Deck 1: Introduction to Communication Theory

Question 1

______ theories are useful because they are often the basis for our decisions about how to communicate.

A)Commonsense
B)Scholarly
C)Strategic
D)Working

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Although they often help guide our decision making,______ can be problematic because they aren't grounded in research.

A)commonsense theories
B)inductive theories
C)practical theories
D)scholarly theories

Answer 2

A

Question 3

One way of evaluating theory is to determine whether the theory makes a complex situation clearer.

A)Accuracy
B)Acuity
C)Consistency
D)Practicality

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The ______ context is the context in which our thoughts influence the way we communicate.

A)interpersonal
B)intercultural
C)cognitive
D)mediated

Question 5

Definitions of communication vary based upon an indication of success or accuracy.Which difference in definitions is the focus of this description?

A)level of observation
B)intentionality
C)denotative
D)normative judgment

Question 6

A model is defined as ______.

A)a precursor to a theory
B)a physical representation of a theory
C)a specific application of a prediction
D)all of these

Question 7

______ are more systematic than commonsense theories because they represent agreed-on ways of doing things for a particular profession.

A)Scholarly theories
B)Working theories
C)Only provable theories
D)Impractical theories

Question 8

Harry has been asked to give a presentation at Hogwarts School.During the talk,he sees his friend Ron scratching his head,and Harry takes that to mean Ron is sending him a nonverbal message.Even though Ron meant nothing by the gesture,this scenario is an example of the notion that ______.

A)you cannot communicate
B)nonverbal communication complements verbal
C)it's not what you say,it's how you say it
D)a message is a message is a message

Question 9

The notion of ______,whether internal or external,is concerned with the logic of the theory.

A)acuity
B)consistency
C)reliability
D)validity

Question 10

A theory that seems to "skip" or miss steps is said to lack ______.

A)acuity
B)external reliability
C)internal consistency
D)validity

Question 11

The ______ context focuses on interpersonal communication when two people are from different cultures.

A)interpersonal
B)organizational
C)cognitive
D)intercultural

Question 12

When a theory has many real-world applications,we say it has ______.

A)acuity
B)external consistency
C)practicality
D)succinctness

Question 13

A ______ is any systematic summary about the nature of the communication process.

A)model
B)context
C)concept
D)theory

Question 14

The belief that "the more competent you are in your job,the more work they're going to give you" is an example of ______.

A)commonsense theory
B)scholarly theory
C)strategic theory
D)working theory

Question 15

Ron and Harry have told Hermione that the theory she has told them about is not applicable to the practice of their profession of sorcery because it provides more thorough,accurate,and abstract explanations for communication than do some other types of theory.About which of the following would be the type of theory Hermione has told Ron and Harry?

A)commonsense theory
B)scholarly theory
C)strategic theory
D)working theory

Question 16

A ______ refers to an agreed-upon aspect of reality.

A)theory
B)model
C)concept
D)axiom

Question 17

______ theory has undergone systematic research and is the focus of this course.

A)Applied
B)Scholarly
C)Strategic
D)Working

Question 18

______ refers to whether a theory is presented with simplicity--the fewest statements possible.

A)Acuity
B)Consistency
C)Practicality
D)Succinctness

Question 19

When a theory's concepts build logically upon each other,we say that the theory has internal ______.

A)acuity
B)consistency
C)reliability
D)validity

Question 20

Research indicates that communication competence is most often understood as achieving a successful balance between ______ and ______.

A)politeness;impersonal communication
B)effectiveness;appropriateness
C)using slang;"buzz" words
D)efficacy;understanding

Question 21

A working theory is comprised of generalizations made in particular professions about the best techniques for doing something.

Question 22

Define "source orientation."

Question 23

Some definitions of communication suggest that only messages sent consciously and purposely count as communication.

Question 24

Acuity refers to the ability of a theory to be easily understood.

Question 25

Communication theories provide abstract understanding of the communication process.

Question 26

Appropriateness is more important than effectiveness when communicating.

Question 27

When Adler and Proctor suggest that the most useful theories are those that have a strong logical structure,they are referring to which of the following?

A)external consistency
B)internal consistency
C)succinctness
D)accuracy

Question 28

Provide two examples to explain why there must be a balance between effectiveness and appropriateness in order to be a competent communicator.

Question 29

Scholarly theory is only useful for academics and researchers.

Question 30

Appropriateness and effectiveness are both necessary to be a competent communicator.

Question 31

Explain the difference(s)between internal and external consistency.

Question 32

Explain what Lewin (1951)meant when stating that,"There is nothing so practical as a good theory."

Question 33

Provide an example of non-evaluative communication and explain.

Question 34

A theory must have all five criteria for evaluating theory in order to be labeled "good."

Question 35

Commonsense theory is also sometimes called theory-in-use.

Question 36

Adler and Proctor suggest that which one of the following might be considered a "wow" factor in the evaluation of theory?

A)acuity
B)consistency
C)reliability
D)validity

Question 37

Accuracy suggests that the best theories correctly summarize the way communication actually works.