Argues and empirically demonstrates that a model based on S. Feld's focus theory validly describes the activity structure of a local church, and that this activity structure is significantly related to communication links among the membership, organized by a latent hierarchy of activation. Finds relationships between activation and personal…

Suggests that newcomers need several types of information to reduce uncertainty surrounding organizational entry. Surveys 117 newcomers (recent college graduates) to assess perceived usefulness of 7 types of information and the extent to which they had passively and actively obtained them. Finds information was obtained actively through monitoring…

Introduces "virtual reality" (computer-enhanced environments in which the user feels present), and considers its possible implications for communication research and researchers. (SR)

Investigates the use of "vague quantifiers" (terms such as "often,""sometimes,""rarely," or "never") in communication research. Finds that these words do not always mean the same thing to different people, and thus may not constitute interval scales. Suggests that research outcomes based upon such…

Demonstrates that people examine an argument and determine whether to assent based on the quality of the justification provided. Shows that these justifications do not reside in the structure of the argument but in the content of the argument and the interaction of the content with the belief system of the message receiver. (SR)

Assess the expectedness, interpretations, and evaluations of touch and its influence on such communication outcomes as communicator attractiveness and credibility. Finds that brief touches among strangers may have positive consequences, especially when initiated by high-valence communicators, for whom they may qualify as positive violations. (SR)

Studies the activities teams use to manage their organizational environment beyond their teams, using semistructured interviews with 38 new-product team managers in high technology companies. Teams engage in vertical communications aimed at molding top management's views, horizontal communications aimed at coordinating work and obtaining feedback,…

Introduces a new measure of bargaining toughness based on dynamical information that can easily be used in integrative bargaining scenarios. Develops a mathematical measure of bargaining toughness that takes into account not only how much the bargainer has conceded but how fast he or she has done so. (RS)

Suggests that providing some instruction on new videotext technologies does not necessarily lead to a more positive initial experience or positive program evaluation except where a system is complex and the user task difficult. Suggests, however, that as systems become more complex personalized instruction on use may pay dividends in a number of…

Examines mathematical relationships among three methods for statistical analysis of treatment by replication experiments involving message variables: ignoring them in the statistical analysis; treating them as levels of a fixed effect; or treating them as levels of a random effect. Finds the third method is the only one offering a reasonable test…

Finds that U.S. audiences perceive Asian speakers to have more speech anxiety than U.S. speakers, even though Asian speakers do not self-report higher anxiety levels. Confirms that speech state anxiety is not communicated effectively between speakers and audiences for Asian or U.S. speakers. (SR)

Probes the reasons college graduates in communication subfields select their first positions. Finds that (1) television/radio specialists had the highest (and speech specialists the lowest) likelihood of getting a position in their field; and (2) graduates ranked "professional growth and development" as the most important selection reason. (SR)

Discusses how the mindless use of language (not being aware of the language choices made when speaking and listening) limits perspective and thus options, resulting in mindless action. Maintains that awareness of how language constructs the worlds allows for alternative and more adaptive constructions. (SR)

Finds that (1) for neutral ads, people estimated themselves to be more resistant than others, but for emotional ads, more yielding to influence than others; (2) for public service announcements, there were no differences in perceived self and other influence; and (3) judgments of persuasive influence on self and others were markedly overestimated.…

Examines 19 journals in the "Index to Journals in Communication Studies through 1990" to provide a measure for top scholarship in communication among active administrators in speech communication. Determines the mean, median, and mode number of citations listed in the field of communication. Lists 25 most prolific administrator-scholars and their…