Theory Foundations

Question 1

Define Communication

Answer 1

a SYSTEMIC PROCESS in which individuals interact with and through SYMBOLS to create and interpret MEANING

Question 2

Systemic

Answer 2

like a system, involving a group of interrelated parts that affect each other

Question 3

Process

Answer 3

ONGOING, always in motion

Question 4

Symbols

Answer 4

Representations of other things

Question 5

Meaning

Answer 5

Not intrinsic but created

Question 6

What are the 3 A’s of Symbols?

Answer 6

Abstract, Arbitrary, Ambiguous

Question 7

Abstract

Answer 7

symbols are not concrete or tangible

Question 8

Abitrary

Answer 8

no natural or intrinsic relation to what symbols represent

Question 9

Ambiguous

Answer 9

meanings are not clear cut

Question 10

3 reasons why symbols are valuable

Answer 10

1. They allow us to NAME EXPERIENCES
2. They allow us to engage in SELF REFLECTION
3. They allow us TO SHARE feelings and ideas

Question 11

Theories are… (3 points)

Answer 11

1) An attempt to make sense of things
2) A symbolic way to represent phenomena
3) Subjective representations of phenomena

Question 12

What are the 4 Goals of Theory?

Answer 12

1) Description
2) Explanation
2) Prediction, control and understanding
4) Reform

Question 13

Shannon-Weaver Model of Communication (3 points)

Answer 13

1) Describes communication as a 1 way process
2) Communicator are either source or receiver
3) Focuses on information transmissions only

Question 14

Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver were both

Answer 14

engineers

Question 15

Explanations identify how key features of the phenomenon work together, what are the two types of explanation?

Answer 15

Law-based and rule-based

Question 16

Law-based explanation

Answer 16

causal or correlational relationships that occur in a wide variety of situations

Question 17

Rule-based

Answer 17

patterns that recur in specific situations

Question 18

5 ways to Evaluate a Theory

Answer 18

SHUT-P
Scope
Heurism (does it generate new thought?)
Utility 
Testability
Parsimony (is it appropriately simple?)

Question 19

3 methods of testing theories

Answer 19

quantitative,qualitative, critical scholarship

Question 20

“all theories are partial”

Answer 20

Theory focuses on a particular aspect of communication and often does not address other communication phenomena.

Question 21

inTRApersonal

Answer 21

communication with ourselves

Question 22

inTERpersonal

Answer 22

communication between people

Question 23

Brute Facts

Answer 23

concrete phenomena, objective

Question 24

Institutional Facts

Answer 24

the deeper social meanings behind the phenomena