Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Objective
Overview:
The Idea of Theory
Theoretical Evaluation
Communication A definition
Levels and Contexts of Communication
Communication
To get the ball rolling:
How valuable is small talk?
How much time to you spend
online?
Is there a difference between
men and women when they talk?
Is communication an art or
science?
Dimensions of Theory
Philosophical Assumptions
Concepts and Explanations
Principles
Dimensions of Theory
Philosophical Assumptions
Basic beliefs that underlie the theory.
Epistemology: The nature of knowledge.
To what extent can knowledge exist before
experience?
To what extent can knowledge be certain?
By what process does knowledge arise?
(Rationalism, Empiricism, Constructivism, Social
Constructionism )
Is knowledge best conceived in parts or w holes?
To what extent is knowledge explicit?
Dimensions of Theory
Philosophical Assumptions
Basic beliefs that underlie the theory
Ontology: The nature of being; What is the nature of
human existence?
To what extent do humans make real choices?
Is human behavior best understood in terms of
states or traits?
Is human experience primarily individual or
social?
To what extent is communication contextual?
Dimensions of Theory
Philosophical Assumptions
Basic beliefs that underlie the theory
Axiology: Values; objectivity and subjectivity.
Can theory be value free?
To what extent does the process of inquiry affect
that which is being studied?
Should scholarship always be geared toward
(social) change or is its function simply to
generate knowledge?
Dimensions of Theory
Concepts
Conceptual categories based on observed qualities
Concepts are terms which require definitions.
Explanations
Answers the question, Why?
Patterns of relationships between variables
Causal explanations, practical explanations
Dimensions of Theory
Principles
Not present in all theories
Guidelines on the interpretation of
events
3 parts:
Identifies a situation or event
Includes a set of norms or values
Asserts a connection between a range of
actions and possible consequences
Evaluating Theory
1. Theoretical Scope Range. How much does the theory explain. Is it
able to explain a specific event as well as a bigger phenomenon/a?
2. Appropriateness Are the basic beliefs of the theory suitable to
explain, to predict and to control affective and cognative events?
3. Heuristic Value Is it able to generate new knowledge that is
enough to investigate by the scholarly community?
4. Validity Is it testable? Is it able to support or reject observations?
5. Parsimony Is it able to explain a phenomenon/a is the most
simple way?
6. Openness Is it adaptable to change?
Communication Theory
The Concept of
Communication
All theories contain explicit or implicit definitions
of communication and the components of a
definition in large measure set the boundaries
and the focus of the theory.
Communication is the relational process of
creating and interpreting messages that elicit a
response.
- Em Griffin
Levels of Communication
Intrapersonal Communication
Interpersonal Communication
Dyadic Communication
Small Group Communication
Public Communication
Organizational Communication
Mass Communication
Intercultural
Computer-Mediated Communication
15-Minute Break.
Objective
Overview:
1.
2.
Traditions:
a. Socio-psychological
b. Cybernetic
c. Rhetorical
d. Semiotic
e. Socio-cultural
f. Critical
g. Phenomenological
Axes of Communication
Scholarship
Scientific / Materialist Scholarship
The Idea of Truth: Objective, Cause & Effect,
Problem-Oriented
The Idea of Human Behavior: Determined;
Stimulus-Response
The Purpose: Prediction, Explanation, Control
Method of Analysis: Content Analysis,
Experimentation, and Surveys.
Axes of Communication
Scholarship
Humanistic / Culturalist Scholarship
The Idea of Truth: Subjective, Multiple
realities and meanings
The Idea of Human Behavior: Individual
Autonomy
The Purpose: Interpretation and
Understanding
Method of Analysis: Textual Analysis, FGDs,
Axes of Communication
Scholarship
Social Scientific Scholarship: Both
In previous years the majority of social
scientists believed that scientific methods
alone would suffice to uncover the mysteries
of human experience.
Today, most social scientists realize that while
scientific methods are important, a strong
humanistic element is present as well.
Traditions of Communication
Theory
The Socio-psychological
Tradition
It is the most scientific of all traditions.
It is rooted in the Cause-effect relationship of
communication.
Its primary goal is to predict communication.
It emphasizes persuasion.
The Cybernetic
Tradition
Communication is composed of a system of
parts.
This tradition emphasizes the transmission
of information from one person to another.
Feedback is seen as an important part of
communication.
The Cybernetic
Tradition
The Cybernetic
Tradition
Sign
Referent
Thought
Cat
Signified (concept)
Signifier (image created)
The Socio-cultural
Tradition
Communication is a
function of Culture.
Our language governs how
we live our lives.
The Socio-cultural
Tradition
Communication is a
function of Culture.
Our language governs how
we live our lives.
The Socio-cultural
Tradition
Communication is a
function of Culture.
Our language governs how
we live our lives.
Culture
builds a
stable
gender
This
determines
your
sexuality
(desire)
You have
a Body
You
Perform
an
identity
You have
desires
The Phenomenological
Tradition
Communication is the experience of the self
and others through dialogue.
Phenomenology as the intentional analysis of
everyday life from the standpoint of a person
who is living it.
Reality is based on a persons lived experience.
References:
Baran, S. & Davis, D. (2009). Mass Communication Theory. 5th
Edition.
Massachussets, USA. Wadsworth Publishing.
Littlejohn, S. (1995). Theories of Human Communication.
California, USA:
Wadsworth Publishing.
Pernia, E. (2009). Communication Research in the Philippines.
Quezon
City, Philippines: UP Press.
Think Paper 1:
1) Due date: December 6. >:)
2) How well informed are you about public affairs? Where do you get
most of your information about the world around you? Can you craft a
theory of why you do not pay more attention to the news than you
already do?
3) Minimum of five pages, maximum of 10 pages.
4) MS Word, 81/2 x 11, 1 margin on all sides, 1.5 spacing, 12 pts.,
Times New Roman.
5) Your paper will be measured with the following indicators:
a. Content (grounded arguments [well researched], lesser
assumptions)
b. Cohesiveness (thoughts are connected with each other, hindi pilit)
Group Activity 1:
1) Due date: December 13, within the course period 12nn 3pm. >:)
2) Research for communication/ media studies at the DepComm
Library or the Main Library with your groupmates. Decide whether you
reject or support the study. If you reject, what grounds do you base
your skepticism. If you support it, provide details why.
3) Please do not forget to provide the authors of the study, date of
publication, title, publishing house, & place where it was published. If
you know APA citation, better. :)
4) No maximum number of pages but please, I do not like shallow
reasoning.
5) Your paper will be measured with the following indicators:
a. Content (grounded arguments [well researched], lesser
assumptions)
b. Cohesiveness (thoughts are connected with each other, hindi pilit)