Recent rhetorical scholarship suggests a new focus on qualitative theories of human communication. Explores the implications of three general emphases for future inquiry: (1) rules research, (2) constructivism, and (3) constructionism. (PD)

In two role-playing experiments, subjects were asked if they preferred to hear good news/bad news or bad news/good news. In a third experiment, subjects believed they would be receiving good and bad information about themselves. Results indicated subjects overwhelmingly preferred to hear bad news first. (Author)

Different concepts of profit may lead to communication problems in business negotiations. A study of Japanese and American business students' concepts of profit revealed Japanese unidimensional and American multidimensional conceptualizing of profit. (PD)

Introduced a self-report instrument which asked persons: (1) how openness was manifested through style behaviors; (2) which topics would be easy to talk about openly; (3) which sets of people are easier to be open with. Concluded that the best indicator of openness is a person's style behaviors. (PD)

Varying amounts of information about the interview, interviewer and research can be provided to potential respondents during the interview introduction. Two studies in a large eastern center city may be interpreted as supporting greater disclosure to ensure informed consent by the respondent, thus improving the public image of survey research.…

Results indicate that subjects chose the moderate disclosing confederate significantly more often than the high or low discloser. Effects due to sex of the subject and the topics employed were negligible. Content of disclosures was varied and did not affect results. (PD)

Studied the use of three levels of evaluativeness (offering no opinion, description; offering one's own opinion; and offering an opinion of the other's opinion) in developing, stable, and deteriorating relationships. Expectations were confirmed in the developing and stable conditions but were not confirmed in the deteriorating condition. (PD)

Kindergartners and second graders evaluated the communicative clarity of brief oral instructions under three conditions: unambiguous, no closure, and closure. Results suggest that the growth of children's knowledge about communication includes the developing awareness that an ambiguous message is intrinsically unclear and remains a poor message…

Investigates why young children become redundant and informative speakers after listening to nonredundant and informative speakers. The authors conclude that children confuse the length of a message with information. (Author/DB)

Presents a conceptual and operational definition of one cognitive dimension of communicative competence--interaction involvement--based on Goffman's model of face-to-face society. Reports two studies to support the validity of the definition. Outlines the implications for future research on communicative competence as well as instructional…

Results indicate that individuals with relatively less developed (less differentiated) interpersonal construct systems can be expected to exhibit greater consistency between their attitudes about a person and their behavioral intentions toward that person than those with more developed interpersonal construct systems. (PD)

Reports that the typical communication research study published from 1970 through 1976 was cross-sectional, was carried out in the United States only, cited literature published in the United States only, focused on the individual as the level of analysis, and used only sample survey data. (GT)

Examines the relationship between communication apprehension and dating exclusivity in relation to the desired number of dates, the actual number of dates, the probability of accepting a blind date, uncertainty on first dates, and the amount of contact prior to dating. Partially supports previous research. (JMF)

Identifies factors involved in nonverbal and verbal communicative behaviors which constitute feedback responses. Examines the informational potential of these behaviors in terms of the receivers' perceptions of themselves and the message sender and the effectiveness and efficiency with which receivers respond to a given message. (JMF)