Bottoms Up: The Cocktail Party Problem from a Communication Perspective

Clint Graves, Patricia “Didi” Hill, and Brandi Martin | Communication Studies 499

Overview

Methods Quantitative Results

Hypothesis 1 • An unintended message highly relevant to a

receiver’s instrumental goal will garner more attention from the receiver.

Hypothesis 2• An unintended message highly relevant to a

receiver’s self-presentation goal will garner more attention from the receiver.

Hypothesis 3• People who frequently engage in social functions

are less likely to attend to unintended messages.

Hypothesis 1• Significant relationship between instrumental

relevance and attentionHypothesis 2

• No significant relationship between self-presentation relevance and attention

Hypothesis 3• No significant difference between high and low

social involvement

Qualitative Results

SMCR Model of CPP

• Participants demonstrate innate understanding of CPP

• Participants undertake range of actions in response to unintended messages

Implications

The cocktail party problem (CPP) is typically a problem of psychology and acoustics. Our project shifted the focus to communication.

Message relevance has some effect on attention in the context of CPPCommanding attention is a function of inducing an instrumental or self-presentation goal

Future research should generalize a theory that predicts the types of words that capture attention

Sampling:Convenience and Snowball

Survey:Quasi-experimental with 4 randomly assigned

experimental conditions

Survey measures of our own design

2 experimental groups, 2 control groups

62 participants of any age, sex, and ethnicity

Interview:Single protocol that asked participants about

their reactions in certain scenarios

Hypotheses