Explores a view of audience behavior that lies between the extremes of a passive audience expected to be influenced by communication messages and an active audience expected to make rational decisions about what media content to accept and reject. (RS)

Studies the behaviors of women and men represented in interpersonal arguments in prime-time television dramas. Finds a weak link between actual argument behaviors and those on television, thereby socializing viewers in a manner inconsistent with reality. Suggests that television arguments are guided more by the needs of the medium that a need to…

Argues that the study of media economics should stand at the core of the field of communication. Describes central concerns to be addressed, such as economic influence and effect, economic structure and conduct, and analysis of performance. (SR)

Examines to what extent, and in what ways, speech is unusual and how it compares to other semiotic systems. Discusses language and speech, neurolinguistic processing, comparative vocal/auditory abilities, primate evolution, and semiogenesis. (SR)

Uses a study of a network newcomer to highlight some of the decisions that networked communication researchers face in developing a sound study. (RS)

Investigates university department chairs' use of compliance-gaining techniques and the influence of these techniques on faculty job satisfaction and ratings of chair performance. Finds that department chairs most frequently use compliance-gaining techniques from the power classification labeled "values/obligations." (SR)

Reports a study of members of the Magazine Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Indicates that writing coaching is widespread in magazine writing courses. Describes a five-step writing process in which students were coached in one such course. (SG)

Argues with John Fiske's position on the nature and function of cultural interpretation. Defines and defends cultural interpretation as an investigative mode the main objective of which is to render participants' communication practices coherent and intelligible, through an explication of a system of symbols, symbolic forms, and meanings which is…

Finds that the openness toward broadcasts from Radio Liberty and other Western stations during perestroika has only increased the level of distrust of the Soviet media by those teenagers who tend to be poorly adapted to the established social activities of their peers. (PRA)

Identifies reasons for the scarcity of communication theories. Observes that early interdisciplinary forays did not result in communication theories but contributed to a view of communication as an applied social science. Argues that speech and journalism departments' appropriation of communication research has limited theoretical development.…

Examines the use and influence of compliance-gaining strategies by graduate teaching assistants in the college classroom. Compares these power patterns to those of university professors. Indicates that use of behavior alteration techniques is significantly related to student affective learning. (SR)

Surveys the current relationship between speech communication education and peace education at the college level. Addresses attitudes toward peace education, actual teaching related to peace and peacemaking, and peace research priorities. Focuses on the diverse and often contradictory attitudes held by respondents. (KEH)

Discusses the importance in business communication classes of the "You Attitude" (focusing messages on the interests and needs of the receiver rather than the sender) and "Naturalness" (using everyday wording). Studies their use in actual business correspondence. Finds only 27 percent of the correspondents making satisfactory use of the "You…

Presents a 29-item annotated bibliography of empirical research from the 1980s on gender as a variable in managerial communication. (SR)

Extends an earlier survey to members of the Association for Business Communication who do not live in the United States. Finds the percentage of respondents teaching international topics is approximately the same within and beyond the United States, but pedagogy and topics differ. (RS)