Introduction to Communications Study Guide
A standard undergraduate introduction to the communications field: communication theory and models, verbal communication and language, nonverbal communication, listening, interpersonal communication and relationships, small-group and team communication, organizational communication, intercultural communication, mass communication history and industries, media effects and literacy, digital and social-media communication, and communication ethics.
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12 Topics Covered
Foundations of Communication Theory and Models
Core definitions, communication features, Shannon-Weaver, Schramm, and Barnlund models, contexts, and Craig's seven traditions.
Verbal Communication and Language
Language functions, Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, semantic triangle, abstraction, code-switching, and confirming versus disconfirming messages.
Nonverbal Communication
Kinesics, proxemics, haptics, chronemics, vocalics, Ekman's emotions, Hall's zones, and cultural variations in nonverbal behavior.
Listening Processes and Competencies
Listening stages, HURIER model, active listening, Rogers's approach, barriers, response patterns, and empathic listening skills.
Interpersonal Communication and Relationships
Knapp's stages, relational dialectics, Social Penetration Theory, Johari Window, conflict styles, and Gottman's four horsemen.
Small-Group Communication and Leadership
Tuckman's stages, Benne and Sheats roles, groupthink, decision-making methods, and transformational and situational leadership theories.
Organizational Communication
Classical and human relations theories, communication flows, organizational culture, Schein's levels, and socialization processes.
Intercultural Communication
Hofstede's dimensions, high-context versus low-context cultures, Bennett's sensitivity model, ethnocentrism, and intercultural competence development.
Mass Communication and Media Industries
Media functions, gatekeeping, agenda-setting, framing, media ownership, propaganda model, and journalism's role in society.
Media Effects and Media Literacy
Cultivation theory, uses and gratifications, Hall's encoding/decoding, third-person effect, and critical media literacy skills.
Digital and Social Media Communication
CMC theories, Walther's hyperpersonal model, filter bubbles, networked individualism, platform affordances, and surveillance capitalism concerns.
Communication Ethics Across Contexts
Virtue ethics, deontology, utilitarianism, dialogic ethics, journalism and PR ethics, and platform content moderation debates.
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