This paper describes and reports research on a model of the determination of behavioral intention by belief structures, derived from a theory proposed by Don Dulany in 1968. The new model construes "belief structures," and defines message variables, in ways suggestive for communication research. Findings reported support several…

Selected aspects of Kenneth Burke's "dramatistic" model of symbolic interaction were operationalized to describe and compare verbal patterns in transactions between five pairs of friends and five pairs of strangers. Based on Altman and Taylor's social penetration theory, it was predicted that interactants would display verbal patterns unique to…

Examines whether the use of a particular unit of interaction behavior enhances reliability in interaction analysis research. (Author)

Presents the foundation of a communicator style construct which is stipulated to include communication variables which reflect the "way one verbally and paraverbally interacts to signal how literal meaning should be taken, interpreted, filtered, or understood." (MH)

Reports two experiments designed to further understanding of the effects of systematic desensitization (SD) training on college students and presents experimental test results indicating that students in SD do not differ significantly from those who choose not to join SD. (MH)

Indicates that self-report measures for public speaking anxiety are not affected by variations in descriptive detail. Tends to support the contention that large, live audiences are not needed in analogue research on speech anxiety. (RL)

Outlines a conceptual framework and measurement model of the social cognitive processes underlying marital communication, specifying a two-dimensional configuration consisting of marriage-specific and general social cognitive processes. Studies conducted to develop and validate a measure of conjugal understanding confirm the proposed model.…

Investigates the operation of myth and victimage in President Reagan's Lebanon/Grenada address. Delineates the clustering structure within the speech, suggesting how the arrangement of mythic content accomplished victimage. Argues that Reagan defused his foreign policy by redefining it, thereby making the Lebanon/Grenada situation appear both…

Focusing on the ethical quality of political rhetoric, maintains that Reagan's efforts to justify the invasion and occupation of Grenada must be evaluated by democracy's need for free and open debate. Argues that Reagan's rhetoric violated these ethical standards numerous times by distorting and/or misrepresenting relevant evidence and arguments.…

Investigated teachers' attitudes toward grammar instruction in the business communications classroom. Indicated that the majority of instructors believed that business communication students would profit from grammar instruction. Presented statistics showing a 14.3 percentage of actual grammar instruction. (JD)

Responds to calls for explication of the theoretical basis of argument in negotiation. Uses four current argumentative perspectives to examine the nature and function of argument in organizational bargaining research, and concludes that Toulmin's argument field perspective offers the most thorough analysis of labor-management negotiations. (SKC)

Reports refinements in a coding scheme of interpersonal argument and an analysis of argument structures in consensus and dissensus groups. Identifies four argument structures: simple, compound, eroded, and convergent. Notes that consensus groups had a greater proportion of convergent arguments than did dissensus groups. (SKC)

Stresses that understanding the impact of interaction with mass media requires conceptualizing media as an institutionalized social form. A critical feature of this process is the grammatical character of media interaction in the form of rhythm and tempo, because these rhythms and tempos become established in everyday routine. (SKC)

Argues that there are relationships among perceived public relations role, formal research, and organization type. Presents two lines of research, the studies of public relations roles focusing on the individual, and the approach emphasizing the organization as the principle unit of analysis; Describes three research hypotheses are and presents a…

Investigates the effect of both trait communication apprehension (CA) and anticipated interaction on student recall of instructional messages. Finds that anticipated interaction elicited higher levels of state anxiety in students with high CA, inhibiting their free recall of a lecture. (MS)