Verderber, Verderber, Sellnow

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COMM2011

Chapter 1Communication

Perspectives

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Learning Outcomes

LO1 Define the communication process and the settings in which communication takes place

LO2 Identify communication principles

LO3 Discover how to increase communication competence

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LO1

Define the communication process and the settings in which communication

takes place

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Communication

Communication is the process of creating or

sharing meaning in informal conversation, group interaction, or

public speaking.

LO1

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Essential Elements of Communication• Participants (who?)• Messages (what?)• Context (where?)• Channels (how?)• Interference (distractions)• Feedback (reaction)

LO1

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Participants• The individuals involved in

communication.– Sender– Receiver

LO1

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Messages• Verbal utterances, visual images, and

nonverbal behaviors to which meaning is attributed during communication. – Meanings– Symbols– Encoding– Decoding– Form (Organization)

LO1

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Context• The situation in which

communication takes place.– Physical – Social– Historical– Psychological– Cultural

LO1

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Channels• The route traveled by the message

and the means of transportation. – Face-to-face: verbal symbols, nonverbal

cues, visual images.– Non-verbal cues: movements, touch,

gestures, emoticons, acronyms.

LO1

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Interference (Noise)

• Any stimulus that hinders the process of sharing meaning. – Physical– Psychological

LO1

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Feedback• Reactions and responses to a

message that indicate whether and how the message was heard.

LO1

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A Model of the Basic Communication ProcessLO1

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Communication Settings

• Intrapersonal communication – communicating with yourself

• Interpersonal communication – informal interaction between two people who have an identifiable relationship.

• Small group communication – 3 to 20 people who come together to communicate.

• Public communication – delivered to audience of more than 20 people.

LO1

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LO2

Identify communication

principles

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Communication Has Purpose

• We communicate to develop and maintain our sense of self.

• We communicate to meet our social needs.

• We communicate to develop and maintain relationships.

• We communicate to exchange information.

• We communicate to influence others.

LO2

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Communication Is Continuous

We are always sending behavioral messages from which

others draw inferences or meaning.

LO2

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Communication Messages Vary in Conscious Though

• Spontaneous expressions

• Scripted

• Constructed messages

LO2

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Communication is Relational

• Immediacy – the degree of attractiveness in a relationship.

• Control – the degree to which one participant is perceived to be more dominant or powerful. LO2

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Communication Is Guided by Culture

• Culture – systems of knowledge shared by a relatively large group of people.

• How messages are formed and interpreted depends on the cultural background of the participants.

LO2

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Communication Has Ethical Implications

• Ethics – set of moral principles held by a society, group, or individual.

• Truthfulness and honesty.

• Integrity.

• Fairness

• Respect

• Responsibility

LO2

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Communication Is Learned

Just as you learned to walk, so too you learned to

communicate.

LO2

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LO3

Discover how to increase

communication competence

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Communication Competence

Communication is effective when it achieves its goals; it is appropriate when it conforms to what is expected in a situation.

LO3

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Perceptions of Competence

• Motivation – we can improve our communication only if we want to.

• Skills – goal-oriented actions that we can master and repeat in appropriate situations.

• Credibility – perception of speaker’s knowledge, trustworthiness, and warmth.

• Social ease – managing communi-cation apprehension.

LO3

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Communication Apprehension“the fear or anxiety associated

with real or anticipated communication with others.”

•Traitlike•Audience-based•Situational•Context-based

LO3

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Develop Communication Skill Goals

1. State the problem.2. State the specific goal.3. Outline a specific procedure for

reaching the goal. 4. Devise a method of

determining when the goal has been reached.

LO3

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Communication Improvement PlanLO3