CCI 150 – LISA GARY UTK EXAM 1 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION 2026-2027
CCI 150 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 1
CCI 150 Lisa Gary - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
1. What is communication? Communication is the process of creating and
sharing meaning through symbolic interaction.
2. What are the key elements of the communication process? Sender,
message, channel, receiver, feedback, context, and noise.
3. Define intrapersonal communication. Communication that occurs within
oneself, including self-talk and internal thought processes.
4. Define interpersonal communication. Communication between two or
more people, typically in close relationships or face-to-face settings.
5. What is small group communication? Communication among 3-12 people
working toward a common goal with some degree of leadership structure.
6. What is public communication? One person speaking to a large audience
with limited interaction.
7. What is mass communication? Communication transmitted to large
audiences through media channels like TV, radio, or internet.
8. What does the term "symbol" mean in communication? A word, gesture,
or object that represents something else by association or convention.
9. Why is communication considered a process? Because it is ongoing,
dynamic, and constantly changing rather than static.
,10. What is feedback in communication? The response from the receiver back
to the sender that helps gauge message effectiveness.
11. What is noise in communication? Anything that interferes with or distorts
the message being sent.
12. Name three types of noise. Physical noise, psychological noise, and
semantic noise.
13. What is physical noise? External environmental sounds that interfere with
message transmission (traffic, music, etc.).
14. What is psychological noise? Internal distractions like thoughts, emotions,
or biases that affect message reception.
15. What is semantic noise? Confusion caused by language differences,
jargon, or unclear word meanings.
16. What is a channel in communication? The medium through which a
message travels (verbal, written, nonverbal, digital).
17. What is encoding? The process of converting thoughts and ideas into
symbols or messages.
18. What is decoding? The process of interpreting and making sense of
received messages.
19. What is context in communication? The physical, social, psychological,
and temporal environment in which communication occurs.
20. What are communication competencies? The knowledge, skills, and
motivation needed to communicate effectively in various situations.
21. What is communication apprehension? Fear or anxiety associated with
real or anticipated communication with others.
22. What is the transactional model of communication? A model showing
communication as a simultaneous, interactive process where all parties are both
senders and receivers.
23. What is the linear model of communication? An early, one-way model
showing communication flowing from sender to receiver without feedback.
24. What is the interactive model of communication? A model that adds
feedback to the linear model but still shows communication as a back-and-forth
process.
, 25. Why is communication irreversible? Once a message is sent, it cannot be
taken back; you can only try to clarify or correct.
26. What does it mean that communication is inevitable? We cannot not
communicate; even silence or inaction sends a message.
27. What is metacommunication? Communication about communication;
discussing how we communicate.
28. What is the difference between content and relationship dimensions of
messages? Content is what is said; relationship is how it's said and what it
implies about the relationship.
29. What are communication ethics? Moral principles that guide
communication behavior and decision-making.
30. What is self-disclosure? Revealing personal information about oneself to
others.
31. What is the Johari Window? A model showing four areas of self-
awareness: open, blind, hidden, and unknown.
32. What is the "open" area in the Johari Window? Information about
yourself that both you and others know.
33. What is the "blind" area in the Johari Window? Information others
know about you that you don't know about yourself.
34. What is the "hidden" area in the Johari Window? Information you know
about yourself but keep from others.
35. What is the "unknown" area in the Johari Window? Information neither
you nor others know about you.
36. What is communication climate? The emotional tone or atmosphere in a
relationship or interaction.
37. What creates a positive communication climate? Supportive messages,
confirmation, and respect.
38. What creates a negative communication climate? Defensive messages,
disconfirmation, and criticism.
39. What is confirming communication? Messages that acknowledge,
recognize, and validate another person.
40. What is disconfirming communication? Messages that deny, ignore, or
invalidate another person.
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION 2026-2027
CCI 150 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 1
CCI 150 Lisa Gary - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
1. What is communication? Communication is the process of creating and
sharing meaning through symbolic interaction.
2. What are the key elements of the communication process? Sender,
message, channel, receiver, feedback, context, and noise.
3. Define intrapersonal communication. Communication that occurs within
oneself, including self-talk and internal thought processes.
4. Define interpersonal communication. Communication between two or
more people, typically in close relationships or face-to-face settings.
5. What is small group communication? Communication among 3-12 people
working toward a common goal with some degree of leadership structure.
6. What is public communication? One person speaking to a large audience
with limited interaction.
7. What is mass communication? Communication transmitted to large
audiences through media channels like TV, radio, or internet.
8. What does the term "symbol" mean in communication? A word, gesture,
or object that represents something else by association or convention.
9. Why is communication considered a process? Because it is ongoing,
dynamic, and constantly changing rather than static.
,10. What is feedback in communication? The response from the receiver back
to the sender that helps gauge message effectiveness.
11. What is noise in communication? Anything that interferes with or distorts
the message being sent.
12. Name three types of noise. Physical noise, psychological noise, and
semantic noise.
13. What is physical noise? External environmental sounds that interfere with
message transmission (traffic, music, etc.).
14. What is psychological noise? Internal distractions like thoughts, emotions,
or biases that affect message reception.
15. What is semantic noise? Confusion caused by language differences,
jargon, or unclear word meanings.
16. What is a channel in communication? The medium through which a
message travels (verbal, written, nonverbal, digital).
17. What is encoding? The process of converting thoughts and ideas into
symbols or messages.
18. What is decoding? The process of interpreting and making sense of
received messages.
19. What is context in communication? The physical, social, psychological,
and temporal environment in which communication occurs.
20. What are communication competencies? The knowledge, skills, and
motivation needed to communicate effectively in various situations.
21. What is communication apprehension? Fear or anxiety associated with
real or anticipated communication with others.
22. What is the transactional model of communication? A model showing
communication as a simultaneous, interactive process where all parties are both
senders and receivers.
23. What is the linear model of communication? An early, one-way model
showing communication flowing from sender to receiver without feedback.
24. What is the interactive model of communication? A model that adds
feedback to the linear model but still shows communication as a back-and-forth
process.
, 25. Why is communication irreversible? Once a message is sent, it cannot be
taken back; you can only try to clarify or correct.
26. What does it mean that communication is inevitable? We cannot not
communicate; even silence or inaction sends a message.
27. What is metacommunication? Communication about communication;
discussing how we communicate.
28. What is the difference between content and relationship dimensions of
messages? Content is what is said; relationship is how it's said and what it
implies about the relationship.
29. What are communication ethics? Moral principles that guide
communication behavior and decision-making.
30. What is self-disclosure? Revealing personal information about oneself to
others.
31. What is the Johari Window? A model showing four areas of self-
awareness: open, blind, hidden, and unknown.
32. What is the "open" area in the Johari Window? Information about
yourself that both you and others know.
33. What is the "blind" area in the Johari Window? Information others
know about you that you don't know about yourself.
34. What is the "hidden" area in the Johari Window? Information you know
about yourself but keep from others.
35. What is the "unknown" area in the Johari Window? Information neither
you nor others know about you.
36. What is communication climate? The emotional tone or atmosphere in a
relationship or interaction.
37. What creates a positive communication climate? Supportive messages,
confirmation, and respect.
38. What creates a negative communication climate? Defensive messages,
disconfirmation, and criticism.
39. What is confirming communication? Messages that acknowledge,
recognize, and validate another person.
40. What is disconfirming communication? Messages that deny, ignore, or
invalidate another person.
