Communication
Science
Summary
21-10-2019
,Communication Science
Summary Communication Science
Exam date: 06/11/2019 – 13::30 Chapter 1 to 11
Tabel of contents
Chapter 1 – Introduction to Communication Theory .............................................................................. 3
Chapter 2 – Theory Development ........................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 3 – Cognition and Intrapersonal Communication ..................................................................... 7
Attribution theory ............................................................................................................................... 7
Uncertainty Reduction Theory ............................................................................................................ 8
Expectancy violations Theory .............................................................................................................. 9
Cognitive Dissonance Theory .............................................................................................................. 9
Chapter 4 – Individual and Social Approaches to Communication ....................................................... 11
Social Role Theory of Gender ............................................................................................................ 11
Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Transformational Leadership .......................................................... 11
Message Design Logics ...................................................................................................................... 12
Interactional Perspective on Workplace Generations ...................................................................... 13
Chapter 5 – Interpersonal Communication ........................................................................................... 15
Politeness Theory .............................................................................................................................. 15
Social Exchange Theory ..................................................................................................................... 15
Dialectical Perspective....................................................................................................................... 16
Communication Privacy Management Theory .................................................................................. 17
Chapter 6 – Culture ............................................................................................................................... 18
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions ........................................................................................................ 18
Communication Accommodation Theory ......................................................................................... 19
Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory ....................................................................................... 21
Conflict Face-Negotiation Theory...................................................................................................... 21
Chapter 7 – Persuasion.......................................................................................................................... 23
Elaboration Likelihood Model ........................................................................................................... 23
Theory of Planned Behavior .............................................................................................................. 24
Inoculation Theory ............................................................................................................................ 24
Narrative Paradigm ........................................................................................................................... 25
Chapter 8 – Group Communication ...................................................................................................... 26
Functional Group Decision Making ................................................................................................... 26
Groupthink ........................................................................................................................................ 27
Adaptive Structuration Theory .......................................................................................................... 28
Symbolic Convergence Theory .......................................................................................................... 29
Summary Communication Science 1
,Communication Science
Chapter 9 – Organizational Communication ......................................................................................... 30
Organizational Culture ...................................................................................................................... 30
Organizational Assimilation ............................................................................................................... 31
Organizational Identification and Control ......................................................................................... 31
Organizing Theory ............................................................................................................................. 32
Chapter 10 – Mediated Communication ............................................................................................... 33
Diffusion of Innovations .................................................................................................................... 33
Social Network Analysis..................................................................................................................... 34
Media Richness Theory ..................................................................................................................... 35
Uses and Gratifications Theory ......................................................................................................... 35
Chapter 11 – Mass Communication ...................................................................................................... 37
Agenda-Setting Theory ...................................................................................................................... 37
Cultivation Theory ............................................................................................................................. 38
Social Cognitive Theory of Mass Communication ............................................................................. 38
Encoding/Decoding Theory ............................................................................................................... 39
Appendix................................................................................................................................................ 41
Summary Communication Science 2
,Communication Science
Chapter 1 – Introduction to Communication Theory
Communication = A complex process associated with sending, receiving, and interpreting messages.
Scholars disagree as to the scope of the process, whether a source or receiver orientation should be
taken or whether message exchange need be successful to count as communication.
- Level of observation = The focus of a definition of communication. The level of observation
might be narrow, limiting the focus on what “counts” as communication, or broad, accepting
a wide range of activities as communication.
- Intentionality = The extent to which a definition of communication focusses on source intent
or receiver interpretation.
o Source orientation: The position in the intentionality debate proposing the only
messages that should be considered communication are those a source intends to
send.
o Receiver orientation: The position in the intentionality debate proposing that
anything a receiver considers a message should be considered communication.
- Normative judgement = Whether a definition of communication requires success or accuracy
in order for an activity to be considered communication.
Differences in Definitions Stance Taken
Level of observation: Are there limitations on what Narrow Broad
counts as communication? Yes No
Intentionality: Do only messages sent consciously Source Receiver
and on purpose count? Yes No
Normative judgement: Does the message have to be Evaluative Non-evaluation
successfully received to count as communication? Yes No
Communication competence = Achieving a successful balance between effectiveness and
appropriateness.
Theory = Any systematic summary about the nature of the communication process.
Three types of theory:
- Commonsense theory = Typically created by an individual’s own personal experiences or
developed from helpful hints passed on from family members, friends, or colleagues.
- Working theory = Generalizations made in particular professions about the best techniques
for doing something.
- Scholarly theory = One that has undergone systematic research.
Criteria for evaluating theory:
- Accuracy: In evaluating theory, the extent to which systematic research supports the
explanations provided by the theory.
- Practically: When evaluating a theory, the extent to which the theory can be used to solve
real-world problems.
- Succinctness: When evaluating theory, the extent to which a theory’s explanation or
description is sufficiently concise.
- Consistency: The extent to which an individual believes a target other typically behaves in a
particular fashion.
Summary Communication Science 3
, Communication Science
o Internal = The extent to which the ideas of the theory are logically built on one
another.
o External = The extent to which the theory is coherent with other widely held
theories.
- Acuity: In evaluating theory, the ability of a theory to provide insight into an otherwise
intricate issue.
Concept = An agreed-upon aspect of reality.
Model = Either a synonym to the term theory, a precursor to a theory, a physical representation of a
theory, or a specific—often mathematical—application of predication.
Summary Communication Science 4
Science
Summary
21-10-2019
,Communication Science
Summary Communication Science
Exam date: 06/11/2019 – 13::30 Chapter 1 to 11
Tabel of contents
Chapter 1 – Introduction to Communication Theory .............................................................................. 3
Chapter 2 – Theory Development ........................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 3 – Cognition and Intrapersonal Communication ..................................................................... 7
Attribution theory ............................................................................................................................... 7
Uncertainty Reduction Theory ............................................................................................................ 8
Expectancy violations Theory .............................................................................................................. 9
Cognitive Dissonance Theory .............................................................................................................. 9
Chapter 4 – Individual and Social Approaches to Communication ....................................................... 11
Social Role Theory of Gender ............................................................................................................ 11
Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Transformational Leadership .......................................................... 11
Message Design Logics ...................................................................................................................... 12
Interactional Perspective on Workplace Generations ...................................................................... 13
Chapter 5 – Interpersonal Communication ........................................................................................... 15
Politeness Theory .............................................................................................................................. 15
Social Exchange Theory ..................................................................................................................... 15
Dialectical Perspective....................................................................................................................... 16
Communication Privacy Management Theory .................................................................................. 17
Chapter 6 – Culture ............................................................................................................................... 18
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions ........................................................................................................ 18
Communication Accommodation Theory ......................................................................................... 19
Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory ....................................................................................... 21
Conflict Face-Negotiation Theory...................................................................................................... 21
Chapter 7 – Persuasion.......................................................................................................................... 23
Elaboration Likelihood Model ........................................................................................................... 23
Theory of Planned Behavior .............................................................................................................. 24
Inoculation Theory ............................................................................................................................ 24
Narrative Paradigm ........................................................................................................................... 25
Chapter 8 – Group Communication ...................................................................................................... 26
Functional Group Decision Making ................................................................................................... 26
Groupthink ........................................................................................................................................ 27
Adaptive Structuration Theory .......................................................................................................... 28
Symbolic Convergence Theory .......................................................................................................... 29
Summary Communication Science 1
,Communication Science
Chapter 9 – Organizational Communication ......................................................................................... 30
Organizational Culture ...................................................................................................................... 30
Organizational Assimilation ............................................................................................................... 31
Organizational Identification and Control ......................................................................................... 31
Organizing Theory ............................................................................................................................. 32
Chapter 10 – Mediated Communication ............................................................................................... 33
Diffusion of Innovations .................................................................................................................... 33
Social Network Analysis..................................................................................................................... 34
Media Richness Theory ..................................................................................................................... 35
Uses and Gratifications Theory ......................................................................................................... 35
Chapter 11 – Mass Communication ...................................................................................................... 37
Agenda-Setting Theory ...................................................................................................................... 37
Cultivation Theory ............................................................................................................................. 38
Social Cognitive Theory of Mass Communication ............................................................................. 38
Encoding/Decoding Theory ............................................................................................................... 39
Appendix................................................................................................................................................ 41
Summary Communication Science 2
,Communication Science
Chapter 1 – Introduction to Communication Theory
Communication = A complex process associated with sending, receiving, and interpreting messages.
Scholars disagree as to the scope of the process, whether a source or receiver orientation should be
taken or whether message exchange need be successful to count as communication.
- Level of observation = The focus of a definition of communication. The level of observation
might be narrow, limiting the focus on what “counts” as communication, or broad, accepting
a wide range of activities as communication.
- Intentionality = The extent to which a definition of communication focusses on source intent
or receiver interpretation.
o Source orientation: The position in the intentionality debate proposing the only
messages that should be considered communication are those a source intends to
send.
o Receiver orientation: The position in the intentionality debate proposing that
anything a receiver considers a message should be considered communication.
- Normative judgement = Whether a definition of communication requires success or accuracy
in order for an activity to be considered communication.
Differences in Definitions Stance Taken
Level of observation: Are there limitations on what Narrow Broad
counts as communication? Yes No
Intentionality: Do only messages sent consciously Source Receiver
and on purpose count? Yes No
Normative judgement: Does the message have to be Evaluative Non-evaluation
successfully received to count as communication? Yes No
Communication competence = Achieving a successful balance between effectiveness and
appropriateness.
Theory = Any systematic summary about the nature of the communication process.
Three types of theory:
- Commonsense theory = Typically created by an individual’s own personal experiences or
developed from helpful hints passed on from family members, friends, or colleagues.
- Working theory = Generalizations made in particular professions about the best techniques
for doing something.
- Scholarly theory = One that has undergone systematic research.
Criteria for evaluating theory:
- Accuracy: In evaluating theory, the extent to which systematic research supports the
explanations provided by the theory.
- Practically: When evaluating a theory, the extent to which the theory can be used to solve
real-world problems.
- Succinctness: When evaluating theory, the extent to which a theory’s explanation or
description is sufficiently concise.
- Consistency: The extent to which an individual believes a target other typically behaves in a
particular fashion.
Summary Communication Science 3
, Communication Science
o Internal = The extent to which the ideas of the theory are logically built on one
another.
o External = The extent to which the theory is coherent with other widely held
theories.
- Acuity: In evaluating theory, the ability of a theory to provide insight into an otherwise
intricate issue.
Concept = An agreed-upon aspect of reality.
Model = Either a synonym to the term theory, a precursor to a theory, a physical representation of a
theory, or a specific—often mathematical—application of predication.
Summary Communication Science 4
