The central states speech association and the high school teacher: An editorial

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of rhetorical equivocation on a speaker s credibility ratings. Subjects were presented one of four messages which either equivocated the issues or spoke clearly to the issues. The results indicated that listeners conferred more credibility on those who agreed with them and less on those who disagreed with them.     

Interdisciplinary studies of communication: An editorial

The following is the Keynote Address for the 1966 Conference of the Central States Speech Association and was delivered at the General Session on April 15 in Chicago, Illinois.     

Language attitudes: An analysis of teacher differences

Based upon a (Q‐type factor analysis, teachers were grouped according to their patterns of rating videotaped speech samples of Black, Anglo, and Mexican‐American children. As in prior research, ratings reflected global judgments of confidence‐eagerness and ethnicity‐nonstandardness. General corroboration xvas found among speech ratings, teachers’ stereotype ratings of different ethnic groups, and the teachers’ academic expectations of children representing such groups. Results held a number of implications regarding the linguistic attitudes of teachers.     

Classroom understanding: An expanded notion of teacher clarity

The purpose of this paper is to expand and clarify the construct of teacher clarity. In doing so, this paper summarizes the findings on teacher clarity, points out two neglected areas, and presents an instrument that incorporates both content and process clarity. This study posits that clarity must be incorporated as a goal of general classroom understanding which includes content and process messages and that teacher clarity is a relational variable. The development of this instrument will allow future scholars to measure teacher clarity as it relates to other communication variables from a relational perspective. Also, the items on this expanded instrument will help teachers to become aware of and identify, more inclusively, the behaviors that constitute teacher clarity.     

The environmental self and a sense of place: Communication foundations for regional ecosystem management

In order to engage in large‐scale ecosystem management, natural resource managers must take into account the perceptions of citizens living in areas to be managed in a sustainable manner. Among other bases for perception, an individual's “sense of place” and beliefs connecting the self to a larger environment play pivotal roles in the process of attending to advocacy regarding natural resource policies. This study examines the perceptions of individuals living in the Lake Superior basin regarding their identification with a sense of place. Analysis of interview and survey data reveals that interviewees relate themselves to their region and environment primarily by way of “natural” and “social” features in their daily lives and that one's focus on either of the two dimensions, as well as their perceptions of various activities, is mediated by how long they have lived in the area. Implications for the development of ecosystem management communication campaigns are discussed.     

Communication anxiety and teacher communication competence among Native American and Caucasian students

This study compared self‐reported communication anxiety and student perceived teacher communication competence among fifth and sixth grade Native American and Caucasian students being taught by Caucasian teachers. A survey of 67 Native American and 51 Caucasian students was conducted in an elementary school located on a Northwestern reservation. Native American and Caucasian students differed significantly only on their communication anxiety associated with approaching new people. No significant difference was found on factors of communication anxiety more specific to classroom communication. Native American students perceived the teachers to have significantly less communication competence. Additionally for Native American students, perceived teacher communication competence predicted reported enjoyment of classroom communication, fear of classroom communication and willingness to approach new people. For Caucasian students perceived teacher communication competence only predicted willingness to approach new people.     

MLA certification: the certification program and education for medical librarianship

The certification program was formally adopted by the Medical Library Association in 1948 in an attempt to establish standards for medical librarians. The program is reviewed, and some of its effects on education for medical librarians are discussed. At the time of its adoption the program defined the kind of education librarians in the field thought necessary for work in medical libraries. New techniques and a shortage of personnel demand consideration of new educational programs, and the Medical Library Assistance Act will provide the means for their establishment. The Association should assume leadership in determining what and where these programs should be and should evaluate its certification and standards programs as often as current needs require.     

Interpersonal conflict interaction: An examination of verbal defense of self

The purpose of this investigation was to examine defensive verbal communication behaviors that occur at observer perceived levels of interpersonal conflict intensity. Conflict was defined as an interaction that occurs when salient values are challenged. Communication behavior in conflict was conceptualized as behavior to defend self. Videotapes of 37 dyadic conflict interactions were collected and coded. Three levels of conflict interaction intensity were examined. Two major categories of verbal defensive behaviors were observed: (1) agreement‐disagreement; and (2) measures of verbal intensity. In general, a positive relationship was found between observer perceived level of conflict intensity and amount of defensive behavior.     

Communication apprehension and cognitive learning: An experimental analysis

This 2×3 factorial design was employed to test the relationship between communication apprehension and cognitive learning. The results of this quasi‐experimental study indicate that highly apprehensive students scored higher on an objective (written) test than they scored on an equivalent oral test. Scores on the objective exam did not differ across levels of communication apprehension. In addition, a small negative correlation between communication apprehension and learning was observed in the oral testing condition. The expected curvilinear relationship between communication apprehension and learning under the oral testing condition was not observed. A negative linear relationship between communication apprehension and learning was observed.     

Self-Help Books About Communication and the Communication Course: An Exercise in Assessing Popular Notions of Communication Using Theory

Objective: The objective of this activity is to help students evaluate practical advice about communication with theories of communication

Applicable courses: This activity can be adopted by a variety of different communication courses including: persuasion, interpersonal (family, gender, and/or intercultural), organizational or small-group communication, and other communication courses     

Research on teacher and librarian collaboration: An examination of underlying structures of models

This article reports on quantitative data collected in a mixed methods study of teacher and librarian collaboration. This practice is discussed extensively in the literature on school librarianship as an instructional strategy that positively affects student academic achievement. However, while there is much anecdotal evidence regarding successful teacher and librarian collaboration, there is little hard research that defines specific practices that lead to successful collaborations. This study provides empirical data on teacher and librarian collaboration which helps us understand the nature of collaboration and the extent to which theory and practice are integrated. Two surveys based on proposed theoretical models of teacher and librarian collaboration were used for this study. The first survey was based on Loertscger's Taxonomy. The second survey was based on a new proposed model of teacher and librarian collaboration (TLC Model) which builds on the taxonomy and expands our understanding of teacher and librarian collaboration. Participants in the study included teachers, librarians and principals from kindergarten through middle school. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was carried out on both surveys to identify underlying structures of teacher and librarian collaboration. Three factors emerged from the data identifying a range of underlying structures: integrated instruction, library and librarian as resource, and traditional role for teacher and librarian. Further research on the TLC Model with a larger number of participants and survey items is needed to examine the stability of the factor structures and to further refine the new measure.     

Communication,culture and the growth of the individual self in third world societies 1

The paper examines the social impact of communication technology applying the insights of sociologists such as Durkheim, Mead and Shils. It argues that the introduction of modern communication technology to Third World societies has resulted in the sudden and rapid increase of ‘social density’ or social relationships by bringing to the consciousness of individuals issues and personalities outside their immediate experience. In some Third World societies this has resulted in the emergence of a heightened individual self‐identity in order to understand and give meaning to new and unfamiliar situations created by the media. The socio‐political consequences of this new self‐identity for the plural societies of Asia is examined using the media‐image of Mahatma Gandhi in pre‐independent India.     

Enhancing Peer Feedback and Speech Preparation: The Speech Video Activity

Courses: Basic Course, Public Speaking, Hybrid

Objectives: Students will execute a small group activity designed to improve the quality of their presentations through peer feedback and video “drafting” and to enhance the creative possibilities for their informative speeches