The relationship between understanding and rhetorical sensitivity was studied in the context of dating relationships. The hypothesis was that rhetorically sensitive persons would understand their dating partners better than persons who were not rhetorically sensitive. Subjects for the study were 34 dating couples in which one of the partners was…

The relationship between communication theory and media research must be reciprocal. Without some acknowledgement of a commonality with specific aspects of communication theory, media research efforts will continue to stagnate and produce uninterpretable or extremely limited observations. On the other hand, media researchers' commitment to the…

Based on existing theory and research on cooperation and competition and on process studies of group decision making, a two-part study was conducted on the communication patterns in four groups of college students. In the first part of the study groups one and three were induced to behave competitively and groups two and four were induced to…

This paper describes a recent program of organizational awareness and development (OAD) initiated for a university program council. It describes the nature, purposes, and objectives of OAD and its role as a third party. It also provides an example of applied communication research, divided into four phases: (1) diagnostic, (2) feedback, (3)…

The effects of message structure, required recall structure, and receiver apprehension on the recall of message information were studied in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial analysis of variance with fixed effects. Subjects were 238 college students who scored either high or low in communication apprehension. A category clustering scheme was used to…

In response to a paper by E. Culpepper Clark, Eva M. McMahan, and Michael J. Hyde that calls for the application of hermeneutic theory to the study of the oral history interview, this paper notes problems in the relationships between the proposed research design and the conceptual framework for the proposed research. While conceding that the…

This study develops a self-report inventory of public speaking apprehension that establishes measures of content, construct, and predictive validity. An item pool was generated by students that were anxious about giving speeches, and the resulting instrument was then administered to the general student population and factor analyzed. Each factor…

This study assessed the effect of room design on small-group communication patterns. Twenty-seven groups of three subjects each were assigned to nine types of rooms that differed with respect to shape, interior decoration, and other environmental elements. Subjects discussed a standard group-discussion topic. Data indicated that room design had no…

This study examines data from several national polls about press coverage during the Watergate scandal, in order to assess the origins of press criticism. The polls were conducted between 28 September and 6 October 1973, during June 1974, and in August 1974. The data suggest that political variables--particularly support of Nixon, party…

Following a brief review of the terminology, important research, and distinguishing characteristics of game theory, four potential benefits of a game theoretic approach to communication research are proposed; game simulations facilitate communication process research; a game matrix enables the researcher to simulate situations in which…

Describes a study comparing regulator behaviors and patterns of middle- and working-class speakers. Findings support the general view that patterns of regulators in conversation are different for groups that seem to differ in verbal communication contents, contexts, and patterns. (JMF)

Discusses the construct validity of television viewing derived from four alternative conceptualizations of what it is in television which, when viewed, interacts with human behavior and attitudes. (JMF)

Reexamines the conceptualization, measurement, and relationships among trust, disclosure and interpersonal solidarity. (MH)

Indicates that relationship type did not affect the maintenance strategies that partners chose; however, the partners' relationship intent and the sex-composition of the dyad had a significant impact on the selection of directness strategies. Suggests that individuals are not necessarily more likely to select directness strategies than balance or…

Examines uncertainty reduction processes in interethnic relationships between Hawaiian Japanese and Caucasians. Indicates that ethnicity, stage of relationship, and ethnolinguistic identity influenced the set of dependable variables. Suggests that ethnolinguistic identity helps explain aspects of interethnic encounters that are intergroup based,…