A generalized framework for developing analytical and conceptual relationships involving the flow of information has previously been suggested. This paper provides further refinement, rigor, and extension for some of the earlier relationships suggested. (12 references) (Author)

Discusses pluralistic alternatives for communication theory accompanied by a responsibility for specification of falsification criteria. Examines four necessary links in the falsification of rules propositions from an action perspective. The criteria suggested are an extension of the "covering law" criteria, which are adapted to a recent…

Discusses concepts and theories of information and suggests a model for assessment of information-as-contents. Proposes a revised formulation of Brookes' fundamental equation and possible approaches for describing attributes of the beneficiaries and their knowledge structure. (JKP)

Discusses the minimum average codeword length coding under the constraint that the codewords are monotonically nondecreasing in length. Bounds on the average length of an optimal monotonic code are derived, and sufficient conditions are given such that algorithms for optimal alphabetic codes can be used to find the optimal monotonic code. (six…

Discusses the adaptive compression of computer files of numerical data whose statistical properties are not given in advance. A new lossless coding method for this purpose, which utilizes Adelson-Velskii and Landis (AVL) trees, is proposed. The method is effective to any word length. Its application to the lossless compression of gray-scale images…

In item-response theory, if a latent-structure model has an ability variable, then elementary information theory may be employed to provide a criterion for evaluation of the information the test provides concerning ability. This criterion may be considered even in cases in which the latent-structure model is not valid, although interpretation of…

Distinguishing between discrete and continuous latent variable distributions has become increasingly important in numerous domains of behavioral science. Here, the authors explore an information-theoretic approach to latent distribution modeling, in which the ability of latent distribution models to represent statistical information in observed…

Speech Delivered to the Social Philosophy Committee atDes Moines AEA Conference, November, 1968

Understanding of the communications process centers generally around the conduct of the process rather than the content, and particularly the establishment of communication channels. The communications model has three generally agreed upon components: source, channel, and destination. Destination may include questions about the nature of things,…

Marshall McLuhan's thesis that the "media is the message" can be criticized from two perspectives: that communication can be divided into content and media, and that media is the element that most affects human consciousness. The weight of numerous illustrations are to the contrary. Furthermore, the assertion is so broad that there is no…

Theory-building in any field of inquiry is essential and utilitarian. This paper argues two points: that a concern for theory could redirect some of our typical approaches to rhetorical criticism; and that generic criticism must, by its nature, fully respond to this call for theory-building. Four important areas of rhetorical criticism are…

The development of the removal of rigidity in library classification is traced from the Enumerative Classification of DC (1876) through the Nearly-Faceted Classification of UDC (1896), the rigidly, though fully faceted version of CC (1933), the generalized faceted structure of version 2 of CC (1949), down to the Freely Faceted Classification of…

Previous methods for determining the communication structure of organizations work well for small or simple organizations, but are either inadequate or unwieldy for use with large complex organizations. An improved method uses a number of different measures and a series of successive approximations to order the communication matrix such that…

A hierarchy of communication effectiveness is derived with different teaching methods and devices assigned to one of four levels.