Module 8 - High vs Low Context Flashcards
What are the 3 elements of the process model of communication?
- sender (encoding)
- channel (noise)
- receiver (decoding)
T or F: Senders send messages with meaning using sound or print
F: Meanings reside in the mental categories of the sender and the receiver, not in the messages themselves
Define communication fidelity
the degree of congruence between thoughts of 2 or more individuals following a communication event (interpreter decodes correctly)
What does HIGH CONTEXT culture mean?
when communications may be less verbally explicitly; knowledge is situational, relational, & context- specific
What are some characteristics about HIGH CONTEXT cultures? Name 3
- tend to be collectivist
- value face-to-face communication
- trust & relationship building is very important (strong boundaries)
- in-groups
- stress group harmony
What are 3 examples of HIGH CONTEXT cultures/ countries?
China, Japan, Korea, Latin American countries, Aboriginal cultures
What does LOW CONTEXT culture mean?
communication is straight forward and concise; communication is efficient in telling what action is expected; knowledge is usually codified, public, and accessible
What are some characteristics about LOW CONTEXT cultures? Name 3
- tend to be individualistic
- value logic, facts, & directness
- knowledge is transferable
- value sequencing & linear reasoning
- action oriented
What are 3 examples of LOW CONTEXT cultures/ countries?
Canada, Switzerland, Germany, US, Sweden, Finland, Denmark
How does high/ low context affect communication and organizing messages?
priorities in a culture shape ideas about the appropriate ways to organize information
What is an indirect plan (in communication)?
when the main message is somewhere in the communication but usually not in the beginning
Which context would you use an INDIRECT PLAN in routine messages?
High context
How would you organize a routine message in LOW CONTEXT cultures?
- direct plan of organization
- clear, exact, concise message
- get straight to the point
How would you organize a PERSUASIVE message in HIGH CONTEXT cultures?
- must come from an important person: WHO it comes from is very important
- must come from a speaker who is trustworthy and of status
- keep in mind facts are subjective and personal
How would one be persuasive in a LOW CONTEXT culture?
- use facts, figures, and logic
- facts reside outside of the writer (doesn’t matter who it comes from)
What is the most commonly received way to organize unwelcome messages in HIGH CONTEXT cultures?
- indirectness (using 3rd party to deliver the message or not delivering it at all)
What is the most preferred way for people in LOW CONTEXT cultures to receive unwelcome messages?
- spit it out
- straightforwardness & efficiency in delivering unwelcome news
How do HIGH CONTEXT cultures value information?
- information that is important is related to who is involved
- subjective information (such as opinions, deductions, & insights based on personal experience) is considered crucial
- relationship, history, & goals of the group are all important
how do LOW CONTEXT cultures value information?
- information should be objective and accountable
- data, deductions, & insights based on measurable units are what matters most (externalized data)
Which context makes decisions based on MEANS? What does this mean?
High context - relationships matter more than results
Which context makes decisions based on ENDS? What does this mean?
Low context - results & accomplishments matter the most
How do LOW CONTEXT cultures handle conflict resolution?
approach with a measurable goal to be achieved; problems and conflicts are objectified and externalized
How do HIGH CONTEXT cultures handle conflict resolution?
conflicts are part of collective life therefore deal with it without calling attention to it
