Shows that self-assessments of leader performance were more favorable than assessments by team members for 12 of 13 measured dimensions of leader behavior. Finds agreement of leader strengths and weaknesses, but less agreement of the effect of specific leader behaviors on team performance. (SR)

Examines the role new technology is playing in the magazine writer/editor relationship. Finds that editors report the new technology is affecting their relationship with writers, and that free-lancers are less apt to use expensive new technology than staff writers. (SR)

Suggests the existence of a third major organizational role for public relations: "communication executive," composed mainly of corporate senior vice presidents of public relations and communication who report directly to CEOs. Reports on a survey of those in this role, and shows that communications methods used five years ago to…

States that one challenge to public relations practitioners is the need to foster communication between sources of industrial risk and persons who work and live in communities where this risk is located. Provides results of a survey of industrial hygienists and describes communication networks that the hygienists use. (PA)

Investigates place references in synchronous computer-mediated conversation, revealing two uses of place deixis: one for the user's physical location and one for "location" in the virtual space of the computer network. (SR)

Examines the interrelationship among propaganda, effect, and the Cold War during congressional debates over America's first peacetime propaganda program. Argues that the "war of words" metaphor further heightened the need for empirical proof of America's status in that conflict. Suggests that the Cold War helped to ensure the…

Describes a four-tiered model of the intellectual structure of the human communication discipline: (1) the structural properties of messages; (2) individual, social, and cultural aspects of message activity; (3) interpersonal, small group, and public levels of message activity; and (4) message activity in recurrent social situations. (SR)

Finds a combination of interpersonal communication apprehension and receiver apprehension to be negatively correlated with sexual communication satisfaction in sexually intimate relationships, and that the combination of interpersonal communication apprehension and receiver apprehension was more strongly associated with sexual communication…

Surveys experienced managers regarding gender, psychological type, and conflict style preference. Finds that males are "thinkers," and females are "feelers." Cautions that while results indicated psychological type may be a better indicator of conflict style preference than is gender, neither factor accounted for a substantial…

Reviews recent developments in the rhetoric of science, social constructionism, feminist critiques of science, and ethics. Explains how they are postmodernistic, and explains how they are also humanistic. Concludes by discussing the implications for the practice and teaching of technical communication. (SR)

Investigates the use and perceived effectiveness of strategies for coping with scary films, coping style, and two dimensions of empathy. Confirms evidence that "blunting" is characterized by distraction or reinterpretation of scary events, whereas "monitoring" is characterized by attention to threat cues. Interprets gender differences in coping as…

Examines the types of documents written by 23 executives/managers in 2 different companies, finding that the most frequently written documents are memorandums and letters. Notes implications for business writing courses. Suggests that students be required to prepare a wide variety of documents in business writing courses. (SR)

Discusses metaphor as a device for effective impromptu speaking. Illustrates how impromptu discussions of the Clarence Thomas versus Anita Hill saga utilized metaphors as perspectives from which to instantaneously organize thought and action or an entire situation. Discusses how to assist students to use metaphor in discussions of contemporary…

Staff communication patterns were observed during 13 open-heart surgeries to identify the transfusion decision makers. It was determined that targeting decision makers for continuing medical education would improve the quality of transfusion practice and increase the efficiency of continuing education. (SK)

Examines advantages, disadvantages, and preliminary assessments of the training model and the consulting/training (CONTRA) model approaches to providing oral communication instruction in Oral Communication across the Curriculum programs. Recommends the CONTRA model. (SR)