Deck 1: Communication: What and Why

Question 1

Human communication is the process of

A) sending isolated and separate messages.
B) creating meaning through symbolic interaction.
C) interacting in a way that transcends situations and experiences.
D) accomplishing universal meaning.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In a conversation with himself, Malik says, "I think, therefore I am." What type of communication is Malik engaged in?

A) Dyadic communication
B) Mass communication
C) Self-serving bias
D) Intrapersonal communication

Answer 2

D

Question 3

When we say that communication is relational, what does that mean?

A) Communication is something that we do to others.
B) Communication arises out of our interactions with others.
C) Communication involves a wide range of socially appropriate behaviors.
D) Communication is key to greater satisfaction in relationships.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following statements about the symbolic nature of communication is NOT true?

A) Communication relies heavily on symbols like words, behaviors, and messages.
B) By their very nature, symbols are self-explanatory and easy to interpret.
C) The same symbol can have different meanings for different people.
D) Symbolic communication allows people to think and talk about the past, explain the present, and speculate about the future.

Question 5

How should you decide when it's appropriate to use racial or ethnic terms to use when describing another person?

A) Consider whether referring to someone's race or ethnicity is relevant to the situation.
B) Ask the other person which term to use for them.
C) Always use terms such as Asian American and Latinx American to highlight diversity.
D) It's never appropriate to use racial or ethnic terms to describe another person.

Question 6

Which of the following best exemplifies the linear model of communication?

A) Watching a video online
B) Having a face-to-face conversation
C) Instant messaging
D) Talking on the phone with a friend

Question 7

In the transactional model of communication, individuals who participate in an interaction are known as

A) senders.
B) interactors.
C) receivers.
D) communicators.

Question 8

In this model of communication, people take turns being either a sender or a receiver.

A) Singular
B) Transactional
C) Linear
D) Environmental

Question 9

Which of the following is a major difference between the linear and transactional models of communication?

A) The transactional model is a simplified form of the linear model.
B) The linear model is a better representation of the complexity of human communication than the transactional model.
C) Both models have messages, channels, environments, and noise, but the transactional model includes encoding and decoding.
D) The transactional model more accurately shows that people are communicating all of the time, that all participants are communicators and accounts for feedback and nonverbal communication.

Question 10

Which of the following is a type of noise that can disrupt communication?

A) Psychological
B) Feedback
C) Channels
D) Rhetorical

Question 11

When you are trying to concentrate in class but are distracted by other students talking behind you, what kind of noise are you experiencing?

A) Internal
B) External
C) Physiological
D) Psychological

Question 12

Elma was running late this morning and forgot to eat breakfast. During the ten o'clock meeting, she could barely concentrate because of her hunger. What type of interference did she experience?

A) External noise
B) Psychological noise
C) Physiological noise
D) Environmental noise

Question 13

Union workers in a large manufacturing company have been working with management to renegotiate their contract. It's been three weeks, and the negotiations haven't gotten very far. While everyone has effectively communicated their demands, neither side wants to compromise or make concessions. Which of the following is most likely causing the stalemate between management and employees?

A) Management's poor communication skills
B) Employees' lack of self-monitoring ability
C) Differing environments of employees and management
D) Employees' lack of cognitive complexity

Question 14

When researchers use the word "media" in the field of communication, what do they mean?

A) Mechanisms such as phones and computers used to convey messages between people.
B) Fields of experience that influence how they interpret others' behavior.
C) CNN, ABC News, The Washington Post, and other news outlets.
D) Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and other online apps.

Question 15

By communicating pleasure, affection, and inclusion, we satisfy what human need?

A) Social need
B) Physical need
C) Practical need
D) Identity need

Question 16

What is the most common type of communication?

A) Asymmetrical
B) Complementary
C) Dialogic
D) Dyadic

Question 17

The type of communication that involves interaction among members of a large, permanent structure, such as a non-profit agency or a business is called

A) large group communication.
B) organizational communication.
C) dyadic communication.
D) public communication.

Question 18

Public communication is characterized by

A) a small group of audience members who contribute feedback.
B) a formal transmission of information to a large number of unknown audience members.
C) an unequal amount of speaking by one member of the group.
D) each person in the group contributing equally to the conversation.

Question 19

Which communication channel allows for mediated interactive communication with both small and large audiences?

A) Mass media
B) Print media
C) Computer media
D) Social media

Question 20

Alicia spends all day at work on the Internet and then all night on social networking sites looking at the many interesting things her friends have been doing. She hasn't been seeing her family or friends, nor has she been getting out of the apartment. Moreover, Alicia is becoming depressed and is starting to dislike her life. What is the best advice you could give Alicia right now?

A) Stop going online altogether.
B) Seek help from a psychologist.
C) Regulate time spent on the Internet.
D) See her family and friends more often.

Question 21

Which of the following is true about the pace of changing technology?

A) It took less than 4 years for radio to reach 50 million listeners.
B) TV was able to capture 50 million viewers in only 13 years.
C) Until 500 years ago, written language didn't exist.
D) Pocket-sized telephones were introduced in the first half of the 1900's in a burst of communication technology.

Question 22

In the early 1900s, the study of communication expanded into

A) a social science.
B) a physical science.
C) a wide-ranging phenomena.
D) educational science.

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT an area of study for communication scholars?

A) The role of emotions
B) The impact of the human behavior on the environment
C) How technologies affect interpersonal relationships
D) How health care providers and clients interact

Question 24

Which of the following statements about communication competence is true?

A) We learn communication competence from our successes and failures.
B) Communication competence is a trait we either possess or lack.
C) Communication competence is an innately acquired behavior.
D) To be a competent communicator, one must have complete understanding of a situation.

Question 25

James is great at talking to his peers but is not so skillful when communicating with authority figures. This illustrates how communication competence is

A) individual.
B) cognitively complex.
C) situational.
D) Asynchronous.

Question 26

Perspective taking is associated with

A) mediums.
B) physiological noise.
C) non-mediated communication.
D) cognitive complexity.

Question 27

David and Chelsea are having an argument. During the course of the argument, Chelsea reveals that she is upset with David because he spends too much time at work and not enough time with her. She says she feels abandoned, lonely, and in need of support. David tries to reassure Chelsea, but nothing he says seems to make a difference. What would be the most appropriate course of action for David to take at this moment?

A) Continue talking until Chelsea feels reassured that he's not abandoning her
B) Express empathy for Chelsea
C) Walk away and continue the conversation when they can discuss the problem rationally
D) Recommend that they take a break from the relationship

Question 28

Seth has a great idea for a new public relations campaign at work. Consequently, Seth writes a detailed proposal and e-mails it to his boss. It has now been two days, and Seth still hasn't heard back about his proposal. Seth assumes that his boss didn't like his work and sends an apologetic e-mail with the request that his boss disregard his proposal. Which of the following best explains why Seth reacted the way he did?

A) Seth's practical needs were not being met by his boss.
B) Seth lacks commitment to the project and company.
C) Seth has high levels of disinhibition.
D) Seth has low cognitive complexity.

Question 29

Competent communication requires that individuals

A) show an expanded range of responses.
B) be true to themselves and respond in ways they feel are appropriate.
C) have complete understanding of an interaction.
D) have complete understanding of an interaction.

Question 30

Julia told Kacie that Taylor was "loaded." Kacie took this to mean that Taylor had had too much to drink, whereas Julia had meant that he was very wealthy. This is an example of the concept that

A) communication does not always require complete understanding
B) meaning is in people, not words
C) communication is not always a good thing
D) communication is simple

Question 31

Which of the following is an accurate statement about communication?

A) Meanings are in words.
B) Communication always requires complete understanding.
C) Communication will solve all problems.
D) Communication is not simple.

Question 32

Nadia suspects Nick is lying because he keeps repeating the same details while explaining why he was late for their study group. As this example shows, _____________ communication can be counterproductive.

A) mass
B) motivational
C) excessive
D) mediated

Question 33

Jin's teacher discovers that he cheated on his exam. She produces evidence of the cheating to Jin and says, "If you take responsibility for this, I will only give you a failing grade for the test." Jin admits to cheating but then proceeds to make several excuses for his behavior. At one point, he even blames his teacher for not giving the class enough time to study. Finally, he begs for the teacher's forgiveness. To avoid failing the class, Jin should have

A) expressed empathy for his teacher.
B) limited the extent of his communication.
C) exhibited better understanding for his teacher's perspective.
D) expressed himself more clearly.

Question 34

Communication Competence involves

A) only face-to-face communication.
B) senders and receivers having the exact interpretation of the same message.
C) achieving one's goals in a manner that maintains and enhances the relationship in which it occurs.
D) putting forth the least amount of effort necessary to get your message across.

Question 35

Unlike dogs and other animals, people create meaning though

A) detached pluralism.
B) syntactic pluralism.
C) symbolic interaction.
D) empathetic interaction.

Question 36

A message cannot be received unless it is sent through

A) a channel.
B) a device.
C) an environment.
D) noise.

Question 37

Before a communicator responds to a message, she must first

A) communicate it.
B) delineate it.
C) encode it.
D) decode it.

Question 38

Communicators must put their thoughts and ideas into a messages that others can receive. This process is known as

A) encoding.
B) decoding.
C) synthesizing.
D) communicating.

Question 39

Which model of communication focuses on the meaning that emerges in a relationship between communicators?

A) Linear
B) Symbolic
C) Complementary
D) Transactional

Question 40

Daydreaming in class is an example of which kind of noise?

A) Channel block
B) Internal
C) External
D) Psychological

Question 41

Marissa is traveling in Great Britain and is surprised when the server brings her cookies when she ordered biscuits for breakfast. What communication concept best explains the mix-up?

A) Communication is symbolic
B) Communication is relational
C) Communication is a process
D) More communication is always better

Question 42

Jessie seeks out every opportunity to post photos on Instagram, sometimes even going so far as to fake the locations to make them seem more exotic. Jessie loves when the posts get lots of "likes," and is often depressed when followers don't respond immediately to posts. Jessie might consider taking a break from social media for which of the following reasons?

A) To break the craving for approval
B) To live more in the moment
C) To reclaim time to do other things
D) To actually travel to the exotic places

Question 43

You can increase your communication _________ through practice, training, hard work, and commitment.

Question 44

Human communication satisfies many of our ______, including identity, social, relationship, and educational.

Question 45

We say that communication is not defined by individual acts; communication is a continuous, ongoing _________.

Question 46

Distractions that interfere with our ability to accurately transmit or receive messages is called ________.

Question 47

The ___________ is the communicator's physical location, personal perspective, and life experience.

Question 48

Social scientists use the term ______ communication to describe two people interacting, either in person or via mediated channels.

Question 49

When 3,000 adults in the U.S. were asked in a survey to identify the most important skills for career success, ____________ skills topped the list.

Question 50

Her TV audience knows the local newscaster well, yet she knows very few of the people who make up her audience, because __________ communication usually involves little contact between senders and receivers.

Question 51

_____________ is the ancient philosopher who created specific rhetorical criteria for public speaking that are still used today.

Question 52

The ability to achieve one's goals through communication and maintain healthy relationships is known as communication ___________.

Question 53

Dyadic communication involves _____ people.

Question 54

Matching
-put thoughts into symbols, most commonly words.

A) Encode
B) Message
C) Channel
D) Decode
E) Feedback

Question 55

Matching
-sender's planned and unplanned words and nonverbal behaviors.

A) Encode
B) Message
C) Channel
D) Decode
E) Feedback

Question 56

Matching
-medium through which a message passes from sender to receiver.

A) Encode
B) Message
C) Channel
D) Decode
E) Feedback

Question 57

Matching
-attach meaning to a message.

A) Encode
B) Message
C) Channel
D) Decode
E) Feedback

Question 58

Matching
-communicator's response to another's message.

A) Encode
B) Message
C) Channel
D) Decode
E) Feedback

Question 59

Matching
-communicators have the ability to choose the most appropriate behaviors.

A) Competent communicator
B) Communication myth
C) Competent communicator
D) Communication myth

Question 60

Matching
-communication requires complete understanding.

A) Competent communicator
B) Communication myth
C) Competent communicator
D) Communication myth

Question 61

Matching
-communication requires the communicator to be self-monitoring,

A) Competent communicator
B) Communication myth
C) Competent communicator
D) Communication myth

Question 62

Matching
-communication always leads to improved understanding and greater relational satisfaction

A) Competent communicator
B) Communication myth
C) Competent communicator
D) Communication myth

Question 63

Matching
-transmission of messages to large, usually widespread audiences via broadcast, print, multimedia, and other forms of media, such as recordings and movies

A) mass
B) small group
C) organizational
D) dyadic

Question 64

Matching
-Communication that occurs among a structured collection of people in order to meet a need or pursue a goal

A) mass
B) small group
C) organizational
D) dyadic

Question 65

Matching
-Communication in which the parties consider one another as unique individuals rather than as objects

A) mass
B) small group
C) organizational
D) dyadic