Studies the Yagua speakers' use of a second position morpheme for indicating that information should be integrated as part of the main event line. Concludes that the information attached to this morpheme is mildly or strongly discontinuous with preceding information or expectations. (HB)

Finds that both experienced scientists and college students found it difficult to carry out intellectual teamwork involving collaboratively authored documents without the interactivity and expressiveness permitted by face-to-face communication. (SR)

Finds that, among college students, (1) both related and unrelated cuts resulted in cardiac orienting responses; (2) processing unrelated cuts required more capacity than processing related cuts; and (3) memory was better for information presented after related cuts, with this effect greater for visual memory than for audio memory. (SR)

Presents an essay by a pioneer scholar in the field broadly summarizing the collective body of findings from hundreds of studies of agenda-setting over the past 20 years. Suggests fruitful research lines for the future. (SR)

Investigates the influence of vocal intonation on five- and seven-year-old children's processing of explicit and implicit text concepts. Assesses comprehension of narratives through cued recall, recognition, and free recall tasks. Concludes that young children assign more weight to vocal information in making assessments of story outcome than do…

Examines whether the computer is an effective editing tool. Reports that a survey of 94 editors shows that 62.8 percent use computers in editing, and even editors who use them also depend on hard copy. Finds that the computer seems to increase the editors' responsibilities, but it remains just a tool. (PRA)

Analyzes the distribution of 33 linguistic markers of complexity across 23 spoken and written registers of English. Identifies a five-dimensional model and uses it to describe the complexity characteristics of spoken and written registers. Finds that, whereas written registers exhibit profiles differing widely in extent and kind of complexity,…

Confirms the idea that persons with similar communication values are more likely to become friends than persons with dissimilar communication values. (SR)

Surveys departmental members of the Speech Communication Association. Discusses (1) the nature, prevalence, and satisfaction with strategic planning in their academic units; and (2) the issues and goals facing the departments. (SR)

Finds that the Pennsylvania State University Reticence Program (compared to a control condition) is effective in reducing self-reported shyness and communication apprehension and is more effective than a performance-based public speaking communication course. (SR)

Finds that university employee perceptions regarding top management-employee communication relationship, quality of top management's communication, and superior-subordinate communication are strongly related to organizational commitment. Finds that perceived organizational support (influenced by the top management-employee communication…

Uses an ideological analysis of the subfield of doctor-patient communication to argue that scholarly efforts in the field of communication are proscribed by a "McCarthyism of the Left." Maintains that political ideology determines what is reality and that old concerns and commitments have been jettisoned to live in the new order. (SR)

Outlines a psychophysiological (involuntary responses to novel environmental stimuli) model of the role of orienting responses (ORs) in learning from televised lectures. Demonstrates that insertion of videographics in talking-head lectures produces ORs in television viewers. Finds that ORs enhance learning of familiar material but interfere with…

Analyzes the photographs in annual reports of 25 airline firms over a 6-year period. Finds iconographic portrayal of women in subservient, less-serious roles than men. (SR)

Responds to an article in an earlier issue of this journal. Defends the vital role of "practitioners" in the study and dissemination of communication theory and research. (SR)