Communication Science

Question 1

Communication

Answer 1

the relational process of creating and interpreting messages that elicit a response

Question 2

Communication Displays

Answer 2

-physical characteristics that in some way affect the behavior of others
-some can be biological, in which the sender has no control

ex from class: gorilla beating its chest

Question 3

Communication Signals

Answer 3

characteristics that are chosen and produced by individual organisms flexibly and strategically for particular social goals

ex from class: leaving a toilet seat up out of frustration after your wife pestered you to put it down

Question 4

What are the steps in a theory?

Answer 4

Define key terms
Establish scope
Explanation

Question 5

Steps of a theory example from class

Answer 5

New Yorker cartoon: “It’s just a theory, but perhaps it’s their opposable thumbs that make them crazy.”

Define key terms: “crazy” = don’t let us on the furniture, don’t like it when dogs bark
Scope = only behaviors enabled by opposable thumbs
Explanation = opposable thumbs lead humans to eat with their hands rather than directly with their mouth

Question 6

Theories

Answer 6

Theory is a broad explanation of the relationship between two variables

Question 7

Hypotheses

Answer 7

specific prediction based on theories that can be tested

Question 8

Semantic shift

Answer 8

change in the meaning of comm over time

example from class: waving used to be a way to signal that you don’t have a weapon but now it is a friendly signal that is expected when greeting someone

Question 9

Epistemology

Answer 9

a branch of philosophy focused on theories of knowledge (i.e. how we know things)

Question 10

Internal Validity

Answer 10

can we confidently rule out alternate explanations?

Question 11

When can an inference be said to have internal validity?

Answer 11

if a causal relationship between the two variables is properly demonstrated

Question 12

When can a causal inference be made?

Answer 12

-the cause precedes the effects
-the cause and effect tend to occur together (covariation)
-there are no plausible outside explanations for the observed covariation (nonspuriousness)

Question 13

External Validity

Answer 13

can we apply the conclusions of a study outside the context of that study? (i.e. are the findings generalizable more broadly)

Question 14

Null Hypothesis

Answer 14

a general statement or default position that there is no relationship between two measured phenomena

*assumes the theory is false

Question 15

Statistical inference

Answer 15

estimating properties of a population based on a sample

Question 16

Karl Popper’s influence

Answer 16

Challenged the idea that findings confirmed a theory. Instead, he claimed that positive findings merely corroborated a theory and that tests should be designed to falsify a theory

*can’t prove a theory

Question 17

Three functions for communication

Answer 17

1. Surveillance of the environment
2. Correlation of components of society
3. Cultural transmission between generations

Question 18

Various critiques of communication models

Answer 18

-overly linear
-doesn’t account for feedback or noise
-can be too simple or too complex (e.g. Barnlund’s model)
-doesn’t adequately consider context or environment
-difficult to test empirically