Theme 3 - Communications theory Flashcards
What is the linear model of communications?
Intended message - >
(Encoding)
Message as sent - >
(Transmission)
-> Message as received - >
(decoding)
-> Message as understood.
What are some examples of linear communications?
Mass media
eg: tv, radio advertising, direct marketing, promotions
What are some of the problems that occur in the linear communications model?
Encoding/decoding message
eg: Miller light beer in UK and USA
The source
eg Dress modelled in Vogue as more credible
Channel of transmission
eg: opinion leaders and formers
What are non linear models (Word of mouth) communications?
The communication process involves interaction amongst many parties in a network fashion.
eg: myNutella community
What is McCracken’s Meaning Transer Model 1986?
Shows how advertising is the process through which meanings from the culturally constituted world come to reside in goods.
What is McCracken’s culturally constituted world?
The values and symbols and broader cultural categories within a society.
eg: what is it like to be a student in a given society
eg: what is it like to be British
eg: what is it like to be of a particular gender
Describe an example using McCracken’s model to show how meanings residing in goods, come from the culturally constituted world?
Pampers ‘Make a Baby’s Life’
Cultural category: Motherhood
- Going the extra mile
- Exceptional care
- Baby at the centre of attention
- Anxiety surrounding family structure and work-life balance
- Mother personifies the brand
- Buying the brand means buying into being a good mother
- Helps actualise the project of being a mother
How do some people want to consume goods to break out of existing product categories within the culturally constituted world?
As society changes, there is a need to update what the product is made of.
eg: VW needed to change what the Beetle stood for after the 1970s flower power, community and hippies. Evolved to be used by Yuppies.
What are the four main processing responses (decoding)?
1) Attention to the communication itself
2) Learn something from the communication
3) Accepting or believing the communication
4) Emotion stimulated by community
In terms of the linear communications model, what is SOURCE?
Individual or organisation sending the message
In terms of the linear communications model, what is ENCODING?
Transferring the intended message into a symbolic style to be transmitted.
In terms of the linear communications model, what is SIGNAL?
Transmission of the message through a particular media
In terms of the linear communications model, what is DECODING?
Understanding the symbolic style of the message to understand the message.
In terms of the linear communications model, what is the RECEIVER?
The individual receiving the message
In terms of the linear communications model, what is FEEDBACK?
Receivers communications back to the source on receipt of the message.
- If a suitable feedback system is not in place the source will be unaware of the communications being unsuccessful and is liable to continual wasting of resources.
In terms of the linear communications model, what is NOISE?
Distortion of the communications process.
MALLEN, 1977
“The omission and distortion of information”, present in all communications.
Can be due to:
- Distraction
- Encoding inappropriate
- Realms of understanding and receiver not matched
What is the ATTENTION TO THE COMMUNICATION ITSELF response to communications?
Attention is necessary before any other processing can occur.
Many different medias compete for attention.
REFLEXIVE ATTENTION - Involuntary reaction
SELECTIVE ATTENTION - voluntary attention
BRAND AWARENESS - Utilise something different either visually or verbally within execution itself.
BRAND ATTITUDE - Target audiences likely to attend selectively only if message in ad relates to their current motivation in the category.