Asserts that, because bargaining occurs on two levels--the level of the issues to be addressed and the level of the bargaining event itself--it presents a fascinating arena for applying Weick's organizing model. Applies concepts of organizing, equivocality, requisite variety, enactment, and retrospective meaning to the definition, characteristics,…

Uses Karl Weick's view of organizing and traditional rhetorical theory to explore (1) how private organizations need public space within them; (2) how organizations affect the public sphere and are affected by that sense of the public; and (3) how organizational and rhetorical theorists might join in understanding the "privatizing" of…

Reconceptualizes groupthink symptoms as observable group interaction patterns. Proposes two coding systems for detecting the illusion of unanimity symptom, detecting both degree of unanimity and degree of the illusory versus substantive nature of that unanimity. (SR)

Presents H. G. Gadamer's ontology of understanding as a developmental foundation for interpersonal system ethics. Conceptualizes interaction in terms of demand that the subject matter places on openly formed mutual understanding. Shows unethical interactions as practices which prohibit this development. Provides examples of processes by which…

Examines cable television viewer selectivity and involvement. Concludes through study of 342 cable subscribers who owned remote control devices that "zapping" (changing television channels during commercials) is an indication of ritualistic television viewing. Suggests that more salient motives are linked to the preexposure activities of…

Analyzes Betty Friedan's crucial feminist document, "The Feminine Mystique," arguing that Friedan strategically employed an androgynous rhetorical style. Maintains that Friedan thus, without explicitly advocating androgyny, created an audience which accepts an ideology transcending oppressive gender dichotomies. (SR)

Studies the rhetorical aspects of "Reaganomics," describing Reagan's rhetorical skills in promoting a vision of economic prosperity: a vision of America as a shining city on a hill, deemphasizing negative economic occurrences. Examines Reagan's rhetorical strategies in 10 speeches spanning his 8 years in office. (SR)

Follows particular parallels between oralist and electronic mediation to explore narrative or storytelling as a rhetorical form that transcends mediation. Reviews how writing-based cognition may bind progress in rhetorical practice and theory. Examines how narrative is media-transcendent. Reflects on the nature of media shifts. (SR)

Examines interaction involvement (a fundamental orientation toward the act of communicating) and nonverbal behavior. Finds that involvement relates positively to object-focused gesturing and eye gaze and negatively to body-focused gesturing and body movement. Finds no sex differences in high- and low-involved individuals' nonverbal behavior. (SR)

Analyzes 140 pastoral letters issued by the American Catholic bishops before, during, and after Vatican II (1947 through 1981). Suggests that doctrinal rhetoric has a tremendous capacity to endure accelerated social and institutional change, and that the rhetorical impact of Vatican II was quickly institutionalized in the public communications of…

Reports an evaluation of the assessment test developed in communication at the Kansas City campus of the University of Missouri. Notes that the findings of this report suggest several important implications concerning the role of indirect assessments of student learning. (MM)

Examines the nature of large-scale, standardized assessment programs for oral communication in colleges and universities in 1986. Compares the results of this study with results from a similar study conducted in 1982. Concludes that assessment procedures show little change between the two studies. (MM)

Investigates the effectiveness of citation indexes as tools for communication research. Concludes that because five communication journals are not covered by citation indexes, using these indexes is problematic for communication researchers. (MM)

Examines communication decision-making in organizations by looking at the extent to which public relations executives have control over channel selection for the media mix in an overall public relations program. Shows a variety of structures and procedures for channel selection decisions in United States organizations. (SR)

Reports the results of four studies examining how Afro-Americans perceive interethnic communication with Whites. Uses an interpretive, cultural perspective in questionnaires and interviews as well as quantitative and qualitative analyses to identify seven issues of communication satisfaction and five conversational improvement strategies,…