This examination of the social order of the Church of Christ, Scientist, provides a valuable learning opportunity for leaders of any organizational entity--or for any student of organizational communication/behavior. The study addresses labor, trust, power, and legitimization of activity within the church. It raises the issue of whether Christian…

A study investigated the use of source citations and evidence in the final round of Informative Speaking at the 1998 American Forensic Association-National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET). The "AFA Code of Forensics Program and Forensics Tournament Standards for College and Universities" was the framework for the analysis.…

This study was conducted to determine if time spent using the computer was related to communication apprehension (CA) and self-perceived communication competence (SPCC) among high school students. To this end, an ex post facto design was employed. Subjects were 534 students from a West-Coast school district. Results indicated that students'…

This research suggests integrated marketing communication (IMC) is widely used by small business. In a survey of Midwest businesses, it was found that smaller business tend to integrate their marketing communication to the same extent as do larger businesses. Their advertising, P.R., and sales promotion are as likely to present a unified message,…

Despite accumulating evidence of the importance of college student-faculty interaction to student retention and satisfaction, little work has focused on out-of-class (OCC) communication. The present study examines 93 student descriptions of OCC with a faculty member, content analyzed to categorize the nature, length, location, and initiator of the…

This paper presents the conclusions of a study of student perceptions of communication competence. Discourse analysis data was collected on students in university systems in six different American states in the East, Midwest, and South. Student discourse was analyzed for differences in the ways in which students described their perceptions of…

Eighty-three preschoolers participated in toy play and mealtimes with their mothers. Different types of extended discourse were identified: fantasy world in toy play, and narrative and explanatory in mealtimes. Rare words (that preschoolers are not likely to know) were identified within extended discourse and within entire transcripts. The ratio…

Noting that conversation analysis (CA) has developed into one of the major methods of analyzing speech in the disciplines of communications, linguistics, anthropology and sociology, this book demonstrates in a practical way how to become a conversation analyst. As well as providing an overall introduction to the approach, it focuses on the…

This paper analyzes the impact of harmony on Chinese conflict management and resolution. It explicates the philosophical foundation of harmony based on Chinese culture, and offers guidelines for Chinese conflict behaviors. Differences between Chinese conflict resolution styles and those of Western societies are also discussed. The paper then…

One of Matt Groening's popular cartoons offers two different perspectives regarding the purpose and value of formal education in America: "Bongo's" belief that a good education must consist of an engaging classroom environment and proper emotional, intellectual, and structural resources; and "Bongo's" father's belief that a…

What does it take to facilitate a good classroom discussion? This paper does not set out to give a definitive answer to this question. Rather it presents several excerpts from student-led discussions as examples of how students are able to facilitate class-long discussion on a controversial topic. This paper begins with a brief overview of the…

Provides additional evidence on the role interpersonal communication plays in the diffusion of news about crisis events. Adds information about the rapidity of such diffusion, daily routine and first source, demographic differences and communicative behavior/personal reactions, and possible effects of research methods. (PD)

Results indicate that corporate training directors perceive poor listening as an important problem facing organizations, one that leads to ineffective performance or low productivity. Educators and trainers are encouraged to include aspects of listening behavior identified in this study into organizational communication curricula or industrial…

The academic community, news media, and public have expressed interest in debate as a vehicle to facilitate intelligent citizen evaluation of political candidates. This paper focuses on the format, criteria, and survey results of the "Election 80" television debates between congressional candidates from South Dakota, as compared with the…

Results indicate that respondents perceive that they make more assumptions about strangers from the same culture than they do about strangers from another culture. Areas for future research are suggested. (PD)