Download Communication 1A

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Cartoon one
What does this image tell us about communication?
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Cartoon two
What does this image tell us about communication?
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Cartoon three
What does this image tell us about communication?
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What is theory?
A theory is…
• An idea, or group of ideas, that explains an event or
phenomenon
• A theory may be very long or quite brief
• Many theories may exist about one event or phenomenon
Adapted from an AUT University Communication Studies Dept teaching resource
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What is communication theory?
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In the early 1900s, communication theorist Harold Lasswell
developed a basic model of communication, called the
SENDER-MESSAGE-RECEIVER model (SMR model)
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A model is a way of explaining a theory though diagram
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Over time, this model was developed and expanded to
include more components.
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There are SIX important components to any communication
model :
Sender
Channel
Receiver
Context
Message
Noise
Adapted from an AUT University Communication Studies Dept teaching resource
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Communication models
Barker, L.L., & Gaut, D. A. (1996). Communication. (7th ed.). Boston:
Allyn & Bacon. p. 13
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More communication models
DeVito, J., O’Rourke, S., & O’Neill, L. (2000). Human communication:
The New Zealand edition. Auckland: Pearson. p. 9
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Interpersonal communication is…
“a transactional process of exchanging messages and
negotiating meaning to convey information and to
establish and maintain relationships”
Wilson, G., Hantz, A., & Hanna, M. (1995). Interpersonal growth
through communication. Wisconsin: Brown & Benchmark, p. 4
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Barriers to communication
Ellis and Thoreau (2004, see readings package pages 1-14) outline how
barriers to communication can occur at every stage of the communication
process:
Ellis and Thoreau discuss a series of general barriers. Under each of these headings are
many important specific barriers to communication that you need to be aware of. See
their chapter for more detail.
Sender/receiver
– Barriers can occur in either the sender or the receiver and can include:
• Psychological barriers like being inattentive to the sender;
• Physical barriers within the sender/receiver like being tired or stressed
• Past experiences/culture of the sender/receiver
• Prejudices held by the sender/receiver
Encoding/decoding
– These barriers surround the interpretation of the message
• Perhaps some of the words used aren’t clear
• The sender/receiver may use slang that the other participants) do not
understand
• Participants may hold different meanings about certain concepts/words
used
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Barriers to communication
Message
– Some messages are difficult to listen to, some are culturally insensitive
and some can be very complex and difficult to understand
Channel
– The channel can inhibit many barriers
• Many people understand instructions better if they are written than if they are
given orally
• Vocal barriers often occur, like speaking too softly
Feedback
– Feedback is an important part of effective communication but can also
harbour barriers
• Barriers can occur if feedback is limited, inappropriate and/or receive in an
ineffective way
Context
– The context of communication is susceptible to many barriers
• The physical environment may be too hot, cold, noisy
• Certain contexts require special protocols; if one participant does not
understand these protocols barriers to communication can occur