Deck 8: Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Question 1

All of the following are concepts identified by Berger and Calabrese as being related to uncertainty EXCEPT

A) self-disclosure
B) verbal output
C) information seeking
D) argumentativeness

Answer 1

argumentativeness

Question 2

URT predicts that high levels of uncertainty produce

A) high levels of similarity
B) high levels of reciprocity
C) high levels of liking
D) high levels of affiliative expressiveness

Answer 2

high levels of reciprocity

Question 3

All of the following are assumptions about uncertainty reduction identified by the authors EXCEPT

A) It is unreasonable to attempt to predict people's behavior in a law like fashion.
B) Uncertainty is an aversive state, generating cognitive stress.
C) People experience uncertainty in interpersonal settings.
D) When strangers meet, they want to reduce their uncertainty and increase their predictability.

Answer 3

It is unreasonable to attempt to predict people's behavior in a law like fashion.

Question 4

All of the following are assumptions about uncertainty reduction identified by the authors EXCEPT

A) The quantity and nature of information that people share change through time.
B) Interpersonal communication is the primary means of uncertainty reduction.
C) Exposure to social networks is inversely related to uncertainty.
D) Interpersonal communication is a developmental process that occurs through stages.

Question 5

Uncertainty Reduction Theory poses ________, or truisms drawn from past research and common sense, to explain the process of reducing uncertainty in initial interactions.

A) personal space expectancies
B) axioms
C) research questions
D) disclosure violations

Question 6

In the _________ phase of interpersonal communication, self-disclosure increases as parties begin to reduce their uncertainty about one another.

A) initial
B) primary
C) personal
D) exit

Question 7

One of the axioms of uncertainty reduction states that as nonverbal affiliative expressiveness _________, uncertainty levels will _________.

A) increases/decrease
B) decreases/increase
C) increases/increase
D) decreases/decrease

Question 8

A _______ is derived from axioms and it posits a relationship between two concepts.

A) connection
B) theorem
C) theory
D) hypothesis

Question 9

Uncertainty Reduction Theory is considered by many to be a "good" theory because of its ability to generate new research. This refers to the criterion known as

A) utility
B) parsimony
C) heurism
D) scope

Question 10

Ashley meets Lisa on an online dating site, and is considering meeting her in person. When she Googles Lisa to find out if what Lisa has disclosed about herself matches information on the online public record, she is reducing uncertainty by using what kind of strategy?

A) extractive
B) interactive
C) active
D) passive

Question 11

Jake is attracted to Felicia, but he's not sure about her current relationship status. He decides to ask one of her field hockey teammates if Felicia is currently seeing anyone. Which type of tactic has Jake employed to reduce his uncertainty about Felicia?

A) passive
B) active
C) interactive
D) co-active

Question 12

To which communication tradition is Uncertainty Reduction Theory related?

A) Phenomenological
B) Socio-cultural
C) Semiotic
D) Socio-psychological

Question 13

In their comparison of low-and high-context cultures, Gudykunst and his colleagues discovered that

A) the frequency of communication predicts uncertainty in high-context cultures, but not in low-context cultures
B) the quality of communication predicts uncertainty in low-context cultures, but not in high-context cultures
C) the frequency of communication predicts uncertainty in low-context cultures, but not in high-context cultures
D) the quality of communication predicts uncertainty in high-context cultures, but not in low-context cultures

Question 14

Uncertainty Reduction Theory has been investigated using primarily which approach to knowing?

A) positivistic/empirical
B) critical
C) interpretive
D) axiological

Question 15

Research on relational uncertainty in long-distance relationships revealed that uncertainty is a critical variable affecting levels of

A) relational satisfaction
B) information-seeking
C) jealousy
D) self-disclosure

Question 16

_________ uncertainty deals with the ambiguity associated with beliefs and attitudes that we and others hold.

A) Cognitive
B) Behavioral
C) Initial
D) Value

Question 17

A ninth axiom was suggested by Neuliep and Grohskopf (2000), which indicates a negative relationship between uncertainty and

A) communication compulsion
B) communication aversion
C) communication apprehension
D) communication satisfaction

Question 18

Erick and Ellen are in a long term romantic relationship. As partners in a stable long term relationship, they have much lower levels of uncertainty than those in newer relationships. They often find themselves feeling as if this lack of uncertainty has led to a degree of stagnation. While they enjoy the stability that certainty brings to a relationship, they sometimes wish there was more uncertainty to keep things fresh. What phenomenon are Erick and Ellen experiencing?

A) relational uncertainty
B) dialectical tension
C) uncertainty acceptance
D) uncertainty avoidance

Question 19

The entry phase of interpersonal communication is guided by the implicit and explicit rules and norms that we have for conversations.

Question 20

Dainton and Aylor found that in established relationships, as uncertainty increased, jealousy decreased.

Question 21

Prediction is defined as attempts made to interpret the meaning of past actions in a relationship.

Question 22

In an initial interaction setting, as nonverbal affiliative expressiveness increases, uncertainty levels will increase.

Question 23

High levels of uncertainty produce high rates of reciprocity.

Question 24

Increases in uncertainty level produce decreases in liking.

Question 25

While URT has enjoyed relevance to initial interaction and developed relationships, it has no applicability to other contexts, such as mass communication.

Question 26

New research, which expanded the theory, found an inverse relationship between uncertainty and interaction with social networks.

Question 27

Explain three of the five assumptions about Uncertainty Reduction Theory that are presented by the authors.

Question 28

Describe five of the nine axioms developed to explain Uncertainty Reduction Theory. Be sure to discuss the relationship between the variables identified in each of the axioms.

Question 29

What kind of research would you conduct to learn more about uncertainty reduction in a particular context? Propose a hypothesis or research question, and describe your study.

Question 30

Provide an example of a time in your life when you experienced uncertainty about communicating with another person. Describe how you could have used each of the following strategies to reduce your level of uncertainty: passive, active, interactive, extractive.

Question 31

Discuss the three antecedent conditions that influence a person's decision to reduce his/her uncertainty about another individual.

Question 32

Using the standard criteria for theory evaluation, critique Uncertainty Reduction Theory.

Question 33

Throughout this course we have taken care to emphasize the significance of cultural variables in communication, and in our lives in general. Have researchers addressed cultural dimensions of URT? What, if any, research exists to investigate this question? Are there ways in which culture may affect URT? Why or why not?

Question 34

Do you agree with the fundamental assertion that humans are primarily concerned with uncertainty reduction in initial interactions, or might there be other concerns that could outweigh this concern under particular circumstances? Explain.