Chapter 2 - Perspectives on Human Communication

Question 0

Theory

Answer 0

A set of statements that explains a particular phenomenon.

Question 1

Paradigm

Answer 1

Belief system that represents a particular world view.

Question 3

Methods

Answer 3

The specific ways that scholars collect and analyze data which they then use to prove or disprove their theories.

Question 4

Rhetoricaians

Answer 4

Scholars who study the art of public speaking and the art of persuasion.

Question 5

Elocutionists

Answer 5

Scholars in the 19th century who promoted the study of the mechanics of public speaking, including proper pronunciation, grammar, and gestures.

Question 6

What are three contemporary approaches to studying communication?

Answer 6

1. The Social Science Approach
2. The Interpretive Approach
3. The Critical Approach

Question 7

Why don’t communication scholars agree on the best way to study communication?

Answer 7

The communication discipline is interdisciplinary in nature - it’s paradigms, theories, and methods have been influenced by different disciplines over the years.

Question 8

Social Science Approach

Answer 8

Contemporary term for the behaviorist approach.

Question 9

Behaviorism

Answer 9

The focus on the study of behavior as a science.

Question 10

Naturalistic

Answer 10

Relating to everyday, real-life situations, such as a classroom, cafe, or shopping mall.

Question 11

Quantitative Methods

Answer 11

Methods that convert data to numerical indicators, and then analyze these numbers using statistics to establish relationships among the concepts.

Question 12

Demand-Withdrawl

Answer 12

An interaction pattern in which one partner criticizes or tries to change the other partner, who responds by becoming defensive and the disengaging - either psychologically or physically.

Question 13

Attachment

Answer 13

An emotional tie, such as the closeness young children develop with their caregivers.

Question 14

What are the underlying assumptions of the social science approach?

Answer 14

1. There are universal laws within communication that are universal.
2. Predictions are possible because reality is both observable and describable.

Question 15

Identify at least two social science theories that address interpersonal conflict.

Answer 15

1. Demand-Withdrawl

2. Attachment

Question 16

What is the overall guideline for ethical research, according to the social science scholars?

Answer 16

All participants must be informed about all aspects of the research process.

Question 17

What are the strengths and limitations of the social science?

Answer 17

Strength: Identifies communication patterns and associations among variables.

Limitation: Does not focus on the influence of power or societal forces.

Question 18

Interpretive Approach

Answer 18

Contemporary term for humanistic (rhetorical) study.

Question 19

Rhetoric

Answer 19

Communication that is used to influence the attitudes or behaviors of others; the art of persuasion.

Question 20

Humanism

Answer 20

A system of thought that celebrates human nature and its potential.

Question 21

Qualitative Methods

Answer 21

Methods in which researchers study naturally occurring communication rather than assembling data and converting it to numbers.

Question 22

Content Analysis

Answer 22

Approach to understanding communication that focuses on specific aspects of the content of a text or group of texts.

Question 23

Ethnographic

Answer 23

Relating to studies in which researchers actively engage with participants.

Question 24

Rhetorical Analysis

Answer 24

Used by researchers to examine texts or public speeches as they occur in society with the aim of interpreting textual meaning.

Question 25

What are the underlying assumptions of the interpretive approach?

Answer 25

1. Humans construct their own reality.

2. Researchers mist tap into these constructions for a full understanding of human communication.

Question 26

Identify at least two interpretive research methods.

Answer 26

1. Qualitative Methods
2. Content Analysis
3. Ethnographic Methods
4. Rhetorical Analysis

Question 27

What is the overall guideline for ethical concerns of interpretive researchers?

Answer 27

A researcher’s relationship with participants involves being friendly but at the same time maintaining sufficient scholarly distance and disengaging appropriately from participants after the research is completed.

Question 28

What are the strengths and limitations of the interpretive approach?

Answer 28

Strength: Emphasizes in-depth study of communication.

Limitations: Limited number of participants; does not focus on power or societal forces.

Question 29

Critical Approach

Answer 29

An approach used not only to understand human behavior but ultimately change society.

Question 30

Textual Analysis

Answer 30

Similar to rhetorical analysis; used to analyze cultural “products,” such as media and public speeches.

Question 31

What are the underlying assumptions of the critical approach?

Answer 31

1. By examining power differences and writing about them, people gain the awareness they need to resist societal forces.
2. Resistance might be expressed in a number of ways.
3. Reality is subjective.

Question 32

Identify at least two critical methods that address conflict.

Answer 32

1. Textual Analysis

2. Field Observation

Question 33

What are two ethical concerns of critical researchers?

Answer 33

1. The way in which researchers and other scholars present the worldview of others.
2. Critical researchers have a rather distant relationship to the objects of their study.

Question 34

What are the strengths and limitations of the critical approach?

Answer 34

Strength: Emphasizes power relations in communication interactions; recognizes societal impacts on communication.

Limitation: Does not focus on face-to-face communication.

Question 35

Why is it important to draw from all three research approaches in studying communication?

Answer 35

Each approach offers a unique way to view communication, even though they may sometimes contradict each other.

Question 36

What does each research approach contribute to the synergetic model of communication?

Answer 36

The Social Science Approach seeks snapshots of certain communication phenomena and from them attempts to find universal laws that explain human communication.

The Interpretive Approach uses content analysis, ethnographic field studies, and rhetorical analysis to take a more individualized, specific look at human communication.

The Critical Approach seeks to uncover the element of power that exists in every interaction and to use communication analysis to effect social change.