Examines changes in participants' memories for natural conversations over a one month period. Reports that after one month, participants recalled less content and reported more descriptive statements, made more inferences, and were less accurate than when they had recalled the conversations immediately. (MM)

Contends that increased attention to extramural support for communication scholarship is necessary, if not sufficient, for communication to prosper in the immediate future. Lists assertions in support of expending energy on extramural funding. (MS)

Performance of 15 language-impaired children (average age eight years) on a referential communication task requiring verbal encoding of novel referents was compared to performance of normally developing age-mates and language-mates. Subjects used known referent, graphic, and mixed strategies about equally with language-impaired children less…

Indicates that premenstrual and menstrual women preferred comedy over alternative choices more strongly than did women midway through the cycle. Suggests that this preference reflects a desire to overcome the hormonally mediated noxious mood states that are characteristically associated with the premenstrual and menstrual phases of the cycle. (JD)

Indicates that formal education is a strong factor in explaining the adoption and use of home computers. Finds that instrumental uses of home computers are increasing more rapidly than are entertainment uses. Reveals changes in the leisure-time activities of adopting households, such as decreased television viewing. (JD)

Presents a table of cases requiring causal modeling or an equivalent technique. Reviews nine years of published research in communication journals to assess the adequacy of analysis in these situations. Offers standards for the conduct and reporting of causal modeling along with a review of their use in published causal modeling. (NKA)

Presents the Targowski/Bowman model of the communication process, which introduces a new paradigm that isolates the various components for individual measurement and analysis, places these components into a unified whole, and places communication and its business component into a larger cultural context. (MM)

Discusses the implications of the work of Paulo Freire for understanding cultural literacy. Points out that Freire differentiates between "kultur" (stable, immutable cultural institutions) and "culture" (something that is always becoming or being made), and that the difference has important implications for education. (SKC)

Offers models of three message design logics--expressive, conventional, and rhetorical--as alternatives to the premises and beliefs of ends to means reasoning. Describes a general method of message analysis based on these models, which is exemplified in a study of messages used in addressing a regulative communication task. (MM)

Asks whether macro-assessment of honesty has utility for detecting deception. Multiple regression analyses indicate that honesty assessments can be only partially predicted from communication style, characterized by the level of friendliness, attentiveness, preciseness, animation, and dramatic style. (JK)

Middle school students use note writing not only as a natural response to real social and emotional needs, but (when caught by teachers) as an indirect means to communicate with adults. Although these notes are important, it is difficult to determine if note writing makes a difference in children's success at writing or developing social skills.…

Presents a course syllabus which incorporates recent research findings indicating that students that suffer from communication apprehension may be treated in a regular oral communication course with no detrimental side effects to the rest of the class. Claims that, in general, an immediate atmosphere of support and encouragement must be developed.…

Indicates that the "Sharing Feelings Speech" assignment (1) failed to support the hypothesis that self-disclosure reduces stage fright in public speaking situations more than other forms of public speaking, and (2) revealed no significant gender-based differences. (JD)

Explores the nature and function of listening to music from the perspective of semiotic phenomenology. Claims that listening to music is a form of media consumption and a habitual practice that inscribes social meanings and organizes pleasure. Describes three stages through which the analysis of listening to music occurs: description, definition,…

Critically reviews several intellectual developments that have legitimized the study of popular culture in American universities in recent years, including (1) a sociological perspective that minimizes the differences between high and popular culture, (2) a broadening of what can be studied as a "text", and (3) increasing attention to the…