Replies to Sally Jackson, Daniel O'Keefe, and Scott Jacobs' article (same issue), maintaining that randomness requirements can not be relaxed for generalizing from message samples, since systematic samples are not truly random. (MS)

Studies 72 small nonprofit organizations over a 2-year period that began with their initial adoption of computer technology. Finds that, even among these relatively resource-poor groups, those who were better off were better able to take advantage of the computer for internal office tasks and group networking. (SR)

Explores gender politics in information technology theory and research. Maintains that an absence of critical consciousness about gender reproduces old patterns of power and privilege in the social distribution of knowledge. Identifies ways in which displays of the perspectivity of knowledge can secure new models of systematic,…

Considers the relationship of communication research to bibliometrics and scholarly communication. Discusses whether bibliometrics is a communication research method; the future of bibliometrics in communication research; bibliometrics in the context of indicator research; articles in this themed issue, seen from a communication research…

Discusses how gender studies reveal psychological and cultural sources of interpersonal conflict during collaboration. Notes that an awareness of these conflict sources enables scholars and teachers in technical communication to predict and ease interpersonal conflict among collaborators. (MM)

Examines several reasons why news media fail to communicate public affairs information effectively within communities. Reviews recent research on knowledge gaps and examines factors which have been found to increase or decrease the likelihood of such gaps. Discusses theoretical explanations for these associations and outlines areas for theory…

Examines several books on the emergence and impact of the New Left which, as a collective resource, may give new direction and impetus to the rhetorical study of movements. Culls recurring themes that might inform the next phase of movement scholarship. Advocates this new scholarship as both due and promising. (SR)

Investigates the relationship between shared communication links and the process of organizational innovation, finding no support for the hypothesis that the nature and content of an individual's communication links with others could predict individual innovation adoption. (SR)

Explores the negative popular reaction to the 1988 Presidential Debates. Examines how these events function as ritualistic enactments of the <public trust>, thus providing a rhetorical legitimacy for the electoral process in a system dedicated to <popular sovereignty>. Suggests how the 1988 debates failed to satisfy that function. (MM)

Explores variations in social interaction tactics as a function of incompatible goals of social actors, specifically, evading the information-seeking attempts of others. Finds evasiveness plans were realized in several different behavioral variations at the tactical level; however, certain tactical dimensions discriminated among evasiveness goals…

Examines the accuracy of quoted speech in newspapers, focusing on what people can remember verbatim and how that information relates to language processing, comprehension, and the mental representation of prose. Finds that memory for meaning was better than memory for verbatim prose, though memory for both was high. (MM)

Examines the basic ethical and moral values of public relations practitioners, emphasizing the sender in the communication process. Finds that the structure of moral values in the North American public relations person includes the influences of socio-economics, religion, social responsibility, and finances. (MS)

Examines social and parasocial interaction from interpersonal attribution perspectives. Finds subjects' relationships with soap opera characters, like social relationships with real people, are based on reduction of uncertainty and ability to predict the character's feelings and attitudes. Discusses implications for uncertainty reduction theory…

Examines the performance of texts ("trigger scripting") as a method of modifying sexual attitudes and assertiveness in a dating context in order to prevent date rape or unwanted sexual aggression. Suggests that live performance alone and live performance plus discussion cam modify sexual attitudes and increase awareness of the issues.…

Focuses on three widely publicized sermons given by the Reverend Jedidiah Morse to examine the role of the jeremiad (or political sermon) in shaping public attitudes toward political dissent during the Franco-American Crisis of 1798-1799. (MM)