Building a theory of communication and ethnopolitical conflict

Coherent development of theories of ethnopolitical conflict has been slow and scattered. Moreover, the role of communication has been seriously neglected. I theorize ethnopolitical conflict along two dimensions: the level in which the conflict is entered (macro state-level, mid civil society level, and individual level) and the type of communication most characteristic of the level (bargaining and negotiation, intergroup relations and intercultural communication, identity theories and deliberative processes). Additionally, the article makes the case for a social constructionist perspective on ethnicity, and develops a relationship between communication and ethnopolitical conflict. Finally, theories of communication are posed as mediators of social systems that couple the communication systems of two conflictive groups in order for them to increase commensurability.     

Perceptions of conflict strategies and communication competence in task-oriented Dyads

Individuals in temporary task-oriented dyads or groups must manage conflict competently if they hope to be successful in reaching their goals. Thus far, however, research on the associations between conflict styles and communication competence has focused on acquainted dyads, such as relational partners and coworkers, rather than unacquainted dyads assigned to work on tasks. The present study tests the applicability of the competence model of interpersonal conflict to temporary task-oriented dyads. Dyads (N = 100) who had little or no relational history completed a simulated decision-making task that involved choosing two out of four employees to lay off in response to a company's need to downsize. Results indicate people generally perceived the solution-oriented strategy as appropriate and effective. Although people perceived their partners' use of the controlling strategy to be inappropriate, people rated themselves as more effective when they used the controlling strategy. People evaluated nonconfrontational strategies as particularly incompetent.     

Actor goal achievement and sensitivity to partner as critical factors in understanding interpersonal communication competence and conflict strategies

Communication scholars have long argued that achieving one's personal goals with others constitutes an important element of interpersonal communication competence. Moreover, sensitivity to the partner's goals has been implicated in various lines of research related to competence. Despite the presumed status of goal achievement and sensitivity to the partner's goals, models do not develop the relationships between these constructs and how actors are assessed in terms of competence criteria. This paper attempts to repair this oversight by advancing and testing hypotheses that connect assessments of competence to actor's goal achievement and sensitivity to the partner's goals. Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) (Kashy & Kenny, 1999), both actor and partner assessments of the actor's sensitivity and conflict strategies were analyzed. Results reveal that sensitivity to the partner's goals was a strong predictor of competence assessments and that actor goal achievement was a moderate predictor of competence assessments. In short, support was found for the explicit inclusion of goal achievement and goal sensitivity in models of interpersonal communication competence.     

作为一门学科的网络信息传播

网络信息传播已经成为学术界的研究热点,但对网络信息传播作为一门学科认识还很模糊。文章从学科的角度对网络信息传播的研究对象、学科属性以及与相关学科的关系进行了研究。     

Teaching intercultural communication through service-learning

Course: Intercultural Communication

Objectives: After completing this intercultural service-learning activity, students should be able to (1) apply effective intercultural communication skills in culturally different sites; (2) analyze cultures different from their own through service-learning; (3) compare and evaluate course readings with service-learning experiences through directed reflection; and (4) build critical empathy, relational, and reflexivity skills by communicating with people who are culturally different.     

Human need as a justification for communication rights

This article extends reasoning about social policy, as a response to basic human need, to the treatment of communication policy. The idea of communication as a basic human need is of vital importance in a contemporary world in which so much social interaction of a private and public nature occurs through technological mediation. Through an examination of arguments in social and political theory about human needs, this article emphasizes how “needs talk” is used to justify “rights talk,” with particular attention given to how assumptions about communication needs—what they are, how they can or should be satisfied, and the politics of need recognition—are or can be used to justify communication rights.     

Interpretation as oral communication

Oral interpretation is a communicative configuration in which no single element can be over‐stressed nor any one neglected. Presently, the emphasis in the theory of oral interpretation appears to center on a scheme of analysis based on the “new”; criticism. In this concern with analysis, we must not overlook the place and function of the vocal‐physical elements in the total process of interpretation as oral communication.     

An analysis of role conflict and role ambiguity within the cancer information service's communication network

This research examines the relationship between individuals' positions in a communication network and their corresponding levels of role conflict and role ambiguity. As part of a larger research program, the data for this study were collected at two points in time from members within the Cancer Information Service (N = 56), an award winning information service of the National Cancer Institute. In general, findings suggest lower levels of role conflict and ambiguity experienced by members of the CIS. In addition, neither the role conflict model nor the role ambiguity model were consistent with the data. Revised models, however, did suggest that experiencing role conflict and role ambiguity may lead to a decrease in the perception that a person is powerful within one's network. In addition, as members' interpersonal contacts increased, levels of role conflict and role ambiguity between regional offices and the National Cancer Institute decreased. The implications of these results for the CIS and other organizations are discussed.     

COMS Day as a communication senior capstone team project

Courses: Senior Seminar

Objectives: (1) To provide graduating students a semester-long capstone experience where they can apply communication theories/skills in a professional context. (2) To create a capstone project that contributes to programmatic assessment.     

Learning supportive communication through an adaptation of the board game Apples to Apples

People who receive supportive communication when they are distressed benefit from a series of advantageous outcomes. We designed the following activity based on the popular board game Apples to Apples to provide students with an experiential understanding of different types of social support—(1) emotional, (2) esteem, (3) network, (4) informational, (5) tangible, (6) celebratory, (7) social presence, and (8) nonverbal—as well as to illustrate the concepts of support matching and person centeredness.

Courses: Interpersonal Communication, Relational Communication, Health Communication.

Objectives: To provide students with an experiential understanding of different types of social support: (1) emotional, (2) esteem, (3) network, (4) informational, (5) tangible, (6) celebratory, (7) social presence, and (8) nonverbal, as well as to illustrate the concepts of support matching and person centeredness.     

The department of communication at Michigan state university as a seed institution for communication study

A seed institution is an organization that plays a dominant role in a new scholarly field by shaping intellectual directions for theory and research. The Department of Communication at Michigan State University was a seed institution in defining the new field of communication study in the 1960s because (1) of its focus on an integrated perspective of communication, emphasizing commonalities across mass and interpersonal communication, (2) of its quantitative focus, (3) of its internationalization and intercultur‐alism, and (4) of its considerable resources devoted to research and doctoral training. We focus here on how Wilbur Schramm ‘s vision for communication study was implemented and modified by David K. Berlo and his colleagues at Michigan State University.     

Food as social justice: Critical ethnography as a lens for communication activism

Courses: Public Speaking.

Objectives: This semester-long service-learning activity examines access to affordable healthy food as a social justice issue, using critical ethnography as a framework to help students understand the link between activism and public speaking skills. After completing the project, students will be able to: (1) develop a narrative speech that links their respective identities to food justice; (2) adapt a persuasive message that connects a community partner's food justice goals to a target audience; and (3) communicate ethically with a public while participating in a food justice campaign.     

Teaching students how to publish communication research

Courses: This semester-long assignment can be featured in undergraduate or graduate communication courses that include a major writing assignment such as research methods, capstone classes, senior thesis sections, or advanced courses on topics such as interpersonal, intercultural, and interracial communication. This assignment is suitable for face-to-face, online, and blended courses.

Objectives: By completing this assignment, students should be able to (a) outline and draft a full research paper or comprehensive literature review on a course-related topic, (b) tailor their papers to meet the requirements of an editor’s call for papers, (c) peer review and provide constructive feedback on classmates’ scholarly papers, and (d) revise and resubmit their original research papers to a mock journal.     

Gladwell and group communication: Using The Tipping Point as a supplemental text

Objectives: Students will apply group communication concepts, terms, and theories to their reading of The Tipping Point through short quizzes, presentations, and papers.

Courses: Undergraduate Group Communication courses (could also be adapted for Organizational, Leadership, or Interpersonal classes)     

Teaching assistant communication apprehension,willingness to communicate,and state communication anxiety in the classroom

This study investigated the nature of teaching assistant communication apprehension in the university classroom. Teaching assistants were given a survey assessing their general level of communication apprehension and their general willingness to communicate. Additionally, teaching assistant state anxiety specifically associated with teaching in the classroom was assessed. Analyses revealed significant negative correlations between teaching assistant communication apprehension and teaching experience, training in content, and training in teaching. Teaching assistant willingness to communicate was positively correlated with teaching experience and training in content. Teaching assistant state anxiety in the classroom was negatively correlated with training in content and training in teaching.     

What is a theme? Teaching thematic analysis in qualitative communication research methods

Course: Qualitative Research Methods

Objectives: To provide students with an experiential understanding of the six steps to conducting a thematic analysis: (1) gaining familiarity with the data, (2) creating coding categories or subcategories, (3) generating themes, (4) reviewing themes, (5) labeling themes, and (6) identifying exemplars. To help students understand the value of verification procedures: (1) peer debriefing, (2) referential adequacy, and (3) the audit trail.     

以计算机为中介的知识交流

本文主要论述将计算机和网络技术应用于知识交流的条件下,交流过程的四个基本要素(交流主体、交流客体、交流内容、交流形式)的特征、障碍及性能需求,并分析预测其发展趋向,提出一些应对措施.     

Andragogy and Teaching English as a Foreign Language in China

This study investigated the possibility of whether Western andragogy could be practiced in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) in China. A well-accepted instrument was modified and utilized for this study. Chinese teachers of English used andragogy to some extent such as personalizing instruction, relating to experience, assessing student needs, and climate building. The findings showed these teachers taught the lower levels of taxonomy, which are characterized by rote learning, memorization, knowledge transmitting, lecture, and focusing on exams. These teaching methods run contrary to Western democratic approaches characterized by negotiating curricular priorities with students, giving out learning contracts instead of exams, and involving students when planning lessons. The Western style of teaching is believed to contribute to the communicative movement (or collaborative learning process) when it comes to learning a foreign language such as English.