Unit 7: Introduction to Communication Theory
In our personal and professional lives, we often ponder the “right” ways to communicate with someone. In this unit, you will explore theoretical issues relevant to the study of Communication and their functions.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 3 hours.Read this chapter for an introduction to communication theory. Pay close attention to the definition and functions of communication theory. Additional discussions of the application of communication theory will be part of other units of this course. After reading the chapter, complete the discussion questions and write definitions for the key terms listed at the end of the chapter. These assignments will help prepare you for the final course exam.
Read this overview with examples of the Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory. This website provides summaries of numerous common human communication theories that will be applied throughout this course. Theories like this one help us understand how different individuals make sense of the world around them and how we share these messages with others. Read the page in its entirety to better understand the theory and common applications of the theory.
Read this overview of Symbolic Interaction Theory. Be sure to take note of the examples. This website provides summaries of numerous common human communication theories that will be applied throughout this course.
Read this description of Attribution Theory and its applications. The Attribution Theory of human communication attempts to explain how individuals interpret events and messages. The theory provides evidence that we attempt to predict the behavior of others by attributing their actions to known events.
In this short video, Constructivism is defined and applications of the theory are presented from the perspective of teaching and learning. The Constructivism or Constructivist theory implies that people construct their understanding of the world around them based on their interactions with information and events around them
Scroll to the section titled Theories of Persuasion. Under this section, read the description and applications for the Elaboration of Likelihood Theory. This theory of persuasive communication attempts to predict how much thought people give to analyzing messages and why they do or don't analyze messages. This theory is the heart of persuasive communication.
Continue reading within Chapter 7, Section 1. This time, read the description and applications for the Social Judgment Theory. This theory of persuasive communication predicts that individuals are more likely to agree with messages that they already judge as valuable. The more you know about the attitudes, beliefs, and values of the person you are trying the persuade, the better you are prepared to modify your message to align with their judgment. This theory is critical to understanding persuasive communication.
Read this overview of the Social Penetration Theory. This website provides summaries of numerous common human communication theories that will be applied throughout this course. Theories like this one help us understand how communication contributes to the development of interpersonal relationships. Read the page in its entirety to better understand the theory and common applications of the theory. Be sure to examine the provided examples.
This reading covers Uncertainty Reduction Theory. This website provides summaries of numerous common human communication theories that will be applied throughout this course. Theories like this one confirm that individuals are more comfortable with more predictable interactions. In other words, we need to reduce our uncertainty about others by gaining information about them so we can predict the other person's' behavior. Read the page in its entirety to better understand the theory and common applications of the theory.
Read this article for an overview and some examples of the Groupthink Theory. This website provides summaries of numerous common human communication theories that will be applied throughout this course. Theories like this one help us understand how communication practices and deference to others in group decision making can have a negative effect on outcomes. Read the page in its entirety to better understand the theory and common applications of the theory.
- This reading gives a description and applications of Face Negotiation Theory. Issues of Face or Face Management as a theory acknowledges that individuals are concerned about how others perceive them. This theory is often referred to as the politeness theory. We work at maintaining a public image and when we fail at keeping up that appearance we "lose face" and may suffer some embarrassment. Public image is created through our interpersonal communication.