Describes an experiment confirming the prediction that readers exposed to an explanation of the dramatistic approach to oral interpretation form more detailed and complex initial impressions of the literature than do persons not exposed. Whether this exposure produces better oral performances, however, is a question that should be further…

Examines students' perceptions of the probable use of certain persuasive strategies in a given situation in relation to students' level of communication apprehension. Data confirms the impact of situation on strategy selection but fails to demonstrate the effect of communication apprehension or an interaction between communication apprehension and…

Explores the process of impression formation in initial interactions as a function of a person's communicative style. Develops a method for measurement of interactive or communicative style and describes a study designed to empirically assess relations between style, attractiveness, and effectiveness. (JMF)

Presents a theoretical account of how speakers interpret that which is taken for granted in messages. Discusses research concerning enthymemes, argument theory, indirect speech acts, conversational maxims, pragmatic implication and other areas. Provides a framework for a model of how speakers interpret unspoken portions of utterances. (JMF)

Explores inconsistent findings in earlier brainstorming research. Indicates that variation in the number of high and low apprehensive communicators assigned to a brainstorming group affects member productivity, perceptions of status differentiation, and satisfaction with the group. Supports the conclusion that communication predispositions and…

Results indicated that observers familiar with a communicator's truthful behavior were more accurate in detecting deception than those who were not familiar, and that accuracy increased as self-monitoring increased. (High self-monitors are individuals particularly sensitive to the expression and self-presentation of others in social situations.)…

Examines the concept that individuals develop, maintain, and change their self-concepts through communication with others. Presents two dimensions of the communication networks: the social network in which one is embedded, and the smaller, more influential network of relational ties that develop from contacts within the social networks. (JMF)

Examines the relationship between disclosure flexibility and a measure of psychological adjustment. Comparisons are made to a sex-adjusted normative profile of appropriate disclosure in 20 social situations. Study indicates that disclosure flexibility is an important correlate of personality health, at least among medium disclosers. (JMF)

Investigates the effects of self-disclosure and attitude similarity on the reduction of interpersonal conflict between interactants involved in playing a creative alternative game. Results indicate that self-disclosure accounted for 54 percent of the variance of conflict-reducing behavior, while attitude similarity accounted for 7 percent. (JMF)

Considers the problem of insuring that students acquire thoughtfulness, knowledge, and wisdom, as well as the skills and techniques of eloquent expression, in interpersonal and public communication. Examines historical roots of this problem in classical rhetorical theory; contemporary problems of the discipline; and needed areas of research and…

Offers a brief explication of commonality analysis; a step-by-step discussion of how communication researchers may perform commonality analyses using output from a computer-assisted statistical analysis program; and provides an extended example illustrating a commonality analysis. (JMF)

Reports a study of varied threats to attitudinal freedom and initial receiver attitude at four discrepancy intervals. Discusses the significance of the findings for the importance of the freedom to agree or disagree with a persuasive communication. (JMF)

Discusses four major problems in defining speaking and listening as basic skills: lack of systematic attention to social communication, the need to identify salient social contexts for literate communication behavior, the need to explicate behaviors one must exhibit to be considered literate, and the difficulty in assessing functional…

Suggests that cumulative dynamic analysis of the semantic structure of the incoming message is subconsciously performed by interpreters. (Author/RL)

Finds that expectancies, as well as the degree to which subjects (undergraduate students) believe their expectancies are met had limited links to evaluations of an interaction and interaction partners. Finds that the behavior subjects displayed ("individuating information"), on the other hand, appeared to be related to evaluations more…