Unit I: Foundations of Communication

Chapter 1: Communication Perspectives

1-1 The Nature of Communication
1-1a Canned Plans and Scripts
1-1b Communication Contexts
1-1c Communication Settings
1-2 The Communication Process
1-2a Sub-Processes of Communication
1-2b Channels
1-2c Interference/Noise
1-2d A Model of the Communication Process
1-2e Mediated Communication
1-3 Characteristics of Communication
1-3a Communication Has Purpose
1-3b Communication Is Continuous
1-3c Communication Is Irreversible
1-3d Communication Is Situated
1-3e Communication Is Indexical
1-3f Communication Is Learned
1-3g Communication Messages Vary in Conscious Thought
1-3h Communication Is Guided by Cultural Norms
1-4 Communication and Ethics
1-4a Ethical Principles
1-4b Dark Side Messages
1-5 Increasing Your Communication Competence
1-5a Communication Competence
1-5b Communication Apprehension
1-5c Communication Improvement Plans

Chapter 2: Perception of Self and Others

2-1 The Perception Process
2-1a Attention and Selection
2-1b Organization
2-1c Interpretation
2-1d Dual Processing
2-2 Perception of Self
2-2a Self-Concept
2-2b Self-Esteem
2-3 Culture and Self-Perceptions
2-3a Accuracy and Distortion of Self-Perceptions
2-4 Self-Perception and Communication
2-4a Changing Self-Perceptions
2-5 Perceptions of Others
2-5a Uncertainty Reduction
2-5b Mediated Communication and Social Presence
2-5c Inaccurate and Distorted Perceptions of Others
2-6 Improving Our Perceptions of Others

Chapter 3: Intercultural Communication

3-1 Culture and Communication
3-2 Dominant Cultures, Co-Cultures, and Cultural Identity
3-2a Race
3-2b Ethnicity

3-2c Sex and Gender

3-2d Sexual Orientation
3-2e Religion
3-2f Socioeconomic Status (SES)
3-2g Age/Generation
3-2h Disability
3-3 How Cultures Differ
3-3a Individualism/Collectivism
3-3b Context
3-3c Chronemics
3-3d Uncertainty Avoidance
3-3e Power Distance
3-3f Masculinity/Femininity
3-3g Long-Term/Short-Term Orientation
3-4 Developing Intercultural Communication Competence
3-4a Potential Barriers
3-4b Competent Communication Strategies

Chapter 4: Verbal Messages

4-1 The Nature of Language
4-1a What Is a Language?
4-2 Characteristics of Language
4-2a Language Is Arbitrary
4-2b Language Is Abstract
4-2c Language Changes Over Time
4-3 The Relationship Between Language and Meaning
4-3a Semantics
4-3b Pragmatics
4-3c Sociolinguistics

Chapter 5: Nonverbal Messages

5-1 Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication
5-2 Types of Nonverbal Communication
5-2a Use of Body: Kinesics
5-2b Use of Voice: Paralanguage
5-2c Use of Space: Proxemics
5-2d Use of Time: Chronemics
5-2e Physical Appearance
5-2f Mediated Communication and Media Richness
5-3 Guidelines for Improving Nonverbal Communication
5-3a Sending Nonverbal Messages
5-3b Interpreting Nonverbal Messages
Chapter 6: Listening
6-1 What Is Listening?
6-2Challenges to Effective Listening
6-2a Listening Style
6-2b Listening Apprehension
6-2c Processing Approach
6-3 Active Listening
6-3a Attending
6-3b Understanding
6-3c Remembering
6-3d Evaluating

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6-3e Responding

Unit II: Interpersonal Communication

Chapter 7: Interpersonal Relationships
7-1 Types of Relationships
7-1a Acquaintances
7-1b Friends
7-1c Intimates
7-2 Disclosure in Relationship Life Cycles
7-2a Social Penetration
7-2b The Johari Window
7-3 Stages of Relationships
7-3a Coming Together: Beginning Relationships
7-3b Coming Together: Developing Relationships
7-3c Coming Apart: Declining and Dissolving Relationships
7-3d Mediated Communication and Interpersonal Relationships
7-4 Dialectics in Interpersonal Relationships
7-4a Relational Dialectics
7-4b Managing Dialectical Tensions

Chapter 8: Interpersonal Communication

8-1 Providing Emotional Support
8-1a Comforting Guidelines
8-2 Managing Privacy and Disclosure
8-2a Effects of Disclosure and Privacy on Relationships
8-2b Disclosure Guidelines
8-2c Privacy Management Guidelines
8-3 Expressing Desires and Expectations
8-3a Passive Communication Style
8-3b Aggressive Communication Style
8-3c Passive-Aggressive Communication Style
8-3d Assertive Communication Style
8-3e Cultural and Co-cultural Considerations
8-4 Managing Interpersonal Conflict
8-4a Avoiding (LoseLose)
8-4b Accommodating (LoseWin)
8-4c Competing (WinLose)
8-4d Compromising (Partial LoseLose)
8-4e Collaborating (WinWin)
8-4f Collaboration Guidelines

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Unit III: Group Communication

Chapter 9: Communicating in Groups
9-1 The Nature and Types of Groups
9-1a Families
9-1b Social Friendship Groups
9-1c Support Groups
9-1d Interest Groups
9-1e Service Groups
9-1f Work Group Teams
9-1g Virtual Groups
9-1h Mediated Communication and Virtual Groups

9-2 Characteristics of Healthy Groups

9-2a Healthy Groups Have Ethical Goals
9-2b Healthy Groups Are Interdependent
9-2c Healthy Groups Are Cohesive
9-2d Healthy Groups Develop and Abide by Productive Norms
9-2e Healthy Groups Are Accountable
9-2f Healthy Groups Are Synergetic
9-3 Stages of Group Development
9-3a Forming
9-3b Storming
9-3c Norming
9-3d Performing
9-3e Adjourning and Transforming
9-4 Conflict in Groups
9-4a Pseudo-Conflict
9-4b Issue-Related Group Conflict
9-4c Personality-Related Group Conflict
9-4d Culture and Conflict
9-4e Virtual Groups and Conflict

Chapter 10: Group Leadership and Problem Solving

10-1 Effective Leadership
10-1a Task Roles
10-1b Maintenance Roles
10-1c Procedural Roles
10-1d Shared Leadership Responsibilities
10-2 Effective Meetings
10-2a Guidelines for Meeting Leaders
10-2b Guidelines for Meeting Participants
10-3 Systematic Problem Solving
10-3a Step One: Identify and Define the Problem
10-3b Step Two: Analyze the Problem
10-3c Step Three: Determine Criteria for Judging Solutions
10-3d Step Four: Identify Alternative Solutions
10-3e Step Five: Evaluate Solutions and Decide
10-3f Step Six: Implement the Agreed-Upon Solution and Assess It
10-4 Communicating Group Solutions
10-4a Written Formats
10-4b Oral Formats
10-4c Virtual Formats
10-5 Evaluating Group Effectiveness
10-5a Group Dynamics
10-5b Group Presentations

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Chapter Self-Test
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1. Which of the following is an example of external noise?

a. a car alarm
b. getting angry at something someone said to you
c. daydreaming
d. a phone ringing

2. In which of the following communication settings are you likely to find a

speaker delivering a prepared message to an audience?
a. electronically mediated communication settings
b. blogs
c. on-line game sites
d. public speaking settings

3. The concepts of immediacy and control help explain which

communication principle?
a. Communication has purpose
b. Communication is continuous
c. Communication is relational
d. Communication varies in conscious thought

4. Which of the following best captures our knowledge of communication?

a. Communication is innate
b. Communication is learned
c. Communication is everywhere the same
d. Communication is not something we can change

5. Which of the following is not necessary for communication

competence?
a. being happy
b. credibility
c. social ease
d. skills
6. Which type of context of communication includes location,
environmental conditions, seating arrangements, and time of day?
a. physical
b. social
c. historical
d. psychological

7. If a person communicates a response to a messages that person is

providing the speaker with
a. channels
b. culture
c. feedback
d. context
8. Which of the following aspects is not true of culture?

a.
b.
c.
d.

It
It
It
It

influences how messages are formed and interpreted

is a system of shared beliefs, values, symbols, and behaviors
is important in many aspects of communication
has no impact on the way people communicate

9. A __________ is an actual text of what to say and do in a specific

situation.
a. text
b. role
c. script
d. culture
10.The ________ context is the background provided by previous
communication between the participants.
a. social
b. cultural
c. physical
d. historical

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Answers: 1. D, 2. D, 3. C, 4. B, 5. A, 6. A, 7. C, 8. D, 9. C, 10. D.
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Chapter Self-Test
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1. We are most likely to pay attention to information that

a. makes us happy
b. contradicts our morals
c. meets our needs, interests, and expectations
d. is easy to understand

2. Which of the following is socially constructed and impacted by the

different roles we play in various situations?
a. Self-motivation
b. Self-monitoring
c. Self-esteem
d. Self-concept

3. Simplicity is the process the brain uses to simplify stimuli that is very
complex.
a. True
b. False
4. An individuals self-concept is the positive or negative evaluation of
ones personality traits and competencies.

a. True
b. False
5. If someone produces a negative action toward someone simply
because they are a member of a certain group they are engaging in
a. stereotyping
b. prejudice
c. discrimination
d. selfishness
6. If Jenny assumes that Sandra is arrogant, just because Sandra is part
of a group that is known to be arrogant, Jenny is
a. discriminating
b. stereotyping
c. exhibiting prejudice
d. acting on ethnocentrism

7. Gustavo was expecting to meet Margo for dinner at 6:00pm, and when
she still hadn't come at 6:30 pm he begin to develop reasons for her
tardiness. These reasons are known as
a. halo effects
b. attributions
c. patterns
d. connections

8. Our self-concept is partly shaped by the way that others react to us

a. True
b. False
9. The process of being aware of yourself and how you are coming
across to others is known as
a. self-concept
b. self-esteem
c. self-monitoring
d. self-fulfilling prophecy
10.Individuals tend to monitor their social environments in order to learn
and know more about themselves and others.
a. True
b. False

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Answers: 1. C, 2. D, 3. A, 4. B, 5. C, 6. B, 7. B, 8. A, 9. C, 10. A.
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Chapter Self-Test

1. Beth and Joe are from two distinct cultures with two sets of values and
beliefs. When they communicate they are engaging in
a. bi-cultural communication
b. intercultural communication
c. geographical communication
d. disorientation
2. In a multicultural society such as the United States, the values,
attitudes, and beliefs that are shared in common by the majority of
people are called
a. intercultural communication
b. ethnicity
c. gender
d. dominant culture
3. The classification of people based on characteristics such as nationality,
geographic origin, language, religion, ancestral customs, and tradition
is called
a. social class
b. race
c. gender
d. ethnicity

4. Low uncertainty-avoidance cultures are more tolerant of uncertainty

and are less likely to control unpredictable people, relationships, or
events.
a. True
b. False
5. Shaun was raised in a culture where he was taught to value
competition between people as desirable. We can say Shaun is part of
a(n)
a. collectivist culture
b. individualistic culture
c. dominant culture
d. submissive culture
6. In her workplace, Josephine emphasizes collaboration, shared
interests, and harmony. Josephine likely comes from a(n)

a. collectivist culture

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b. individualistic culture
c. dominant culture
d. submissive culture
7. The extent to which members of a culture expect and accept that
power will be equally or unequally shared is known as power distance.
a. True
b. False
8. In a highly masculine culture, men and women are not expected to
adhere to traditional sex roles.
a. True
b. False
9. Marguerite believes her culture is superior to Hueis. Marguerites
attitude is an example of
a. anxiety
b. stereotypes
c. ethnocentrism
d. prejudice
10.Marty felt a normal level of discomfort when he went to a college far
from where he was raised. Martys trepidation was likely a result of
a. anxiety
b. stereotypes
c. ethnocentrism
d. prejudice

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Answers: 1. B, 2. D, 3. D, 4. A, 5. B, 6. A, 7. A, 8. B, 9. C, 10. A.
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Chapter Self-Test
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1. The idea that there is no literal connection between a word and what a
word represents is captured in which of the following?
a. Language makes no sense
b. Language is arbitrary
c. Language is the same in all cultures
d. Language is defined
2. We all use language to
a. evaluate
b. discuss things outside our immediate experience

c. to designate, label, define, and limit

d. all of these
3. A speech community is
a. A group of people
b. A group of people
c. A group of people
d. A group of people

who
who
who
who

live in the same village

go to speech therapy
speak the same language
commute to work and talk each morning

4. The fact that new words are constantly being invented and existing
words are both abandoned and/or assigned new meanings is
representative of the idea that
a. language is fixed
b. language is arbitrary
c. language changes over time
d. language is erratic

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5. Semantic meaning is derived from the words themselves and how they
are arranged into sentences.
a. True
b. False
6. Language that clarifies the meaning of a message by moving from
general to particular are known as
a. specific words
b. general words
c. concrete words
d. jargon
7. Using language that represents everyone is inclusive.
a. True
b. False
8. The direct, explicit meaning a speech community formally gives a
word refers to the words
a. connotation
b. denotation
c. syntactic context
d. slang
9. If a speaker uses language that is straightforward and unambiguous,
she/he is using a(n)
a. indirect verbal style

b. direct verbal style

c. confusing verbal style
d. outgoing verbal style
10.Cultural sensitivity is the process of paying attention to what is
happening at any given moment during a conversation.
a. True
b. False

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Chapter Self-Test
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Answers: 1. B, 2. D, 3. C, 4. C, 5. A, 6. A, 7. A, 8. B, 9. B, 10. B.

1. The speed at which a person speaks is considered the

a. pitch
b. quality
c. articulation
d. rate
2. Talking with your hands while you speak verbally is a function of the
study of
a. vocalics
b. chronemics
c. kinesics
d. handemics
3. The study of haptics has to do with
a. the interpretation of space
b. the interpretation of touch
c. the interpretation of accent
d. the interpretation of facial expressions

4. The phrase we cannot not communicate captures which of the

following descriptors of nonverbal communication
a. Nonverbal communication is inevitable
b. Nonverbal communication is a conveyor of emotions
c. Nonverbal communication is multi-channeled
d. Nonverbal communication is ambiguous
5. Gestures that substitute entirely for a word or words are known as
emblems.
a. True

b. False
6. One strategy for accurately interpreting anothers nonverbal
communication is to
a. ask the other person not to use nonverbal communication
b. do whatever they do and see how they respond
c. use perception checking
d. look away so you are not distracted
7. Interferences in our speech such as uh, um, err, well, and OK are
called
a. rate of speech
b. quality of voice
c. intonation
d. vocalized pauseS
8. If you are meeting the gaze of the speaker while she/he talks you are
making
a. facial expressions
b. eye contact
c. posture
d. haptics
9. The term pitch refers to
a. the quality of the voice
b. how fast or slow someone talks
c. the highness or lowness of voice
d. the volume of the voice

10.The distance you maintain with the other person while you are
communicating is also known as
a. physical space
b. pauses
c. proxemics
d. personal space

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Answers: 1. D, 2. C, 3. B, 4. A, 5. A, 6. C, 7. D, 8. B, 9. C, 10. D.
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Chapter Self-Test
!

1. The memory aid ROYGBIV used to represent the colors of the spectrum
is known as

a. a mnemonic device
b. note taking
c. repetition
d. evaluation

2. Someone who is a(n) _____________ will anticipate what the speaker

is going to say and may even finish the speakers sentence for them.
a. action-oriented listener
b. time-oriented listener
c. diverse listener
d. cultural listener
3. Someone who is a(n) ___________may tell others exactly how much
time they have to listen, interrupt them when feeling time pressures,
regularly check the time on smart phones, watches, or clocks, and may
even nod their heads rapidly to encourage others to pick up the pace.
a. action-oriented listener
b. time-oriented listener
c. diverse listener
d. cultural listener
4. One indicator of a good listener is someone who
a. takes notes
b. relies on memory alone
c. assumes they will remember
d. forgets information
5. One indicator of someone who does not evaluate information is
someone who
a. listens critically
b. separates facts from inferences
c. accepts information at face value
d. evaluates inferences
6. If Mary is worried about Stephanie not understanding what she is
saying or possibly misinterpreting her meaning, she may be
experiencing
a. discriminative listening
b. critical listening
c. listening apprehension
d. apathy

7. Which of the following types of listening would you use while attending
a political campaign speech trying to determine who you should vote
for?
a. discriminative
b. comprehensive
c. empathic
d. critical

8. Which step in the listening process is particularly important if you are

being asked to believe, act on, or support what is being said?
a. attending
b. understanding
c. remembering
d. evaluating

9. If you are communicating with a friend and want to disagree with the
point they are making while at the same time convey respect, you
would give particular attention to which part of the listening process?
a. attending
b. understanding
c. remembering
d. responding

10. Creating mnemonics and taking notes are examples of which part of
the listening process?
a. attending
b. understanding
c. remembering
d. evaluating

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Answers: 1. A, 2. A, 3. B, 4. A, 5. C, 6. C, 7. D, 8. D, 9. D, 10. C.
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Chapter Self-Test
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1. Jane is trying to give a positive impression to her friend Sam after

forgetting to call her last week. Jane is trying to save
a. self-disclosure
b. feedback
c. face
d. their friendship
2. Those people in our lives who we know by name and talk to when the
opportunity arises are

a. strangers
b. acquaintances
c. friends
d. close friends or intimates

3. People with whom we voluntarily maintain relationships are

a. strangers
b. acquaintances
c. friends
d. relatives
4. Donald has a close, caring, and trusting relationship with Joseph. Their
relationship is marked by commitment, trust, interdependence, and
disclosure. Their relationship would probably fall into which level of
relationship?
a. strangers
b. acquaintances
c. friends
d. close friends or intimates
5. Marcy shared personal ideas, feelings, and biographical data with her
friend Sarah. The process of sharing this information is known as
a. feedback
b. intimacy
c. self-disclosure
d. conflict
6. Billys friends know that he is strong enough to endure the upcoming
challenge. Billy does not know this. This information falls into the
quadrant of his Johari window labeled
a. unknown
b. secret
c. open
d. blind

7. The desire to share information with your partner is relevant to which

of the following relational dialectics?
a. autonomyconnection
b. opennessclosedness
c. noveltypredictability
d. startingending

8. Bob and Sue were trying to reach a compromise about how to spend
the $1000 they have saved. Which of the following strategies are they
using to manage dialectical tensions?
a. temporal selection
b. topical segmentation
c. neutralization
d. reframing
9. Lauren has not disclosed to her boyfriend that she plans to go away to
college after graduating high school. The quadrant of the Johari window
that this information falls into is
a. unknown
b. secret
c. open
d. blind
10.Deshaun is telling his friends all about his recent job interview. The
quadrant of the Johari window that this information falls into is
a. unknown
b. secret
c. open
d. blind

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Answers: 1. C, 2. B, 3. C, 4. D, 5. C, 6. D, 7. B, 8. C, 9. B, 10. C.
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Chapter Self-Test
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1. If Bill tries to cushion the effect of what he said to Rudy by saying

something nice, Bill is using
a. positive face
b. negative face
c. buffering
d. other-centered needs
2. Rhoda has a desire to be liked by her classmates as well as her
teacher. Her desire is best explained by the idea of
a. positive face
b. negative face
c. buffering
d. other-centered needs
3. Telling people what hurts you is risky because they may use the
information against you later. Despite this, we must take risks by

a. withholding feelings
b. describing feelings
c. owning feelings
d. displaying feelings
4. The right to keep some information secret has to do with the concept
of
a. dialectics
b. privacy
c. self-disclosure
d. relationships
5. Susan wants to demonstrate to Lisa that she does not blame or
evaluate Lisas behavior. To best do this Susan should use a(n)
a. I- statement
b. you-statement
c. we-statement
d. apology
6. Naming the emotions you are feeling without judging them is also
known as
a. masking feelings
b. displaying feelings
c. describing feelings
d. disclosing feelings
7. According to the text, the words annoyed, enraged, incensed, and
infuriated are related to which of the following emotions?
a. loving
b. embarrassed
c. surprised
d. anger
8. Avoiding confrontational language, maintaining eye contact, using
specific statements addressing observable behavior, and avoiding
vocalized pauses are all characteristics of
a. assertive behavior
b. aggressive behavior
c. passive behavior
d. emotional behavior
9. One strategy for using constructive criticism effectively is to preface it
with

a. an insult
b. a sarcastic comment
c. anger
d. an affirmative statement
10.Joe and Gina are at the movie theatre. The people behind them are
talking while the movie is playing. Joe turns around and says can you
please stop talking because we cant hear the movie. Joes statement
is best described as one that is
a. passive
b. aggressive
c. assertive
d. rude

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Answers: 1. C, 2. A, 3. B, 4. B, 5. B, 6. C, 7. D, 8. A, 9. D, 10. C.
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Chapter Self-Test
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1. When group members actually agree on something that they

mistakenly believe they disagree on due to poor communication it is
known as
a. accountability
b. ground rules
c. pseudo-conflict
d. virtual space
2. The stage of group development marked by increased cohesion,
collaboration, and emerging trust among members is
a. forming
b. storming
c. norming
d. performing
3. The stage of group development marked by goal accomplishment,
celebration, and disengagement is
a. forming
b. norming
c. performing
d. adjourning
4. People who come together to provide encouragement, give honest
feedback, and a safe environment for expressing deeply personal
feelings about a problem common to the members is known as

a. family
b. a social friendship group
c. a support group
d. interest groups
5. The idea that all group members are responsible for what occurs in a
group is called
a. respect
b. accountability
c. norms
d. group interaction
6. The saying two heads are better than one is a descriptor of the
concept
a. norms
b. ground rules
c. virtual space
d. synergy
7. The initial stage of group development characterized by orientation,
testing, and dependence is known as
a. forming
b. storming
c. norming
d. performing
8. Which type of group fills our needs to be accepted and to belong?
a. family
b. social friendship group
c. support group
d. interest groups
9. A collection of three or more people formed to solve a problem, or
accomplish a specific task is also know as a
a. service group
b. interest group
c. work group
d. support group
10.The phenomenon groupthink is due in part to in-group pressure to
conform.
a. True
b. False

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Answers: 1. C, 2. C, 3. D, 4. C, 5. B, 6. D, 7. A, 8. B, 9. C, 10. A.
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Chapter Self-Test
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1. If a group is faced with the problem of determining if it is true that

people dislike a product, that group is being faced with a
a. question of fact
b. question of value
c. question of policy
d. question of perception
2. A problem definition concerned with determining what is right, moral,
good, or just is a
a. question of fact
b. question of value
c. question of policy
d. question of perception
3. A problem definition concerned with what course of action should be
taken or what rules should be adopted to solve a problem is a
a. question of fact
b. question of value
c. question of policy
d. question of perception
4. The ideal seating arrangement for encouraging group interaction is
a. board of directors style
b. extremely informal seating
c. sitting in a circle
d. sitting in rows
5. According to the text, a specific pattern of behavior that group
members perform is best identified as a
a. role
b. responsibility
c. evaluation
d. trait

6. An effective leader will

a. check periodically to see if the group is ready to make a decision
b. stay out of other peoples conflicts

c. end meetings without summary

d. talk continuously without taking note of other peoples opinions
7. A group member who asks how do members of the group feel about
this idea? is probably playing the role of
a. joker
b. monopolizer
c. information or opinion seeker
d. harmonizer
8. Which of the decision making processes is a good idea if the leader
wants to ensure everyone is on board to move forward with the
decision?
a. majority opinion
b. unanimous decision
c. average group opinion
d. consensus method
9. When conflict threatens to harm the group which of the following roles
often steps in to help?
a. joker
b. monopolizer
c. information or opinion seeker
d. harmonizer
10. Harmonizers, mediators, and tension-relievers are roles that fall into
which category?
a. task-related roles
b. maintenance roles
c. procedural roles
d. leadership roles

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Answers: 1. A, 2. B, 3. C, 4. C, 5. A, 6. A, 7. C, 8. D, 9. D, 10. B.
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