A theorist must seek answers carefully, thoughtfully, and critically.
Connection to Practice:
When explaining a phenomenon (like a video going viral), the proposed answer must be systematic—e.g., comparing it to other viral videos, analyzing the producer’s intent, or surveying audience reactions.
Theory Is Linked with Criticism and ScholarshipThe Dynamic and Evaluative Nature of a Discipline
Text:
Theories and questions that are collected and operationalized around a subject (e.g., how advertising impacts society or how genres work) form a field of study or discipline (e.g., Communication Studies, Film Studies).
A core purpose of founding a field of study is to be beneficial to people.
The Role of Research:
The work of theory necessarily involves:
Reading existing literature.
Gathering and analyzing data or materials.
Refining questions to arrive at more precise answers.
Dynamic Nature of the Field:
Neither theory nor the field of study is static.
Theories are not always consistent or universally accepted.
Continued engagement means continually re-evaluating the discipline because knowledge production is ongoing.
Two Inextricably Linked Activities:
Criticism: Evaluation of theories and research; the deployment of theory by application.
Scholarship: Specialization in a field; applying specific theory-based methodologies to research.
Key Takeaway:
Theory is tested, refined, or refuted through criticism. It must be informed by research, and vice versa.
Theory Is a Mode of Thinking (Historical, Cross-Disciplinary, Self-Reflexive)Theory as a Mixed Genre and Unstable Concept
Text:
The mode of thinking required for theory is complex and must be viewed historically. Fields of study develop, change, branch out, and intersect over time.
Cross-Disciplinary Nature:
Fields are permeable.
A single question (e.g., Why do people enjoy horror?) can be explored by Film Studies, Anthropology, Neuroscience, Economics, and Psychology all at once.
Critical Theory:
Draws from the humanities and social sciences.
Examines the political dynamics of constructing society, culture, and the self.
Focuses on debates around identity, representation, and agency.
Richard Rorty’s View:
Theory is a mixed genre of writing that combines:
Evaluation of literary works
Intellectual history
Moral philosophy
Social prophecy
Self-Reflexive Nature:
Theory involves re-thinking what is being analyzed.
The definition of theory must remain tentative and incomplete.
Unstable Definition (Jonathan Culler):
“Theory is not the theory of anything in particular, nor a comprehensive theory of things in general.”
This makes theory unstable and impossible to master.
Example (Connection):
A simple observation—like a Fil-Am’s exaggerated accent in a YouTube video—can open up questions about being (what it means to be human), knowing (what is real), and struggle (the politics of identity and agency).
Theory Is Inseparable from PraxisThe Political Commitment of Living Out Theory
Text:
Despite being impossible to master, theory is necessary because something significant—like meaning—is at stake. “Doing theory” means living life actively and reflectively.
Key Term: Praxis
Definition: The process of living out and enacting theory.
Broader Sense: The space between theory and practice, where one’s actions are informed by theory, and self-aware practice reshapes theory.
Action: Often refers to politically conscious action.
The Call for Commitment (Culler):
Since theory is impossible to master, doing it means making an open-ended commitment—to remain in a position where there are always important things you don’t know.
Conclusion (Choosing Sides):
Theories are not always compatible. “Doing theory” means choosing sides, staking claims, and—if necessary—entering intellectual combat. Theorists believe that theory matters in practice.
DEVC 101: Introduction to Communication Theory (Lecture by Dr. Clarisse Gonzalvo)
Defining and Visualizing Theory
Foundational Definitions and Conceptual Metaphors
Text:
A theory is a formal and detailed response to understanding how communication works. Different theorists offer varying definitions to capture its essence, but a key takeaway is that a theory is always a process of careful analysis.
Ernest Bormann's Broad Definition:
A theory is "an umbrella term for all careful, systematic, and self-conscious discussion and analysis of communication phenomena".
Judee Burgoon's Operational Definition (Highlight):
A theory is "a set of systematic, informed hunches about the way things work".
Key Term: Hunch
A hunch is a guess or conjecture, meaning a theory involves uncertainty about something not fully understood.
It must be a set of hunches, implying one good idea is not enough to form a complete theory.
Images of Theory
Text:
Theorists use powerful metaphors or "images" to help conceptualize and visualize the function of a theory:
Theories as Nets: The theory is cast to "catch" or capture certain aspects of the world (communication phenomena).
Theories as Lens: The theory functions like a lens, shaping and focusing our perception by highlighting specific features of communication while blurring others.
Theories as Maps: The theory acts as a guide to help navigate or understand a specific, complex area of human relationships. The map is not the territory itself, but a useful tool for navigation.
Connection:
These images emphasize that theories are tools for understanding—they must have a specific scope (net size), offer a clear perspective (lens focus), and serve as a guide (map function).
Theory as an Activity and DisciplineThe Core Process of Problematizing
Text:
According to Patrick F. Campos (2014), theory is primarily an activity rooted in intellectual curiosity and engagement. This activity requires us to look beyond the surface of everyday events.
Key Activity: Problematizing
Definition: The act of asking questions and attempting to answer them.
Relevance: It means to interrogate stories and experiences and not take them for granted. It is about caring to ask questions.
Key Takeaway: The chief benefit of doing theory is the development of self-awareness about the tentativeness and contingencies of one's own ideas.
Example (Taglish): Hindi lang dapat tayo magtanong ng "Anong nangyari?" (what happened). Kailangan nating i-problematize at magtanong ng "Bakit nangyari 'yon, at bakit ganoon ang reaction ng mga tao?" (Why did it happen, and why did people react that way?), para hindi natin tanggapin lang ang nakikita natin. (We shouldn't just ask "What happened?" We need to problematize and ask "Why did it happen, and why did people react that way?" so that we don't just accept what we see.)
Link to Criticism and Scholarship
Text:
The cumulative body of theories and their application forms a "field of study" or a "discipline". Because knowledge production is continuous, the discipline must continually reevaluate itself; new questions are always being asked, and old answers are refined.
Theory is inherently linked to two fundamental activities:
SCHOLARSHIP
Definition: Specialization; the application of specific theory-based methodologies to research.
CRITICISM
Definition: The evaluation of theories and research materials.
Process: Theory is tested and refined—or refuted and debunked—after being analyzed and evaluated, and after being deployed as criticism.
Key Connection:
Theory must be informed by research, and vice versa.
The Theoretical Mode of Thinking and PraxisCharacteristics of the Theoretical Mind
Text:
Theory requires a specific mode of thinking that is complex and self-aware.
Historical and Cross-Disciplinary:
Theory is not static. "Critical theory" is especially tied to the history of thought and draws from texts and knowledge across various disciplines.
Self-Reflexive:
Definition: A process where researchers "critically interrogate ourselves and one another regarding the ways in which research efforts are shaped and staged around the binaries, contradictions, and paradoxes that form our own lives" (Lincoln & Guba, 2003: 283).
Relevance: It means the researcher's own experiences and biases must be part of the analysis. It is necessary because the mundane and the everyday are not as inconsequential as they seem.
The Inseparability of Theory and Praxis
Text:
"Doing theory" is necessary because something as significant as meaning is at stake. The practice of theory extends into real-world action.
Key Term: Praxis
Definition: The process of living out and enacting "theory". It is often used to mean politically conscious action.
Example (Taglish): Kung ang theory mo ay tungkol sa digital detox (pag-iwas sa phone), ang praxis mo ay ang seryosong pag-alis ng social media apps sa phone mo. (If your theory is about digital detox, your praxis is the serious removal of social media apps from your phone.)
Goal of "Doing Theory" (Highlight):
It is about:
Seeking to understand the complex web.
Challenging the sets of conventions and practices that oppress or alienate people.
Engaging systems in the attempt to express authentic values.
The Need for Commitment:
Since one cannot believe in all theories simultaneously, "doing theory" means choosing sides, staking claims, and going into combat if necessary. It is a call to make an open-ended commitment to the process of learning, as "theory" matters in practice.
DEVC 101: Introduction to Communication Theory
Theories of Human Communication, Eleventh Edition: Foundations of Communication Theory (Littlejohn, Foss, & Oetzel)
The Nature and Structure of Communication Theory
Why We Study Theories and Their Core Dimensions
Text:
The foundational purpose of studying theories is that they provide explanations that help systematically understand the pervasive, important, and complex phenomenon of communication. The authors treat communication as central to human life.
Guiding Question:
How have scholars from various traditions and perspectives described and explained this universal human experience we call communication?
Transformative Effect (Thomas Kuhn):
Studying theory is transformative; it causes one to re-think, re-sort, and re-prioritize concepts.
It’s like being "suddenly transported to another planet" where familiar objects are seen in a different light.
The exposure is intended to make one’s own communication more adaptable, flexible, and sophisticated.
Definition (Littlejohn):
A theory is a "unified, or coherent, body of propositions that provide a philosophically consistent picture of a subject".
Theories formulate a conceptual framework to explain and understand phenomena.
Four Dimensions of Theory (Highlight Important Ideas)
For a description to be considered a theory, it typically consists of four dimensions, with the first three being the minimum requirement for a "worthy" theory:
Philosophical Assumptions: Basic beliefs that underlie the theory (e.g., about knowledge, existence, and value).
Concepts: The building blocks; terms and definitions of the theory.
Explanations: The dynamic connections or statements about how concepts relate to one another.
Principles: Guidelines for action or practice; their inclusion is considered controversial.
Philosophical Assumptions (The Core Beliefs)
Epistemology, Ontology, and Axiology
Text:
The philosophical assumptions a theorist holds are the starting point, determining how the theory will "play out". They provide a foundation for understanding a theory's position relative to others.
Epistemology (Questions of Knowledge)
Definition:
The branch of philosophy that studies knowledge, or how people know what they claim to know.
Key Issues:
Certainty: Is knowledge absolute (Universal Stance/Realism) or relative and changing (Relativism)?
Process:
Rationalism: Knowledge from the power of the human mind.
Empiricism: Knowledge from perception or experience ("I calls them as I sees them").
Constructivism: People create knowledge to function in the world.
Social Construction: Reality and knowledge are products of symbolic interaction within social groups.
Ontology (Questions of Existence)
Definition:
The branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of being; in communication, it centers on the nature of human social interaction.
Key Issues:
Choice:
Determinists: Behavior is caused by prior conditions; humans are reactive.
Pragmatists: People intentionally plan to meet future goals; humans are active, decision-making beings.
Consistency: Is behavior best understood by stable, enduring characteristics (Traits) or temporary, situational conditions (States)?
Unit of Analysis: Is human experience primarily individual (psychological dimensions) or social (relationships in groups and cultures)?
Axiology (Questions of Value)
Definition:
The branch of philosophy concerned with the study of values that guide research and its outcomes.
Key Issues:
Value-Free vs. Value-Conscious:
Value-Free: Classical science view that scholarship is neutral and seeks objectivity without personal values intruding.
Value-Conscious (Highlight): Critics' view that scholars must acknowledge their standpoints and recognize that values (personal, political, economic) influence research.
Scholar Intrusion: Does the scholar intrude on and affect the process being studied? The act of inquiry changes the system under examination, making the scholar an agent of change.
Ends of Scholarship: Should the goal be only to generate knowledge or should it be designed to achieve positive social change?
Example (Taglish):
Ang pag-aaral mo sa epekto ng social media sa mental health ay dapat value-conscious. Hindi ka lang dapat mag-observe (value-free), kailangan mong i-consider ang ethical issues na pwedeng maging dahilan para maging agent of change ka, para makatulong ka na makagawa ng positibong pagbabago sa society. (Your study on the effect of social media on mental health must be value-conscious. You should not just observe (value-free), you need to consider the ethical issues which could make you an agent of change, so you can help make a positive change in society.)
Concepts, Explanations, and Principles
The Three Theoretical Elements
Text:
These three dimensions provide the concrete framework for explaining a communication phenomenon, building on the philosophical foundation.
Concepts and Taxonomies
Concepts: The theorist's set of conceptual terms identified by observing variables and classifying them into categories.
Example: Concepts in Expectancy-Violation Theory include Expectancy, Violation, Nonverbal behavior, and Reward valence.
Key Term: Taxonomy (Highlight)
Definition: Theories that stop at the conceptual level, providing only a list of categories without explaining how they relate to one another.
Relevance: Many scholars are reluctant to label taxonomies as complete theories because they lack explanations of how things work.
Explanations and Principles
Text:
The best theories must go beyond taxonomies by providing explanations, which state how the concepts relate. This leads to a distinction based on the goal of the theory:
Causal Explanation: Aims to depict things as they are by identifying and explaining the causal mechanisms of events (Traditional viewpoint).
Practical Explanation: Aims to provide a guide to action (principles) for intentional agents who create meaning (Practical viewpoint).
Key Term: Principle (Highlight)
Definition: A proposition or guideline that enables someone to interpret and evaluate an event and decide how to act.
Structure: It has three parts:
It identifies a situation.
It includes a set of norms or values.
It asserts a connection between actions and possible consequences.
Key Takeaways and Connections
Coherence in Diversity (Robert Craig):
The discipline of communication will always be characterized by a multiplicity of definitions. Rather than seeking a single standard model, coherence is found through a common understanding of the similarities and differences (tension points) among theories and a commitment to dialogue.Impact of Definitions (Connection):
Definitions are not trivial; they frame and focus reality. The choice of definition launches scholars down different theoretical trajectories and predisposes them to ask distinct questions.The Discipline's Unique Focus:
In contrast to other social sciences (e.g., Psychology, Sociology) that see communication as a secondary process, the communication discipline sees communication as the primary, constitutive social process that organizes and constitutes reality.
Objective vs. Interpretive Approach (Scientific vs. Humanistic Approach)
The Objective Approach (Scientific)
Goal, Assumptions, and Methods
Text: The Objective Approach, often referred to as the Scientific Approach, focuses on establishing cause-and-effect relationships to explain and predict human behavior. It operates under the belief that truth is singular and discoverable.
Goal: To explain and predict communication behaviors using measurable data.
Assumptions (Highlight):
There is one truth (a singular, universal reality) that exists independent of the observer.
This truth can be discovered through careful observation and testing (sensory observation).
The research process should be unbiased and value-neutral (Value-Free).
Methods (Quantitative):
Uses quantitative research methods, which deal with numbers and statistics.
Common methods include experiments and surveys.
Example: A researcher measures whether the number of hours spent watching educational comics (cause) is directly correlated with an increase in reading literacy test scores (effect).
Example (Taglish): Gusto mong malaman kung gaano ka-epektibo ang online ads. Mag-e-experiment ka, at ima-measure mo ang conversion rate (ilan ang bumili) bago at pagkatapos ng ad campaign. Ang sagot ay nasa numero. (You want to know how effective online ads are. You will conduct an experiment, and you will measure the conversion rate (how many people bought) before and after the ad campaign. The answer is in the numbers.)
The Interpretive Approach (Humanistic)
Goal, Assumptions, and Methods
Text: The Interpretive Approach, also known as the Humanistic Approach, prioritizes understanding the meaning and experience of communication. It acknowledges that reality is subjective and constructed through interaction.
Goal: To understand the meaning behind communication and how people make sense of experiences.
Assumptions (Highlight):
Multiple truths exist because people interpret messages differently (Polysemy).
The subjective world of the individual is the source of meaning.
The scholar must be aware of their own values and standpoint (Value-Conscious) as they are an agent of change in the system they study.
Methods (Qualitative):
Uses qualitative research methods, focusing on rich text and observation.
Common methods include interviews, textual analysis, and ethnography.
Example: A researcher analyzes student reflections and conducts in-depth interviews to understand how students emotionally connect with educational comics and what personal meanings they create from the stories.
Example (Taglish): Gusto mong malaman kung bakit gustong-gusto ng isang tao ang isang luma at sirang sapatos. I-interview mo sila. Ang sagot ay nasa stories nila—halimbawa, ang sapatos na 'yun ay suot nila noong una silang nakipag-date o noong graduation nila. (You want to know why a person really likes an old, broken pair of shoes. You interview them. The answer is in their stories—for example, those shoes were worn on their first date or during their graduation.)
Key Takeaways: Focus and Understanding
Text: The key difference between the two approaches lies in their focus (prediction vs. meaning) and their underlying belief about the nature of truth (singular vs. multiple).
Connection: The choice of approach dictates the entire theoretical trajectory, including the type of questions asked, the data gathered, and the conclusions drawn, ultimately leading to different understandings of the same phenomenon.
Weighing the Words: Six Criteria for Evaluating Communication Theory (Griffin, Ledbetter, & Sparks, 2018, Chapter 3)
The Foundations of Conflict: Assumptions and Standpoints
Epistemology, Ontology, and Axiology in Communication Theory
Text: The persistent tension between Objective (Scientific) and Interpretive (Humanistic) scholars stems from fundamental differences in their philosophical beliefs, making agreement on what constitutes a "good" theory challenging. These differences manifest across three core areas: the nature of truth, human nature, and the role of values.
Ways of Knowing (Epistemology):
Objective Scholars (Highlight): Believe truth is singular and accessible through the senses (sensory observation). Their goal is to find universal laws that govern human behavior.
Interpretive Scholars: Believe truth is multiple and socially constructed. They seek to understand the unique individual and the subjective experience, rather than generalizing.
Human Nature (Ontology):
Objective Scholars: Adhere to Determinism, viewing human behavior as largely caused by prior conditions (external forces or biological factors) outside the individual's control. Humans are seen as reactive.
Interpretive Scholars (Highlight): Adhere to Pragmatism (or free will), viewing human behavior as voluntary and influenced by conscious choices. Humans are seen as active, decision-making agents.
Example (Taglish): Kung ang estudyante ay laging late, ang Objective view ay baka may biological cause (genetic sleep pattern). Pero ang Interpretive view, titingnan ang free will niya—bakit niya pinipili o inuuna ang iba't ibang activities imbes na matulog ng maaga. (If a student is always late, the Objective view might point to a biological cause. But the Interpretive view will look at their free will—why they choose or prioritize other activities instead of sleeping early.)
Highest Value (Axiology):
Objective Scholars: Value Objectivity and strive to be value-free. They believe personal biases should not contaminate the search for truth, adhering to the classical scientific method.
Interpretive Scholars: Value Emancipation and are Value-Conscious. They believe all research involves values, and their work should often be used to unmask ideology and challenge oppression (a key goal of Critical Theory).
Evaluating Quality: Standards and Criteria
The Six Requirements for a "Good" Theory
Text: These divergent philosophical standpoints result in two distinct sets of criteria for evaluating the quality of a theory. A theory is ultimately judged by how well it meets the standards of its own approach.
Criteria for Objective (Scientific) Theory (Emphasis on Rigor and Utility):
Explanation of the Data: A theory must clearly describe why the phenomenon occurs and bring order to otherwise confusing data.
Prediction of Future Events (Highlight): The theory must be able to state what will happen in a given communication situation, which allows for control and control of future events.
Relative Simplicity (Rule of Parsimony): A good theory is as simple as possible. The Rule of Parsimony (Occam's Razor) dictates that given two theories explaining the same phenomenon, the simpler one is preferred.
Hypotheses That Can Be Tested (Falsifiability): The theory must be testable. It must be possible to imagine an observation or experiment that could logically disprove the theory, as argued by Karl Popper.
Criteria for Interpretive (Humanistic) Theory (Emphasis on Insight and Impact):
Clarification of Values (Highlight): The theory must acknowledge and articulate the values and ideological commitments of the theorist, often seeking to reform power imbalances.
Aesthetic Appeal: The theory is judged on its style, clarity, and artistry. It must be compellingly written and often use vivid language or metaphors.
Reform of Society (Critical Theorists): A good theory should critique cultural assumptions and systems, ultimately generating fresh insight and leading to positive social change and greater justice for marginalized groups.
Qualitative Research: Theory must be supported by qualitative evidence (e.g., in-depth interviews, textual analysis) to capture the subjective meaning and context of the texts or actions being studied.
Key Takeaway (Shared Goal):
Despite the differences, both approaches share the ultimate goal of Understanding People.
Objective theories achieve this by seeking Universal Laws for generalization and prediction.
Interpretive theories achieve this through Deep Exploration of subjective, context-bound meaning.
Constitutive View of Communication (Source: Encyclopedia of Communication Theory)
The Constitutive Perspective
Communication as the Creator of Social Reality
Text: The Constitutive View of Communication (CVC) is a foundational perspective in communication theory that presumes that communication is a process of meaning creation or social construction. It moves beyond the traditional view of communication as simply a way to transmit information, arguing instead that communication is the basic building block for social life itself.
Key Concept: Constitution
Definition: The process through which communication forms, organizes, and maintains social reality, meaning, and relationships.
Relevance: The CVC asserts that reality is not "out there" waiting to be described, but rather, is brought into being (constituted) through people's interactions.
Example: Marriage doesn't exist as a physical object; it is constituted by specific communication acts (e.g., verbal vows, signing a contract) and ongoing relational communication.
Core Implication (Highlight):
Communication is not merely a tool for sending messages; it is the site and surface where meaning, organizations, and identities emerge. The consequences of communication are fundamental, shaping the very nature of human interaction.
Connection:
This view often underlies theories in various areas, including:
Interpersonal Communication: How relationships are defined and maintained through interaction (e.g., Relational Communication).
Organizational Communication: How a company's reality is created through its internal communication (e.g., Taylor & Van Every, 2000).
Contrast with Transmission View
Communication as a Variable vs. Communication as a Process
Text: The constitutive view stands in sharp contrast to the older and more common Transmission View of Communication (or the Variable Analytic Tradition). Understanding this contrast is critical for grasping the CVC's significance.
Transmission View (Traditional/Objective):
Focus: Views communication as a container or a pipeline for transferring fixed information from a sender to a receiver.
Goal: To study communication as a variable (e.g., message clarity, channel choice) that affects an outcome (e.g., attitude change, understanding).
Assumption: Reality and meaning exist prior to the communication process.
Constitutive View (CVC/Interpretive):
Focus (Highlight): Views communication as the primary, ongoing social process that actively creates reality and meaning.
Goal: To study communication as the phenomenon itself—the dynamic process by which social life is generated.
Assumption: Reality and meaning are created within and through the communication process.
Example (Taglish): Sa Transmission View, ang gossip (tsismis) ay isang variable na nag-ko-cause ng misunderstanding. Pero sa Constitutive View, ang gossip mismo ay isang act na nag-co-constitute (lumilikha) ng social hierarchy o ng identity ng group. Hindi lang ito nagli-leak ng impormasyon; ito ang bumubuo ng relasyon. (In the Transmission View, gossip is a variable that causes misunderstanding. But in the Constitutive View, gossip itself is an act that co-constitutes (creates) the social hierarchy or the identity of the group. It doesn't just leak information; it forms the relationship.)
Key Takeaway (Consequentiality):
CVC emphasizes the consequentiality of communication—the idea that communication fundamentally matters because it is what we do to construct ourselves, our relationships, and our world (Sigman, 1995).
Mapping the Territory (Seven Traditions in the Field of Communication Theory) – Robert Craig’s Metamodel
The Field’s Organization
Robert Craig’s Seven Traditions
Text: Communication professor Robert Craig sought to bring order to the “cacophony” of communication theories by proposing a metamodel—a way of theorizing about theory. This metamodel identifies seven distinct traditions of communication scholarship, each representing a unique way of conceptualizing and studying the communication process. This organizational scheme helps map the territory, clarify the perennial tensions between different approaches (e.g., Objective vs. Interpretive), and promote dialogue across different intellectual domains.
Key Term: Metamodel
Definition: A model that organizes and explains a field of study, providing a framework for understanding the similarities and differences among various theories.
Relevance: It moves the field away from simply listing theories and toward contrasting and comparing them based on their core assumptions.
Tradition 1: The Socio-Psychological Tradition
Communication as Interpersonal Interaction and Influence
Text: This tradition epitomizes the Objective/Scientific approach to communication. Scholars in this tradition believe that communication truth is singular and discoverable through systematic observation. Their primary goal is to predict future communication behavior and discover universal laws that govern human interaction.
Focus: Behavioral and measurable variables.
Method: Typically uses quantitative research (experiments and surveys) to identify cause-and-effect relationships.
Key Terms:
Variable: Any measurable characteristic that can change (e.g., attitude, intensity, nonverbal behavior).
Universal Laws: Generalizable statements about human communication that hold true across most contexts.
Relevance: Provides the scientific basis for theories of persuasion, attitude change, and social influence.
Example (Taglish): Anong factor (variable) ang pinakamalakas maka-influence sa persuasion? Gusto ng tradition na ito na ma-predict kung magbabago ba ang attitude mo sa isang brand o politician.
Tradition 2: The Cybernetic Tradition
Communication as a System of Information Processing
Text: Cybernetics, a term coined by Norbert Wiener, is the study of information processing, feedback, and control in systems. This tradition views communication as the link that connects different parts of a system. Its focus is on how information flows, is controlled, and is processed within networks (whether human, mechanical, or organizational).
Focus: System elements and network structure.
Key Concept: System
Definition: A set of interacting elements that together form a whole.
Relevance: Helps diagnose system errors and understand how feedback loops (information returned to the source) maintain balance or lead to change.
Key Terms:
Noise: Disturbing factors that affect message fidelity.
Feedback: The mechanism of information flow that allows a system to adjust its output.
Example (Taglish): Kapag nag-chat kayo ng jowa mo, ang feedback loop ay yung mabilis niyang reply. Ang delay o misunderstanding (noise) ay sanhi ng system error.
Tradition 3: The Rhetorical Tradition
Communication as Artful Public Address
Text: This is the oldest tradition in communication, dating back to ancient Greece (Aristotle). It views communication as artful public address—the practical art of using symbols to persuade and inform others. The focus is on the discovery of all available means of persuasion in a given speaking situation.
Focus (Highlight): Public speaking, argumentation, and the speaker’s technique.
Key Concept: Rhetoric
Definition: The discovery of all available means of persuasion.
Relevance: Analyzes how speakers choose their appeals (logos, ethos, pathos) and structure their messages to affect an audience.
Five Canons of Rhetoric:
Invention – Generating ideas.
Arrangement – Organizing the speech.
Style – Selecting language.
Delivery – Vocal and nonverbal presentation.
Memory – Mastering the material.
Example (Taglish): Ang rhetoric ay ang pag-aaral ng technique na ginamit ni President X sa SONA para pukawin ang damdamin ng mga tao at kumilos sila.
Tradition 4: The Semiotic Tradition
Communication as Sharing Meaning through Signs
Text: Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols. This tradition views communication as the process of mediating the world through the use of shared meanings. The central concern is how signs come to represent objects, ideas, or feelings, and the resulting problem of misunderstanding when signs are interpreted differently.
Focus (Highlight): Signs, symbols, and meaning interpretation.
Key Term: Semiotics
Definition: The study of signs and symbols (and their function and use).
Key Idea: Meaning is achieved when one uses a sign to stand for something else.
Key Terms:
Sign: Anything that can stand for something else (e.g., a traffic light).
Symbol: Arbitrary signs, such as most words, that have no natural connection to what they represent.
Polysemy: The quality of symbols being open to multiple interpretations.
Example (Taglish): Ang Pula na kulay sa Filipino flag ay isang symbol. Para sa iba, ito ay sign ng katapangan, pero para sa iba, ito ay sign ng rebolusyon o komunismo.
Tradition 5: The Socio-Cultural Tradition
Communication as the Creation of Social Reality
Text: This tradition is rooted in the belief that people’s lives are inseparable from the language they use, arguing that reality is not out there waiting to be discovered, but is created, maintained, and enacted through communication. It aligns with the Constitutive View of Communication (CVC).
Focus (Highlight): How communication produces social order and culture.
Author/Theory: Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
Relevance: Argues that the structure of a culture’s language shapes what people think and do. Language is seen as a pre-existing social tool that structures thought.
Key Terms:
Social Reality: The shared, agreed-upon construction of what is real, created through symbolic interaction.
Co-construction: The process by which two or more people’s communication creates and sustains their reality.
Example (Taglish): Ang paggamit ng salitang “pakialamero/pakialamera” ay hindi lang pag-describe ng tao; ito ay lumilikha ng norm sa kultura natin na nagsasabing masama ang sobrang pakikialam.
Tradition 6: The Critical Tradition
Communication as a Reflective Challenge to Unjust Discourse
Text: This tradition is primarily concerned with power, oppression, and hidden ideological structures. Tracing its roots to the Frankfurt School and Karl Marx, it critiques how culture and communication systems are used to maintain the dominance of powerful groups and marginalize others. It is highly Value-Conscious and seeks social reform.
Focus (Highlight): Ideology, power, and the critique of social structures.
Goal: To unmask unjust power structures and emancipate people from oppression.
Key Terms:
Ideology: Mental frameworks that legitimize oppression.
Culture Industries: Mass media controlled by corporations that pacify the masses.
Emancipation: The goal of critical theory—liberation from social constraints.
Example (Taglish): Ang patuloy na pag-display ng mga Westernized beauty standards sa TV ads ay isang ideology na nagpapa-feel sa mga tao na hindi sila sapat at nagle-legitimize ng corporate control.
Tradition 7: The Phenomenological Tradition
Communication as the Experience of Self and Others through Dialogue
Text: Phenomenology is the intentional analysis of everyday life from the standpoint of the person who is living it. This tradition places extreme importance on the individual’s subjective experience and perception of the world. Its goal is to understand human relationships and communication without the bias of preconceived ideas (prejudices).
Focus (Highlight): Subjective experience, authenticity, and human dialogue.
Key Concept: Lived Experience
Relevance: The search for the essence of phenomena as directly experienced by the individual.
Key Goal: To foster authentic human relationships through genuine dialogue.
Example (Taglish): Gusto ng Phenomenological approach na maintindihan ang subjective experience ng isang OFW. Hindi lang ang data (pera) ang importante, kundi ang pakiramdam nila ng kalungkutan o paghihirap na walang prejudice.
Key Takeaways and Connections
Text: The seven traditions serve as a comprehensive map for the field, demonstrating that communication scholars approach the subject with fundamentally different questions, methods, and goals.
The Objective/Interpretive Split:
The Socio-Psychological and Cybernetic traditions → Objective/Scientific approach (seeking universal prediction).
The Rhetorical, Semiotic, Socio-Cultural, Critical, and Phenomenological traditions → Interpretive/Humanistic approach (seeking subjective meaning and social critique).
The Power of Language:
The Rhetorical tradition → Focuses on language’s power to persuade (individual effort).
The Critical tradition → Focuses on language’s power to oppress or emancipate (systemic power).
Constitutive View Connection:
The Socio-Cultural tradition is the most explicit theoretical home for the Constitutive View of Communication (CVC), asserting that communication actively creates our social world, making it the most fundamental human process.
Communication Theory as a Field (Robert T. Craig, 1999)
Reconstructing Communication Theory
Craig’s Metatheoretical Project and Core Principles
Context: Craig aimed to unify the fragmented field of communication studies. Instead of forcing a single definition, he proposed a metamodel—a framework that organizes theories through dialogue and tension.
1. The Constitutive Model of Communication as a Metamodel
Definition: Communication is the fundamental social process that creates, organizes, and sustains social reality.
Relevance: This model positions communication as both the problem and solution—the common foundation across all theories.
Highlight: Communication is constitutive, not merely representational; it actively constructs meaning, identity, and relationships.
2. Theory as Metadiscursive Practice
Definition: Theorizing about communication is itself communication—a metadiscourse (discourse about discourse).
Relevance: Theories do not stand alone; they dialogue with and challenge each other, creating an ongoing debate in the field.
Implication: Each theory draws from common beliefs about communication but redefines them through critique and reinterpretation.
Key Takeaway: All communication theories are mutually relevant because they respond to practical problems of human communication in the lifeworld (everyday experience).
The Seven Traditions of Communication Theory
Craig’s Metamodel (1999) distinguishes seven ways of conceptualizing communication. Each has its own definition, problem, and metadiscursive vocabulary.
Dialogical-Dialectical Tensions (Topoi for Argumentation)
Craig emphasized that the field grows through tension and dialogue among traditions. These create topoi—common grounds for argument.
Expression vs. Control:
Phenomenological: Communication expresses authentic self.
Cybernetic: Communication regulates behavior within systems.
Truth vs. Power:
Socio-psychological: Seeks objective truths and causal prediction.
Critical: Exposes power structures and ideological control.
Example (Taglish):
Kapag magkaaway ang mag-asawa, ang Socio-psychological tradition ay titingin sa variable na “aggressiveness” para ipaliwanag ang conflict.
Pero ang Critical tradition naman ay tatanungin: “Paano kaya nakaimpluwensya ang gender roles at power structures sa paraan nila ng pakikipag-usap?”
→ Ipinapakita nito ang dialogical-dialectical tension sa loob ng field.
Implications for Theory and Practice
The Function of Theoretical Metadiscourse
1. Theoretical Work as Dialogue, Not Unification
Theories should not be merged into one.
Instead, their differences and overlaps should be clarified to foster intellectual exchange.
2. Disciplinary Practice as Dialogue
Communication scholars should engage in dialogical debate rather than aiming for dominance of one tradition.
Prevents intellectual imperialism—the idea that one paradigm should rule all.
3. Practical Commitment (Pragmatic Discipline)
Communication theory is practical—it helps people solve everyday communication problems.
The Constitutive Metamodel serves as the philosophical foundation for this practicality.
Key Takeaways
Craig’s metamodel organizes communication theories into seven traditions that coexist through dialogue, not hierarchy.
The Constitutive Model reframes communication as the creator of social reality.
Theories function as metadiscourses, shaping how people think and talk about communication.
The goal of communication theory:
To foster understanding, critique, and improvement of real-world communication through ongoing dialogical engagement among traditions.
DEVC 101: Dimensions of a Theory (Lecture by Dr. Clarisse Gonzalvo)
What Constitutes a Theory
Philosophical Foundations and Structural Components
Key Definition:
A theory is “any organized set of concepts, explanations, and principles that depicts some aspect of human experience” (Littlejohn et al., 2021).Core Idea:
A theory is not just an opinion — it is a structured explanation built from interrelated concepts that aim to systematically explain human behavior and communication.
Philosophical Assumptions (Worldview of the Theorist)
Definition (Highlight):
These are the guiding beliefs that shape how a theorist understands reality and knowledge. They determine what questions are asked, how data are gathered, and what goals are pursued.Three Philosophical Foundations:
Epistemology – The Study of Knowledge
Focus: How do people know what they claim to know?
Key Questions:
Can knowledge ever be certain?
Does knowledge exist before experience?
How does knowledge arise (through senses or reason)?
Example (Taglish):
Rationalism: “Alam kong mahal ako kasi naramdaman ko.” (You know through reason/intuition.)
Empiricism: “Alam kong mahal ako kasi pinakita niya.” (You know through observable evidence.)
Ontology – The Study of Being
Focus: What is the nature of human existence?
Key Question:
Do humans have free will, or are our actions determined by outside forces (determinism)?
Axiology – The Study of Values (Implied)
Focus: What role do values play in research?
Connection: Determines whether a theorist believes that research can ever be value-free or if personal and cultural values always influence interpretation.
Connection to Communication Approaches:
Objective (Scientific):
Believes in one discoverable truth.
Seeks prediction, control, and generalizable laws.
Interpretive (Humanistic):
Believes in multiple realities shaped by context and perception.
Seeks understanding and meaning, not universal prediction.
Standards for a Good Objective Theory
(Criteria for Scientific Evaluation)
Objective or scientific theories are judged by their ability to predict, explain, simplify, and test communication phenomena.
Prediction of Future Events (Highlight)
Goal: To establish universal laws that help predict outcomes in communication situations.
Relevance: Predictive accuracy gives the theory power and practical utility.
Example: If a theory predicts that “higher source credibility increases persuasion,” it can forecast how audiences may respond to a message.
Explanation of the Data
Goal: To provide logical and systematic reasoning that accounts for observed behavior.
Relevance: The theory must clearly describe how and why communication events occur.
Example: A persuasion theory must explain why credibility affects audience trust, not just that it does.
Relative Simplicity (Highlight – Rule of Parsimony)
Definition: When two theories explain a phenomenon equally well, the simpler one (with fewer assumptions and variables) is preferred.
Relevance: Theories should be elegant, straightforward, and easy to apply.
Example: A theory that explains attitude change with 3 variables is preferred over one needing 10—if both predict equally well.
Hypotheses That Can Be Tested (Highlight – Falsifiability)
Definition: A theory must be testable and open to disproof.
Relevance: Theories that cannot be challenged or tested lack scientific credibility.
Example: “Communication always brings people closer” is not falsifiable because there’s no way to test or disprove it scientifically.
Key Takeaway
A good objective theory allows us to explain, predict, and control communication behavior.
Its strength lies in its practical utility — its ability to apply theoretical insight to real-world communication situations and demonstrate universal truth.
Ultimately, theory serves as a map of human experience — organizing ideas, guiding inquiry, and explaining why people communicate the way they do.
Talking about Communication (Podcast/Lecture Notes)
Dimensions of the Communication Process
Core Components and Mechanisms of Meaning
Text: The study of communication focuses on specific, repeatable actions that define human interaction. The process is typically broken down into three fundamental components: the message, its creation by the sender, and its interpretation by the receiver.
Messages: Messages (or text) are the central object of study in communication, present in all forms of activity (talking, writing, listening, or engaging with media).
Key Term: Text — A record of a message that can be analyzed by others, such as a film, a speech transcript, or a song.
Creation of Messages (Highlight): Refers to the conscious and intentional construction of the message. Communicators select, invent, plan, or adopt the message and its form, implying mindfulness and choice.
Interpretation of Messages: Focuses on the subjective nature of meaning. Meaning is not inherent in the words but is assigned by people.
Author (John Locke): Argued in Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) that words have no natural meanings, emphasizing that “meanings are in people.”
Key Idea (Subjectivity): Because meaning is subjective, the same message is open to multiple interpretations (a property known as polysemy).
Example (Taglish): Ang pagpili mo ng emoji (creation) ay isang conscious choice. Pero ang interpretation ng kausap mo sa emoji na ’yun, halimbawa, kung “sarcasm” o “genuine emotion” ba ’yan, ay nasa tao na, hindi sa emoji mismo. (Your choice of emoji (creation) is a conscious choice. But the interpretation of that emoji by the person you’re talking to, for example, whether it’s “sarcasm” or “genuine emotion,” is in the person, not the emoji itself.)
The Constitutive View vs. The Transmission View
Communication as a Social Constructive Process
Text: Communication theory features a long-standing tension between two models that fundamentally define what communication is and what it does.
Transmission View (Traditional):
Focus: Sees communication as a tool or vehicle (a “pipeline”) for transferring fixed information from a sender to a receiver.
Assumption: The goal is to achieve something else (e.g., deliver a command, transfer data), and reality/meaning exists prior to the communication process.
Constitutive View of Communication (CVC) (Highlight):
Focus: Holds that things are brought about by communication. This view emphasizes that communication is the process of meaning creation or social construction.
Author (Nicotera, 2009): Defined CVC as the exploration of communication or interaction as a process of meaning creation or social construction.
Relevance: The CVC asserts that social realities, relationships, and culture are created, maintained, and enacted through interaction.
Example (Taglish): Kapag sinabi mong “Gusto kong mag-improve ang serbisyo ng staff” (Company Scenario), ang Transmission View magpo-focus sa paano i-deliver ang training manual. Ang Constitutive View, titingnan: paano binuo ng staff ang konsepto ng “magandang serbisyo” sa kanilang usapan (interaction) at kultura. (When you say “I want to improve the staff’s service performance” (Company Scenario), the Transmission View will focus on how to deliver the training manual. The Constitutive View will look at how the staff created the concept of “good service” in their communication and culture.)
Key Takeaway and Connection:
The CVC does not reject the Transmission View but rather includes it as only one practical way of approaching communication.
The CVC acts as a metamodel (as articulated by Craig) that helps scholars understand that different theoretical traditions are simply different ways of addressing the central, practical problem of how communication constitutes reality.
This requires scholars to be familiar with the seven traditions of communication theory.
Cybernetic Tradition (DEVC 101 Lecture)
Defining the Cybernetic Tradition
Communication as a System of Information Processing and Control
Text: The Cybernetic Tradition views communication through the lens of systems. It focuses on the flow of information, feedback, and control mechanisms within any complex system, whether human, mechanical, or organizational.
Key Author: Norbert Wiener
Coined the term Cybernetics, derived from the Greek word kybernetes, meaning the “steersman” or governor.
Relevance: The metaphor of the steersman observing deviations from a course and communicating with the rudder to counteract them highlights the tradition’s focus on control and error correction.
Core Focus (Highlight): Explores information processing, feedback, and control in communication systems.
Communication is seen as the link that connects separate parts of any system.
The core principle is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts; the system’s function is more than the total of its individual elements.
Problem of Communication: Breakdowns in the flow of information resulting from:
Noise (disturbing factors).
Information Overload (too much data to process).
Mismatch between system structure and function.
Information Theory and Network Analysis
Quantitative Study of Signal Transmission and System Structure
Text: The Cybernetic tradition utilizes Information Theory to quantitatively study signal transmission and applies Network Theory to analyze the structure and roles of links within a social or organizational system.
Information Theory (Highlight):
A quantitative study of signal transmission.
Focuses on linear transmission between human senders and receivers.
Addresses technical issues like uncertainty in code systems, message redundancy, noise, and channel capacity.
Network Theory (Highlight):
Analyzes the structure and function of relationships (links) in social or organizational settings.
Network Characteristics are variables used to measure the system (e.g., density, centralization).
Key Application: Commonly used in studying relationships or functions in organizations (e.g., student groups, companies).
Key Terms for Links/Network Roles:
Link: The basic unit of an organization; the connection between individuals.
Examples: Dyads (links of two persons), Triads (links among three).
Bridge: A member of a group who is also a member of another group, providing connection.
Liaison: An individual who connects two groups but is a member of neither group.
Isolate: An individual who is not linked to anyone in the network.
Example (Taglish): Ang Cybernetics ay ginagamit para i-analyze ang communication flow sa isang university. Kung may isolate na student, ibig sabihin may system error sa network structure, at posibleng mag-cause ng misinformation o breakdown. (The Cybernetics tradition is used to analyze the communication flow in a university. If there is an isolate student, it means there is a system error in the network structure, and it could cause misinformation or a breakdown.)
Connection: This tradition is highly aligned with the Objective/Scientific Approach due to its focus on measurable variables (e.g., channel capacity, number of links) and its goal of identifying system errors to predict and control the system’s function.
DEVC 101: Foundational Reviewer Notes
The Nature and Structure of Communication Theory
Definitions and Components
Text: A theory is a formal, organized response to understanding the complex phenomenon of communication. It moves beyond simple observation to provide a systematic framework for explanation and analysis.
Key Definitions:
Ernest Bormann: Theory is "an umbrella term for all careful, systematic, and self-conscious discussion and analysis of communication phenomena".
Judee Burgoon (Highlight): Theory is "systematic, informed hunches, about how things work".
Structure of Theories:
A theory is not a single idea but a set of ideas.
It must be systematic—meaning the hunches are founded, grounded, and informed.
Connections to the Field:
Theory is inextricably linked with criticism (the constant need to improve a study and evaluation) and scholarship (specialization in a field).
The Activity of "Doing Theory" and Praxis
Problematizing, Commitment, and Social Action
Text: According to Patrick Campos, "doing theory" is an activity or a process centered on intellectual engagement and self-awareness. It requires the theorist to interrogate the mundane and not take it for granted.
Core Activity: Problematizing (Highlight)
Definition: "Asking questions and attempting to answer them." It means to interrogate the stories and our experience of them and not take them for granted.
Relevance: It is about caring to ask questions and articulating the complexities of something.
Key Takeaways ("Doing Theory" Benefits):
To build self-awareness about the tentativeness and contingencies of one's own ideas.
To give answers to questions that we don’t usually ask.
A call that there are always important things that we don’t know.
Seeking to understand the complex web, challenging the sets of conventions and practices that oppress or alienate people.
Commitment and Praxis:
The process of theorizing demands commitment and action.
It means choosing sides because one cannot believe in all theories at the same time.
This commitment ensures that Theory matters in practice.
Example (Taglish):
Instead of just saying, “Ang daming fake news sa social media,” ang Problematizing ay magtanong ng, “Bakit nagiging mas ‘believable’ ang isang fake news story kaysa sa totoong balita, at anong contingencies sa buhay natin ang nagpapalabas na tama ito?”
(Instead of just saying, "There's so much fake news on social media," Problematizing is asking, "Why does a fake news story become more 'believable' than the real news, and what contingencies in our lives make it seem correct?")
Perception in Human Experience
Phenomenological Foundation of Reality
Text: Perception is viewed as a crucial starting point for understanding how humans encounter and build their reality, suggesting that direct experience often precedes language and reason.
Perception and Reality:
Primacy of Perception (Highlight): Perception is the first way that reality is encountered and happens before language and reason.
Foundationalist Primacy: It is the basis or ground of everything we do, regardless of when we do it.
Temporal/Genealogical Primacy:
Perception serves as the origin/source/basis of how we see the world.
Connection:
This view often aligns with Phenomenological approaches, which prioritize the lived experience of the individual as the fundamental source of knowledge.
Example (Taglish):
Kapag nakita mong biglang tumahimik ang isang kaibigan, ang Perception (pag-sense mo) ang unang magsasabi sa’yo na, “May problema ’to” (Foundationalist Primacy), bago mo pa ma-articulate ang rason (before language and reason) kung bakit.