Models of communication

Question 1

Concepts of Shannon Weaver Model

Answer 1

1. Sender (Information source) – Sender is the person who makes the message, chooses the channel and sends the message.
2. Encoder (Transmitter) –Encoder is the sender who uses machine, which converts message into signals or binary data. It might also directly refer to the machine.
3. Channel –Channel is the medium used to send message.
4. Decoder (Receiver) – Decoder is the machine used to convert signals or binary data into message or the receiver who translates the message from signals.

5.Receiver (Destination) –Receiver is the person who gets the message or the place where the message must reach. The receiver provides feedback according to the message.
Noise –Noise is the physical disturbances like environment, people, etc. which does not let the message get to the receiver as what is sent.

Question 2

Levels of communication problems (Shannon Weaver model)

Answer 2

1. Technical problem –How a channel causes a problem
2. Semantic problem –Is the meaning of message sent and received very different
3. Effectiveness problem –How effectively does the message cause reaction

Question 3

Advantages of Shannon Weaver Model

Answer 3

• Concept of noise helps in making the communication effective by removing the noise or problem causing noise.
• This model takes communication as a two way process. It makes the model applicable in general communication.
• Communication is taken as quantifiable

Question 4

Criticisms of Shannon Weaver Model

Answer 4

• It can be applied more for interpersonal communication than group communication and mass communication.
• Receiver plays the passive part in the communication process as sender plays the primary role that sends messages.
• Feedback is taken as less important in comparison to the messages sent by the sender.
• The model is taken by some critics as a “misleading misrepresentation of the nature of human communication” as human communication is not mathematical in nature.

Question 5

Schramm’s model

Answer 5

Encoding and decoding are two most important factors of an effective communication without which information can never flow between two individuals. It also revolves around the above principle. Coding and decoding are the two essential processes of an effective communication.
Schramm believed that an individual’s knowledge, experience and cultural background also play an important role in communication. Individuals from diverse cultures, religion or background tend to interpret the message in different ways.
according to this model of communication when a sender passes on the information to the receiver, the receiver must interpret it in the desired form the sender wants and give him the feedback or respond accordingly. Any communication where the sender does not get the feedback, the communication is not complete and thus ineffective.

Question 6

Laswell’s model

Answer 6

• Components: Who, says what, in which channel, to whom, with what effect
• This model is used for interpersonal communication or group communication to be disseminated message to various groups in various situations.

Question 7

Disadvantages and criticisms of Laswell’s model

Answer 7

• It does not include feedback and it ignores the possibility of noise.
• Very linear and Does not consider barriers in the communication process.
• Very general and only including very traditional topics.
• Is said to be propaganda based as it is more focused on the resulting outcome and generally used for media persuasion.

Question 8

Aristotle

Answer 8

the widely accepted and the most common model of communication where the sender sends the information or a message to the receivers to influence them and make them respond and act accordingly. Aristotle model of communication is the golden rule to excel in public speaking, seminars, lectures where the sender makes his point clear by designing an impressive content, passing on the message to the second part and they simply respond accordingly. Here the sender is the active member and the receiver is passive one.

Question 9

Categories of communication

Answer 9

• Intrapersonal
• Interpersonal
• Group communication
• Public speaking
• Mass communication
• Extra-personal communication