Communication Theory

1
Communication Theory

• How do therapists know how to help People?
• How do teachers know how to teach?
• How do coaches know how to win?
• How do we know how to communicate most
  effectively?

2
Are Theories Difficult?

• An invitation to the life of the mind
• Learning to love knowledge for its own sake
• Invitation to an ongoing conversation
• i.e. Kenneth Burkes Parlor
• Communication Theory is an idea game

3
Suggestions

• Stay Positive
• Maintain a Perspective--Big Picture
• Find Good Resources
• Dont Procrastinate

4
Some Perspectives

• Fort Peck--Order or Chaos
• The Elephant and the Blind Researchers
• What is your perspective?
• How do you perceive communication?

5
More on Perspectives

• Communication Theories describe and/or explain.
  Do they predict?
• Eastern vs. Western perspectives--Wholeness and
  unity vs. analytical reductionism spirituality
  vs. individual purpose non-speech vs.
  speech/language
• Study of Communication is diverse, eclectic, and
  multidisciplinary today.

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Three Types of Scholarship

• Science--objectivity
• Humanities--subjectivity
• Social Science--blends the two

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Three Approaches to Knowledge

• Knowing by discovery--search for objectivity
• Knowing by interpreting--construction of meaning
• Knowing by criticism--application of values and
  judgements to what is observed or experienced

8
Five Genres of Communication Theories

• Structural/Functional--assumes that reality is
  ordered
• Cognitive/Behavioral--mechanisms of the mind
• Interactional/Conventional--social life
• Interpretative--meaning and language
• Critical Theories--domination/oppression

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Four Levels or Contexts of Inquiry

• Interpersonal
• Group
• Organizational
• Mass

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Ten General Theories

• We will look at ten general theories that may
  apply to all the categories
• They are core theories and apply to any context

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So, Welcome to the Adventure of the Mind called
Theory

• The Farmer and the object in the field
• Which explanations do you most often turn to?