Reports results of a survey of 40 communicative research centers affiliated with universities. Includes information on years in operation, staffing, facilities and equipment, funding, publications/activities, research methodologies, etc. (PD)

Examined whether beliefs about competence differ among conceptions of prototypic communicators of different levels of competence and among communicators in different competence-relevant situations. Results indicated that large differences in beliefs about competence only exist when evaluating behaviors of the average communicatively competent…

Argues for the priority of a "praxical" hermeneutics over both an ontological and a methodological one. Proposes a praxical dimension to the hermeneutic tradition within communication studies by focusing on and expanding Hans-Georg Gadamer's notion of practice. Suggests some new possibilities for the study of communication and mass…

Examines the impact of communication apprehension on avoidance, withdrawal, and anxiety in communication contexts in two separate studies. Concludes that those who are communication apprehensive avoid public speaking and that apprehensive responses to public speaking can be predicted from participant's communication apprehension level. (SRT)

Organized action need not depend on group consensus. Karl Weick's theory argues that only minimal shared understanding is needed and that common ends and shared meanings may be outcomes of organized action, not prerequisites. This paper reveals four communication mechanisms that generate and sustain equifinal meaning (multiple routes to a single…

Presents the results of a study which investigated the content quality of classroom discussions in three tenth-grade social studies classes categorized as cooperative, competitive, or neutral (control). Findings did not support previous research regarding the content of group discussions and their structure. (JDH)

Argues that the needs of the bereaved are rarely met. Describes communication characteristics of self-help groups and offers evidence for their effectiveness. Suggests directions for future research. (MS)

Surveys relevant literature, including Kohut, Rochlin, Kernberg, and others. Offers a theoretical formulation on the rhetorical implications of unhealthy narcissism, particularly misjudgments of audience and occasion and misshaped messages. (MS)

Presents friendly advice to potential authors and researchers on basic conceptual and operational mistakes commonly made in the most recent 100 manuscripts reviewed by the author. (MS)

Interviewed 61 managers of Fortune 500 companies who reported the following problems with administering performance appraisals: (1) multiple use of the form; (2) subjectivity and inflated ratings; and (3) difficulties in defining objectives and in disseminating the evaluation to employees. (PD)

Includes nine responses from college faculty to Daniel's article (EJ 285 194) on business communication. (PD)

Compared the linguistic complexity of juror instructions in the "federal standard instructions" and the "Texas pattern special issues." Found that the latter contained significantly fewer nominalizations, technical legal terms, and embeddings. Discusses implications of these findings on comprehension. (PD)

Presents six generalizations on using humor in public speaking. (PD)

"If communications research is now in ferment, that ferment can be attributed to its invasion by a broader set of multidisciplinary concerns and particularly to a reunion of the social sciences with the humanities." (Author)

This paper gives a brief overview of Jurgen Habermas's concept of communicative action, followed by an overview of an empirical study of patterns of communication between teachers and students in English post-compulsory education. The paper sketches the ideas of Habermas about the possibility of human interaction that is free from domination. It…