Strategic communication scholars agree that planning is critical to human action. An investigation tested plan modification aspects of cognitive planning theory. Two experiments tested whether success and failure of a plan served as predictors of plan modification and whether individuals can accurately predict whether and how they will modify a…

Noting that message variables offer communication scholars a conceptually rich body of information, this 30-item annotated bibliography reflects the diversity of research conducted in the area of language intensity. The journal articles, conference papers, and chapters of books in the annotated bibliography are divided into sections on general…

A pilot study examined whether a relational control model can be used to evaluate cross examination in academic debate. Four cross examination periods in the 1994 Cross Examination Debate Association Nationals final round were videotaped, transcribed, and coded (using the Relational Communication Control Coding Scheme). Results indicated that the…

This bibliography lists books, articles, and other related sources dealing with the area of the history of communications and rhetoric. The 50 citations cover both the history of western communications as well as studies focusing on American communications and rhetoric. (HB)

A study determined differences in the use of critical listening in constructive and rebuttal speeches during intercollegiate debate tournaments. A self-developed survey instrument was completed by 18 subjects preceding a randomly assigned round at the 15th National Junior Division Debate Tournament. Following completion of the instruments they…

Noting that the chance to utilize a new paradigm is an opportunity that rarely presents itself, this paper suggests that chaos theory and communication can be combined to help understand human communication. The paper begins by examining the complexity of human communication--that is, the internal and external factors that affect the complexity of…

A study investigated three propositions concerning parent-child relationships: (1) that parent-child relationships influence/build children's relational models; (2) that subsequent relationships may alter those models; and (3) that communication is a means through which children can reconcile these differences. About 90 elementary-aged children…

A descriptive study analyzed the contention that an artificial dichotomy exists between policy and non-policy debate. A 20-item survey instrument was constructed to address several relevant issues: the role of solvency in CEDA (Cross Examination Debate Association) debate; the nature of CEDA resolutions; and judging in CEDA. A total of 93 surveys…

In contrast to overly cognitive and excessively reductive information models of communication, Hans Georg Gadamer provides a viable alternative for discussing conversation. There seems to be a competition in Gadamer's writings between conversation and text, so that his project of textual interpretation has an important impact on his treatment of…

A study investigated the manner in which communication strategies (passive, active, and interactive) were used by new employees in the early stages of the employer-employee relationshiip to gain knowledge of their supervisors, thereby reducing uncertainty. Twenty-six full-time new employees from several organizations in the midwest were…

A new series of studies on adults' and infants' perception of phonetic "prototypes," exceptionally good instances of phonetic categories, show that prototypes play a unique role in speech perception. Phonetic category prototypes function like "perceptual magnets" for other stimuli in the category. They attract nearby members of…

The question of what variables affect success in debate has long been an area of interest and concern in the forensic community. For many years, it was thought that traditional performance variables--delivery, reasoning, organization, analysis, refutation and use of evidence--were the key factors influencing evaluations of debaters. Some…

A study examined the impact of teaching communication on the marital roles of communication teachers and their spouses. Subjects, two male and two female communication professionals and their spouses, tape recorded their responses to eight discussion questions in a comfortable conversational format. Four themes emerged from the transcripts of the…

This paper investigates the composition of women's mentoring relationships. The traditional male mentoring model is rejected in favor of an alternative model that more closely reflects female mentoring relationships. The paper proposes that women's friendships may serve as a closer match to their mentoring relationships than the traditional male…

A study investigated the impact of "thought over time" as a variable that may influence recall of discrepant information encountered in the media. Earlier studies indicated that human subjects are capable of improving their recall of "consistent" sets of news information over time without the benefit of additional exposure to…