COM 351: Introduction to Communication Theory

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COM 351 Introduction to Communication Theory

• Introduction to Studying Communication
• Infante, D. A., Rancer, A.S., Womack, D. F.
  (1997). Introduction to studying
  communication, Building communication theory,
  3rd ed. Prospect Heights, IL Waveland Press,
  pp. 1-35
• Dr. Waldhart Dr. Lane

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THEORY QUESTION OF THE DAY

• THOUGHTS?
• IDEAS?
• COMMENTS?
• CONCERNS?
• QUESTIONS?

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UNIT 1 Foundations Defining Communication
Communication Science

• TEAM FORMATION
• METAPHORS
• INFANTE, RANCER, WOMACK DEFINITIONS
• THEORY
• OSBORNE READING

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Foundations Defining Communication
Communication Science

• Basic Components and Concepts
• Defining Communication
• Nature of Communication
• Communication Contexts
• Controversial Points
• Functions of Communication
• Importance
• Defining Theory

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Basic Components and Concepts

• Source
• Message
• Channel
• Receiver
• Noise
• Feedback

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Defining Communication

• How Do You DEFINE Communication?
• No single approach
• Lack of agreement
• Not a precise science
• Measurement is inexact
• Theoretical and META-theoretical differences

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DEFINITIONS (p. 8)

• Communication is the discriminatory response of
  an organism to a stimulus (Stevens, 1950)
• the transmission of information, ideas,
  emotions, skills, etc., by the use of
  symbols--words, pictures, figures, graphs, etc.
  (Berelson Steiner, 1964)
• the eliciting of a response through verbal
  symbols. (Dance, 1967)
• Communication has as its central interest those
  behavioral situations in which a source transmits
  a message to a receiver(s) with conscious intent
  to affect the latters behaviors (Miller, 1966)
• Human communication has occurred when a human
  being responds to a symbol. (Cronkhite, 1976)
• Communication occurs when humans manipulate
  symbols to stimulate meaning in other humans
  (Infante, Rancer, Womack, 1997)

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NCA Definition

• The field of communication focuses on how people
  use messages to generate meanings within and
  across various contexts, cultures, channels, and
  media. The discipline promotes the effective and
  ethical practice of human communication.
• People Messages Channels Contexts
• Communication is the management of messages for
  the purpose of creating meaning.

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The Nature of Communication

• Symbolic Process
• Social Process
• Co-orientation
• Individual Interpretation
• Shared Meaning
• Occurs in a Context

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Communication Contexts

• Five Basic Levels of Human Communication
• Intrapersonal (encoding and decoding)
• Interpersonal
• Small Group
• Organizational
• Societal (macrosocial)
• Public communication
• Cultural communication
• Mass communication

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APPLIEDCommunication Contexts

• COMMUNICATION AND THE AGED
• COMMUNICATION AND CHILDREN
• COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGNS (POLITICAL)
• COMMUNICATION EDUCATION (INSTRUCTIONAL)
• CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
• FAMILY COMMUNICATION
• HEALTH COMMUNICATION
• INTIMATE COMMUNICATION
• LEGAL COMMUNICATION
• PUBLIC OPINION PROCESSES

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Points of Controversy

• Communication and Intent
• Communication as Planned Behavior (strategic
  communication)
• Communication as a Transactional Process

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Functions of Communication

• Entertain, Inform, Persuade, Stimulate
• Basic Objectives
• Instrumental Objectives - goal
• Interpersonal Objectives - relational
• Identity Objectives - desired image
• Inherent Functions
• linking - relational
• mentation - mental growth
• regulatory - influence

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Importance

• Create Cooperation
• Acquire Information
• Form Self-Concept
• Entertainment
• Democracy - living in a free society

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Interdisciplinary Approach

• Emergence of behavioral science method to study
  communication
• Interdisciplinary
• Coordinated effort of attacking problems of
  mutual interest
• Borrow theory freely
• No need to develop theories?
• Return to individualism

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Defining THEORY

• How Do You DEFINE Theory?
• There is nothing so practical as a good theory
• There is nothing so theoretical as a good
  application.

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DEFINITIONS

• A generalization about a phenomenon that
  explains how or why the phenomenon occurs.
  (Frey, Botan, Friedman, Kreps)
• A system of generalizable statements that are
  logically linked together to understand or
  predict human phenomena. (Kim)

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UNIT 1 Foundations Defining Communication
Communication ScienceREVIEW

• TEAM FORMATION
• METAPHORS
• INFANTE, RANCER, WOMACK DEFINITIONS
• THEORY
• OSBORNE READING
• Communication Theory Assumptions and
  Perspectives THURSDAY
• Chapters One and Two - Griffin
• Chaffee and Berger (pp. 99-107)
• Farrell (pp. 123-124, 137)