Contends that simultaneous speech is not necessary for the recognition of "interruption" by interlocutors. A speaker's "completion right" is validated by how long s/he has been speaking, how often s/he has spoken, the number of "points" s/he has made, and the rights of some speakers to speak about some topics. (SED)

Presents a conceptual framework for analyzing and interpreting turn exchange and speaking turns from two perspectives: that of the surface forms of turn taking such as smooth and simultaneous exchanges and that of an empirical analysis of the formal or underlying structure of a turn-taking system. (SED)

Explores the potential usefulness of R.F. Bales' systematic method for the multiple level observation of groups (SYMLOG) by testing the predictive capability of the three SYMLOG dimensions and the amount of member dispersion on each dimension with the amounts of conflict, reported satisfaction, styles of conflict management, and quality of…

Presents a content analysis performed on 157 electronic mail files received over the course of several months by a middle level manager in a computer services department of a large organization. Suggests that computer mediated communication changes communication function and context in certain specific ways, which are reflected throughout the…

Investigates differences between males' and females' self-perceptions on Norton's Communicator Style Construct and on the Social Style Profile. Finds that males' and females' self-report responses do not differ significantly across these measures. (MS)

Examines the mediating influence of a cognitive structure called "procedural order preference" to determine whether the relationship between discussion procedures and decision performance is mediated by certain situational factors. Finds a significant interaction between discussion procedures and procedural order preference of group…

Examines the strategic coordination of local and global textual resources in conversations of dyads with three different patterns of interaction involvement. Finds the dyads seemed to rely on integrated discourse strategies leading to the use of unified configurations of discourse resources. (MS)

Identifies and interprets the discursive codes (subsystems of symbols and meanings) at a television station, in order to understand cultural communication and organization. (MS)

Uses a systems approach to organizational theory to argue that technical communicators function as "boundary spanners," who make sense of and disseminate information required for coordination between organizational groups, and for effective responses to the environment. (JAD)

Responds to Hernando Gonzalez' criticisms (this issue). Suggests two strategies for the definition of communication as a discipline: to give theoretical substance to the central concepts of the field, or to foster an anarchy in central concepts and yet to insist on the intellectual vitality of that anarchy. (MS)

Examines the role of communicative responsiveness, empathic concern, and emotional contagion as precursors to burnout among human service workers. Concludes that empathic concern leads to communicative responsiveness, emotional contagion decreases responsiveness, and responsiveness predicts three dimensions of burnout and occupational commitment.…

Investigates the differences in social knowledge said to develop in high and low self-monitors. Reveals some support for the self-oriented representations of low self-monitors and the other-oriented representations of high self-monitors, but generally shows that self-in-situation information is more readily accessible for both high and low…

Develops a system for analyzing the management of multiple communicative goals in interpersonal arguments that classifies messages in terms of (1) communicative role of the message producer, (2) position taken toward the issue on the floor, (3) explicitness with which conflict is acknowledged, and (4) manner in which subsidiary communicative goals…

Discusses the process of conducting social research, indicating how the Milan systemic model can help meet the goals of a systemic epistemology in research by offering guidelines for developing research programs which acknowledge social intervention. (MM)

Focuses on the relationship between debate training and critical thinking ability, and examines whether Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) debaters, National Debate Tournament (NDT) debaters, and nondebaters differ significantly on the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal. Indicates no significant difference between NDT debaters and…