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A First Look at Communication Theory Reveal main menu
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TEXT COMPARISON
CHAPTER OUTLINES
New to Theory Resources?
Find out more in this
short video overview (3:01).
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Theory Outlines
9th Edition
9th Edition
From the Instructors Manual
List mode: Normal (click on theory name to show detail) | Show All details | Clear details
Chapter 2—Talk About Theory
- Introduction.
- Theorists grounded in behavioral science approach communication using the scientific method.
- Theorists grounded in the humanities approach communication through interpreting texts.
- Communication theories reflect a variety of methodological approaches, desired outcomes or goals, and levels of investigation.
- Objective or interpretive: sorting out the labels.
- The objective approach and the interpretative approach to communication study differ in starting point, method, and conclusion.
- Scholars who do objective study are scientists.
- Scholars who do interpretive study are concerned with meaning and reflect a range of ideological and methodological positions. As a result, there is no single unifying or accepted label, although Griffin uses the term “interpretive scholars.”
- Ways of knowing: discovering truth or creating multiple realities?
- Epistemology is the study of the nature of knowledge.
- Scientists assume that truth is singular.
- Reality is accessible through our senses.
- Collectively, scientists can understand the world.
- Good theories are mirrors of nature, true as long as conditions remain the same.
- Interpretive scholars also seek truth, but they are more tentative about the possibility of revealing objective reality.
- Truth is largely subjective; meaning is highly interpretive.
- The knower cannot be separated from the known.
- Multiple meanings are acceptable.
- Successful interpretations are those that convince others.
- Human nature: determinism or free will.
- Determinists argue that heredity and environment determine behavior.
- Scientists favor this stance.
- They stress behavior shaped by forces beyond our control or individual awareness.
- Behavior is the response to a prior stimulus.
- Free will proponents maintain that human behavior is ultimately voluntary.
- Interpretive scholars endorse this position.
- They focus on conscious choices of individuals, not on why choices are made.
- They believe that significant decisions are value laden.
- As individual freedom increases, predictability of behavior decreases.
- Determinists argue that heredity and environment determine behavior.
- The highest value: objectivity or emancipation?
- Social scientists value objectivity; personal values should not distort human reality.
- Interpretive scholars seek to expand the range of free choice; knowledge is never neutral.
- Scientists seek effectiveness; interpreters focus on participation
- The purpose of theory: universal laws or guides for interpretation?
- Scientists seek universal laws; interpreters strive to interpret individual texts.
- Scientists test theories; interpreters explore the web of meaning constituting human existence.
- Scientists seek prediction; interpretive scholars strive for meaning.
- Objective or interpretive: Why is it important?
- You cannot fully understand a theory without knowing its assumptions about truth, human nature, the purpose of theory, and its values.
- It is helpful when thinking through theories to have a way of organizing them into objective and interpretive worldviews.
- Understanding objective and interpretive points can help you decide what direction to take your course work.
- Theorists in both camps believe their area of work will improve relationships and society.
- Plotting theories on an objective-interpretive scale: Objective and interpretive labels anchor end of a continuum, with many theories in between.
You can access the Outline for a particular chapter in several ways:
- Switch to View by Theory, then select the desired theory/chapter from the drop-down list at the top of the page. Look in the list of available resources.
- To quickly find a theory by chapter number, use the Table of Contents and link from there. It will take you directly to the theory with available options highlighted.
- You can also use the Theory List, which will take you directly to the theory with available options highlighted.
Resources
by Type
Instructors can get
additional resources.
Read more
OUTLINES
New to Theory
Resources?
Find out more
in this short
video overview
(3:01).
CHANGE TO View by Theory
Theory Outlines
9th Edition
9th Edition
From the Instructors Manual
List mode: Normal (click on theory name to show detail) | Show All details | Clear details
Chapter 2—Talk About Theory
- Introduction.
- Theorists grounded in behavioral science approach communication using the scientific method.
- Theorists grounded in the humanities approach communication through interpreting texts.
- Communication theories reflect a variety of methodological approaches, desired outcomes or goals, and levels of investigation.
- Objective or interpretive: sorting out the labels.
- The objective approach and the interpretative approach to communication study differ in starting point, method, and conclusion.
- Scholars who do objective study are scientists.
- Scholars who do interpretive study are concerned with meaning and reflect a range of ideological and methodological positions. As a result, there is no single unifying or accepted label, although Griffin uses the term “interpretive scholars.”
- Ways of knowing: discovering truth or creating multiple realities?
- Epistemology is the study of the nature of knowledge.
- Scientists assume that truth is singular.
- Reality is accessible through our senses.
- Collectively, scientists can understand the world.
- Good theories are mirrors of nature, true as long as conditions remain the same.
- Interpretive scholars also seek truth, but they are more tentative about the possibility of revealing objective reality.
- Truth is largely subjective; meaning is highly interpretive.
- The knower cannot be separated from the known.
- Multiple meanings are acceptable.
- Successful interpretations are those that convince others.
- Human nature: determinism or free will.
- Determinists argue that heredity and environment determine behavior.
- Scientists favor this stance.
- They stress behavior shaped by forces beyond our control or individual awareness.
- Behavior is the response to a prior stimulus.
- Free will proponents maintain that human behavior is ultimately voluntary.
- Interpretive scholars endorse this position.
- They focus on conscious choices of individuals, not on why choices are made.
- They believe that significant decisions are value laden.
- As individual freedom increases, predictability of behavior decreases.
- Determinists argue that heredity and environment determine behavior.
- The highest value: objectivity or emancipation?
- Social scientists value objectivity; personal values should not distort human reality.
- Interpretive scholars seek to expand the range of free choice; knowledge is never neutral.
- Scientists seek effectiveness; interpreters focus on participation
- The purpose of theory: universal laws or guides for interpretation?
- Scientists seek universal laws; interpreters strive to interpret individual texts.
- Scientists test theories; interpreters explore the web of meaning constituting human existence.
- Scientists seek prediction; interpretive scholars strive for meaning.
- Objective or interpretive: Why is it important?
- You cannot fully understand a theory without knowing its assumptions about truth, human nature, the purpose of theory, and its values.
- It is helpful when thinking through theories to have a way of organizing them into objective and interpretive worldviews.
- Understanding objective and interpretive points can help you decide what direction to take your course work.
- Theorists in both camps believe their area of work will improve relationships and society.
- Plotting theories on an objective-interpretive scale: Objective and interpretive labels anchor end of a continuum, with many theories in between.
You can access the Outline for a particular chapter in several ways:
- Switch to View by Theory, then select the desired theory/chapter from the drop-down list at the top of the page. Look in the list of available resources.
- To quickly find a theory by chapter number, use the Table of Contents and link from there. It will take you directly to the theory with available options highlighted.
- You can also use the Theory List, which will take you directly to the theory with available options highlighted.
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