Part I Multiple Choice Questions Worth 1 Point Each

Part I Multiple Choice Worth 1 Point Eachdirectionsbelow Are 30 M

Part I: Multiple Choice (worth 1 point each) Directions: Below are 30 multiple choice questions. Please indicate the best answer from the selections given. 1. One of the issues to consider in defining communication is intentionality. Which of the following best exemplifies the belief that communication must be intentional? a. communication is goal-oriented behavior b. communication is any interpretation of meaning c. communication is the perception of power d. communication is a means by which truth is established 2. Having a conversation with someone over walkie-talkies is an example of which model of the communication process? a. linear b. interactional c. transactional d. Information transfer 3. Communication is considered transactional when a. a person waits to hear feedback after sending a message b. the people communicating send and receive messages simultaneously c. one person is responsible for sending the message; the other person is responsible for understanding the message d. each element of the communication process is not connected to the others 4. Selecting the word rage to label your feeling of anger is a process known as a. feedback b. decoding c. encoding d. semantics 5. I define communication as "the social process of creating meaning." Based on my definition of communication, which of the following theoretical questions is most likely to interest me? a. does increasing the strength of the arguments in a message lead to an increase in that message’s persuasiveness? b. what are the communication strategies people use to defend themselves when someone is insulting them? c. how do communicators reduce apprehension when they meet someone for the first time? d. how do lovers co-create meaning within their relationships? 6. Littlejohn defines a theory as "any conceptual representation or explanation of a phenomenon." Based on our class discussion, why is it important to notice the word "OR" in this definition? a. it narrows the definition by making it too inclusive b. it broadens the definition by including many approaches to theory c. it strengthens the definition by making anything a theory d. all of the above e. none of the above 7. The ultimate goal of communication theory development is to produce an accumulating body of reliable knowledge enabling us to a. predict, explain, and control communication behavior b. explain, predict, and manipulate communication behavior c. predict, understand, manipulate communication behavior d. explain, manipulate, dominate communication behavior 8. A theorist wonders, "What are the communication strategies people use to end relationships?" In which goal of theory is the theorist primarily interested? a. understanding b. explanation c. prediction d. control 9. How do the concepts and theories people use in their everyday lives differ from what communication theorists try to do? a. theorists’ concepts are more abstract; everyday concepts are more concrete b. everyday concepts are more abstract; theorists’ concepts are more concrete c. theorists try not to generalize because they want to explain specific communication behavior d. everyday theories are falsifiable (i.e., can be found to be incorrect), academic theories are not 10. Conclusions drawn from metatheoretical discussions determine a. what communication phenomenon the theorist observes b. how the theorist should observe the phenomenon c. what perspective on communication (laws, rules, systems. Rhetoric, etc.) the theorist will take d. all of the above 11. “Communication is a social endeavor” is a(n) assumption a. ontological b. epistemological c. axiological d. none of the above 12. A theorist who asks, “Should I develop a theory that will change society's view of gay marriage?” is asking him/herself a question that pertains to the area of a. ontology b. epistemology c. axiology d. phenology 13. According to class discussion, we have so many different communication theories because a. communication scholars hold different metatheoretical assumptions b. communication scholars define communication in many different ways c. communication scholars adhere to different assumptions that guide ways of knowing or discovering the world d. all of the above 14. A communication scholar who uses the covering laws approach is essentially trying to uncover a. the social norms that influence our communication behaviors b. cause and effect relationships between communication variables c. why certain people achieve success in communication and others do not d. cognitive schemata people use to interpret events 15. As classroom size increases, level of student participation decreases. This hypothesis is an example of a a. a contextual law b. a reliable law c. a positivistic law d. a probabilistic law 16. Communication rules tell us a. whether a problem is historical or psychological b. the difference between encoding and decoding c. what behavior will result under a given set of circumstances d. what kinds of behavior are appropriate in a given context or relationship 17. Which type of data would a rules perspective theorist be most happy analyzing? a. responses to paper and pencil tests or surveys b. actual dialogue from two people in conversation c. responses to yes/no questions answered over the phone d. frequency data from polling people individually 18. The following are possible explanations for the amount of distance between two people when they are speaking to one another. Which of the following best represents a rules approach? a. if you violate an individual’s personal space they will feel threatened b. people who want others to like them should use the distance between them to show how they feel c. if you violate an individual’s personal space, he or she will move away from you d. Our reaction to someone violating our space is the end result of being confronted with negative stimuli. 19. Sophia wants to answer the theoretical question, “Is birth order related to communication apprehension?” She asks students who have one or more siblings to complete a survey that measures a person’s level of apprehension. Which paradigm is influencing Martha’s choice of research methods? a. empiricism (i.e., she’s a social scientist) b. humanism (i.e., she’s a humanist) c. the systems perspective d. the rules perspective 20. True or False? Systems theorists believe you can study a part of the communication process (e.g., the sender of the message) in order to fully understand how communication functions in the real world. a. true b. false 21. True or False? The property of a system known as calibration is the system’s ability to achieve the same goals through different methods or means. a. true b. false 22. Rhetoricians who want to “put things into an intelligible frame” have which of the goals of theory as their primary goal of theory building? a. understanding b. prediction c. control d. all of the above e. none of the above 23. Theories about communication phenomena a. include definitions of concepts b. may include explanations about the relationships between and among concepts c. concern abstract ideas d. all of the above e. none of the above 24. Imagine, for a moment, two different images: Imagine (1) Dr. Hubbard giving a lecture last Wednesday, and imagine (2) the use of "effective instructional techniques". Which of the following statements BEST distinguishes between these two images? a. image 1 is a concept, image 2 is a concrete event b. image 1 is a concrete event, image 2 is a concept c. image 1 is a concept, image 2 is a theory d. image 1 is a building block of theory, image 2 is not 25. All theories must a. contain causal necessity b. contain practical necessity c. be logically consistent d. include hypotheses 26. The statement, “flattery leads to liking” indicates which type of necessity? a. causal b. practical c. academic d. temporal 27. When you flatter a friend because you want that friend to like you, what kind of necessity is operating in your behavior? a. causal b. practical c. academic d. temporal 28. A theory which contains only a few simply stated propositions instead of many elaborate propositions is said to be a. heuristic b. parsimonious c. valid d. testable 29. Edwin went to the library to learn more about a particular theory which attempts to explain the types of communication strategies used by women to end long-term relationships. In the process of investigating this theory, he discovered that many research studies had been conducted to “test” the theory. He concludes that the theory is a “good” theory because it passed the evaluation criteria of a. scope b. parsimony c. heurism d. validity 30. When you are unable to see the concepts explained in a theory operating in real life, the theory does not have a. precision b. scope c. validity d. power

Paper For Above instruction

Communication theories serve as frameworks to understand, explain, and predict human interaction. They are grounded in various assumptions regarding the nature of communication and the ways knowledge about this phenomenon is acquired and interpreted. To examine these differences comprehensively, it is essential to analyze ontological, epistemological, and axiological assumptions from the perspectives of both social scientists and humanists, to understand how these underlying beliefs influence their approach to studying communication.

Ontological Assumptions

Ontologically, social scientists view communication as an objective, measurable phenomenon. They believe that social reality exists independently of human perception and can be studied empirically through observable behaviors and statistically verifiable data. For instance, social scientists assume that communication operates within systemic structures that influence behavior, and these systems can be identified and analyzed through scientific methods (Bryman, 2012). Conversely, humanists perceive communication as a qualitative, interpretative process that is constructed socially and contextually. They hold that reality is subjective and influenced by individual perceptions, cultural contexts, and personal experiences (Schwandt, 2014). Therefore, for humanists, communication involves understanding meanings that are co-created, fluid, and deeply embedded in specific social or cultural narratives.

Epistemological Assumptions

In terms of epistemology, social scientists emphasize empirical evidence and the scientific method as the primary means of gaining knowledge about communication. They believe that knowledge is best acquired through systematic observation, experimentation, and measurable data, allowing for generalizations and predictive models (Neuman, 2014). This positivist approach aims for objectivity and seeks to uncover causal relationships between variables. In contrast, humanists prioritize interpretive knowledge, asserting that understanding people's subjective experiences and meanings is paramount. They filter data through qualitative methods such as interviews, ethnography, and textual analysis, emphasizing context and participant perspectives rather than quantification (Creswell, 2013). Humanist epistemology thus values depth over breadth, aiming to grasp the richness and complexity of human communication.

Axiological Assumptions

Regarding axiological assumptions, social scientists traditionally strive for objectivity and value-free inquiry. They believe the research process should be impartial, minimizing researcher bias, and valuable knowledge is considered universal and applicable across contexts (Kirk et al., 2020). Humanists, however, acknowledge that values are inherently intertwined with their research; their work often aims at social change, advocacy, or fostering understanding (Guba & Lincoln, 1994). They recognize that values influence both the research process and its outcomes, emphasizing that their research is value-laden and participatory.

Implications of Assumptions on Theoretical Goals and Methods

Given these foundational assumptions, the theories developed by social scientists and humanists are inherently different. Social scientific theories often aim for predictive power and generalizability, seeking to establish causal relationships through hypothesis testing, surveys, and experiments (Bachman & Schutt, 2017). Their explanations tend to be quantitatively driven, emphasizing laws, variables, and systematic patterns. Methodologically, they rely on structured, replicable procedures to validate hypotheses and build reliable, measurable models.

In contrast, humanist theories focus on understanding and interpretative explanations. They aim to uncover the meanings individuals assign to their communication within specific contexts, often through qualitative methods like in-depth interviews, textual analysis, and ethnography (Denzin & Lincoln, 2018). Their explanations are more descriptive, emphasizing the subjective experience and social construction of reality. Humanist approaches accept that insights are context-dependent and less generalizable but richer in understanding individual and cultural nuances.

Therefore, the divergence in assumptions fundamentally shapes the nature of research and theory in communication. Social scientists seek to produce objective, testable, and predictable models; humanists prioritize depth, contextual understanding, and interpretative explanations. Recognizing these differences allows scholars and practitioners to select appropriate approaches aligned with their theoretical orientations and research goals.

References

• Bachman, L. F., & Schutt, R. K. (2017). Fundamentals of social research. Sage Publications.
• Bryman, A. (2012). Social research methods. Oxford University Press.
• Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Sage Publications.
• Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2018). The Sage handbook of qualitative research. Sage Publications.
• Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Competing paradigms in qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 105-117). Sage Publications.
• Kirk, J., Miller, M. L., & Steinberg, S. (2020). Reliability and validity in qualitative research. Sage Publications.
• Neuman, W. L. (2014). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Pearson.
• Schwandt, T. A. (2014). The Sage dictionary of qualitative inquiry. Sage Publications.