This essay presents a critical commentary on McCroskey et al.'s (2004) general model of instructional communication. In particular, five points are examined which make explicit and problematize the meta-theoretical assumptions of the model. Comments call attention to the limitations of the model and argue for a broader approach to…

One of the problematic features of the "skills discourse" is the view that skills are decontextualized bits of knowledge and disposition. Instead, how skills such as communication are defined and used are shaped by cultural, political, and situational factors. In this article, we integrate theory from communication studies, critical…

The influence of communication processes on group outcomes is discussed from two perspectives, one in which influence does not exist and one in which influence is central. Formal models for both perspectives are presented as a means of bracketing discussion of the role of communication processes in group outcomes. The implications of these models…

Strengthening the association between education and communication is difficult due to the scarcity of educationally initiated research into the mechanics of communication. Most of the existing communication research is domiciled in the departments of sociology, psychology, anthropology, journalism and business. Many educators are satisfied in…

Academic misconduct is a serious, pervasive, communication phenomenon on college campuses. In this study, the goals-plans-action model (Dillard, 1990) was used as a theoretical framework to investigate peer confrontation of cheating and whistle-blowing to a course instructor. In an experiment, participants were asked to respond to measures of…

Four studies explored the communicative behaviors of people who outperform others in a relevant or irrelevant field and the impression formed of these outperformers by the outperformed people. In line with the premises of the self-evaluation maintenance model (A. Tesser, 1988) and the STTUC framework (J. J. Exline & M. Lobel, 1999), Studies 1 and…

Though an emerging research area, serial argumentation has yet to be cohesively explored from a theoretical lens. The current project thus extends and updates Trapp and Hoff's (1985) original serial argument model by explicating and testing a theoretical process an individual goes through immediately before, during, and after a serial argument…

In this paper, we present a synchronous text-based communication tool, referred to as Adaptive Communication Tool (ACT), which provides capabilities for adaptation and personalization. ACT supports both the free and the structured form of dialogue. The structured dialogue is implemented by two types of Scaffolding Sentence Templates (SST); i.e.…

Delineates a metatheoretic rationale for a biologically based theory of verbal aggressiveness. Integrates neurobiological principles into the concept of verbal aggressiveness. Presents a working model, and addresses the implications of this theoretical position. (SR)

This paper investigates routine "opening turns" in telephone conversations, examining their variety and adaptability, and extending E. A. Schegloff's model to account for them. Following a review of previous research on telephone openings, the paper describes the notion of "reduction" as offered by M. R. Whalen and D. H.…

Demonstrates that conversation occurs so quickly and yet so skillfully that neither current cognitive models for mindfulness or mindlessness can account for it. (SR)

Replicates S. McCornack's 1992 study with the inclusion of explicit checks to determine the covertness of the purported deceptive messages and to check manipulation of information type. Finds that none of the results are consistent with information manipulation theory predictions, but that instead, the results uniformly support a model of…

Examines critically two articles in the same issue addressing deceptive messages. Shows one article's data to be inconsistent with the premise that deception derives solely from erroneous "Quality" implicatures. Argues that the conceptual definitions in the other article lack precision and that the proposed set of information dimensions…

Responds to an article appearing in this issue, that critically examines an article (also appearing in this issue) by these authors. Considers how the information management concept in Interpersonal Deception theory is related to Information Management Theory (called Information Manipulation Theory in earlier articles) and addresses criticisms of…

Responds to an article in the same issue critically examining a first article by these authors. Discusses conceptualizing deception, and discusses the two empirical objections raised regarding the authors' implicature model. Argues that IMT (Information Manipulation Theory) lacks any credible empirical support. (SR)