Suggests that claims of sex differences in interruption behavior should not be uncritically accepted. Examines frequency of interruption in fourth-grade, ninth-grade, and college students. Finds that males did not interrupt females any more than females interrupted males. (RS)

Analyzes the communication training received by over 4,000 workers as part of an effort to implement a team concept production system at a General Motors plant. Presents an overview of the team concept training. Discusses five barriers to effective training, four successful instructional methods, and implications for business communication. (RS)

Examines the relationship between identification and communication using organizational identification (OI) as a theoretical framework for studying communication networks among incoming graduate students in three university departments of communication. Concludes that, irrespective of initial OI, stronger initial multiplexity predicts the growth…

Finds clear patterns of differences in nature and number of commercials during children's programs on three different types of television channels: broadcast networks, independent stations, and cable networks. Examines themes/appeals employed in commercials, disclosures/disclaimers used, and other content attributes. (SR)

Investigates the link between construct system development and evaluation along certain dimensions of judgment. Identifies three potential dimensions of judgment tied to classroom goals and effectiveness criteria (task, relational, and communicative). Indicates that students possessing more differentiated construct systems for construing teachers…

Finds that constrained autonomy is influenced by increases in interdependence, unfulfilled prebirth expectations, and perceptual shifts regarding past autonomy. Examines various interactional patterns manifested by spouses to mediate autonomy for self and other during the transition to parenthood. (SR)

Finds that persons scoring positively on argumentativeness and negatively on aggressiveness reported behaviors consistent with the authoritative parenting style and that negative argumentativeness and positive aggressiveness is associated with the authoritarian prototype. (SR)

Finds that five composite beliefs about arguing (enjoyment, self-concept, pragmatic outcomes, dysfunctional outcomes, and ego-involvement) explain significant variance in underlying motivation to argue and to discriminate between individuals who vary in the predisposition. Discusses implications for pedagogy and curriculum design in argumentation…

Finds that the rate of reproduction of parents' political outlook in their adolescent children does not vary significantly in Israel among four types of family communication patterns but that family communication patterns relate to political participation and political ideologies, with the pluralist family most likely to induce political…

Examines corporate videos as cultural texts, claiming that they function as rites and ceremonials in modern organizations that facilitate organizational socialization. Notes that video-enacted rites can be a valuable tool in communication ethnographies. Defines and analyzes four types of rites: integration, passage, renewal, and enhancement. (SR)

Employs a listening effectiveness inventory to measure perceived listening ability among managers. Finds (1) higher scores for those with more than one listening training seminar than for those with none; (2) females perceived themselves as better listeners than males did; and (3) no significant differences for age. (SR)

Examines the dynamics of organizational communication following corporate implementation of quality circles. Describes the rhetorical visions of people at three organizational levels closely associated with quality circles: (1) managers; (2) facilitators who organize the quality circles; and (3) employees. (SR)

Advocates listening to technical information in much the same way as scientists and engineers look at graphics to understand the relationships among variables. Specifies a number of potential benefits of this approach. Demonstrates the presentation of acoustic information with data on the frequency of television viewing from 1950 to 1988. (SR)

Describes an introductory course in instructional communication research for graduate students. Discusses the rationale for such a course, course goals, units and readings, and student evaluation. (SR)

Examines student perceptions of instructor compliance-gaining behavior. Finds differences among perceptions at the beginning, middle, and end of the semester and that greater affective and cognitive learning was associated with less use of antisocial compliance-gaining techniques and more use of prosocial techniques. (SR)