Indicates that (1) the skills most predictive of communication satisfaction were those that demonstrated an "other orientation," (2) social confirmation and attentiveness were the best discriminators of high and low communication satisfaction, and (3) "other-reports" of communicative performance were stronger predictors of…

Describes two studies of 25 molecular behavior items relevant to the domain of conversational skill. The first study finds that the behaviors themselves explained 36% of the variance in self-rated competence. The second study indicates that rater effects are identifiable, localized, and therefore, probably manageable. Discusses the use of the…

Assesses the feasibility of and suggests using W. J. McGuire's information processing theory and cognitive response analysis theory in research studies to identify "givers"--those who are likely to contribute money and resources to charities or volunteer to aid philanthropic organizations. (SRT)

Examines the conceptual and methodological similarities and differences of three listening measures--the Watson-Barker Listening Test, Kentucky Comprehensive Listening Test, and the Communication Competency Assessment Instrument. Provides information on the concepts being assessed in each and illuminates major methodological issues for listening…

Reports a consensus among surveyed Fortune 500 executives that effective communication skills are more important now than ever before for success in business. Makes curricular recommendations. (MS)

Examines verbal interactions of mothers and fathers with their school-age children (9 and 12 years of age) during structured sessions. Mothers, more than fathers, tend to use more problem-solving behaviors with their 9-year-olds than with their 12-year-olds and boys discriminate more than girls in their use of problem-solving behaviors with…

Describes skin conductance measurement as a physiological procedure to obtain information on onset, duration, intensity, and completion of private physiological responses to parts of films or media products. The mechanics of the technique, how measurements are recorded and analyzed, and types of skin conductance research literature are discussed.…

Concludes that video teleconferencing may be a more effective method of dealing with complex group problem solving than face-to-face meetings. Discusses reasons for and implications of this finding. (PD)

Results indicated that at the outset of a semester public speaking course, the PRCA-24 and the general anxiety measure predicted the anxiety experienced by college students with equal power, but by the end of the semester the PRCA-24 was clearly superior in predicting self-reported anxiety. (PD)

Explores the effects of training children to construct persuasive arguments and to compromise in situations in which their interests conflict with other children. Found that even very limited instruction can produce some improvement in communicative performance. (PD)

When maternal communication with two-and-one-half- to three-and-one-half-year-old children was analyzed, significant differences between mothers' speech to daughters and sons were found. Males consistently received more verbal stimulation of the type thought to facilitate cognitive development. Differential treatment of girls and boys was lessened…

A survey of speech communication departments and a review of the literature indicate that most speech communication researchers continue to use college students as their primary source of subjects. The problem of sampling is discussed and methods for dealing with generality are offered. (PD)

Examined the usefulness of conversational themes and attention-focusing strategies in predicting how people comprehend and recall conversations. Found that (1) unambiguous themes predicted conversational comprehensibility and recall accuracy and (2) personal information may be processed differently from content information. (PD)

Results of this investigation suggest that the greater an individual's cognitive sophistication about conversation, the better his or her performance in, and memory for, social interaction. (Auth/PD)

Results revealed that inducing women to be more argumentative had a favorable effect on their credibility. (PD)