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Lesson Objectives (Focus Questions)

Why study communication?

How long has the field existed?

How the field evolved over time?

How research conducted?

How to define? What process and

skills? What are “two levels”

of meaning? What careers?

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What Mike Does in a Day…

E-Mail vs. Communication in Person Individual vs. Team Creating “Climate” Planning Interviews Date (Relationship) Speech to a Group

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Importance of Communication

We talk, listen, think, ask, answer, share ideas… So much communication in a day.

Personal Life Building Personal Identity Promoting Health

Personal Relationships Marriage Family, Parent-child, Friends,…

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Importance of Communication (2)

Professional Life Critical for Career Success (Talk & Listen)

Express Ideas, Giving & Gaining Support, Gaining Cooperation

Civic Life For the the Health of Society Required for Democracy

Expressing Ideas, Claiming, Presenting & Listen to Argument

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History of the Field

Began more than 2500 yrs ago Rhetoric and Democratic Life

Rhetoric born mid-400s B.C. on Isle of Syracuse Ancient Philosophers-Plato, Aristotle & Isocrates:

Rhetoric as Central to Civic Life Teaching Citizens: Analyze Listeners, Discover Ideas,

Organize Messages, Develop Proof, and Deliver Speeches Aristotle’s 3 Cornerstones of Persuasion: Ethos, Pathos, Logos

After WW I & II Social Issues: Prejudice, Propaganda, Attitude & Belief

Changes

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History of the Field (2)

Liberal Education Public speaking taught in colleges (Europe &

U.S) Dewey: Progressive thinking and citizen

participation After WW I & II

Social Issues: Prejudice, Propaganda, Attitude & Belief Changes

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History of the Field (3)

Mid- 20th Century Scientific, empirical research gaining prominence Research & Professional Groups

1960-70 Civil Rights, Women’s Movement, Interpersonal

Communication

Michel Foucault (French) Ideas about “Power”

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Research in Communication

Quantitative Research Descriptive Statistics, Survey, Experiment

Qualitative Research Looking into meaning, function… Textual Analysis, Ethnography, Historical Study

Critical Research Identify & Challenge Communication Practices To Advance Social Awareness

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Defining Communication

Communication as “a systemic process in which people interact with and through symbols to create and interpret meanings”

Features Process: dynamic and ever-changing Systemic: interrelated parts, context, surroundings Symbolic: abstract, arbitrary, ambiguous

representations Meanings: created by symbols through interactions

Content level of meaning Relationship level of meaning

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Models of Communication

Linear Models (p. 23) Laswell (1948): Who Says What in What Channel to

Whom with What Effect? Shannon & Weaver (1949): “Noise” introduced

Interactive Models (p. 24) Schramm (1955): “Feedback” added

Transactional Models (p. 25) Wood (1997): Non-sequential, simultaneous, changing

over time

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Breadth of the Field

Intrapersonal Communication: self-talk, “thinking”

Interpersonal Communication: between people

Performance Studies performing personal, professional, social identities

Group & Team Communication: leadership, roles, group goals, cohesion (fantasy themes)

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Breadth of the Field (2)

Public Communication: speak to others, credibility, persuasion

Organizational Communication: leadership, commitment, decision making,

organizational culture Mass Communication

media, stereotypes

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Breadth of the Field (3)

Technologies of Communication human community, information & knowledge

Intercultural Communication meanings & cultures

Ethics and Communication relationships, rights, moral principles

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Unifying Themes and Processes

Unifying Themes Symbolic activities Meaning Ethics

Basic Processes Perceiving & Understanding Creating Interaction Climates Engaging in Verbal Communication Engaging in Non-verbal Communication Listening & Responding Adapting to Contexts

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Careers in Communication

Research Education Mass Communication Training & Consulting Human Relations, Human Development &

Management