Chapter 1 - Introduction to
Communication Studies
Why is it Important to Study
Communication?
1.
Improve the WAY YOU SEE YOURSELF.
2.
Improve the WAY OTHERS SEE YOU.
3.
Understand HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.
4.
Teach you important LIFE SKILLS.
5.
CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY.
6.
SUCCEED professionally!
7.
Understand our DIVERSE WORLD.
Definition of Communication

“Communication is the sharing of
meaning between two or more
people.”


Assumes that communication is a
negotiation (back and forth)
Perception of communication is what is
important

What “image” has the other constructed for
you?
The Components of
Communication






People [Sender & Receiver(s)]
Message
Channel
Feedback
Encoding & Decoding
Noise
Components of
Communication…
1.
2.
3.
SOURCE: the person (or thing) that
generates a message
RECEIVER: the intended target of a
message (sometimes there is NOT one)
MESSAGE: the ‘thing’ being
communicated; (un)intended
Components of
Communication…
4.
5.
6.
CHANNEL: the way(s) the message
gets from the source to the receiver
ENCODING: turning an idea into code
DECODING: assigning meaning to a
code
Components of
Communication…
7.
8.
FEEDBACK: the way(s) the receiver
responds to the message
NOISE: anything that interferes with
the clarity of a message
The Interaction Model of
Communication
Step 1
Encode
Sender/
Receiver
Channel
Decode
Step 2
Decode
Channel
Context
Noise
Encode
Receiver/
Sender
Communication:
Sharing Meaning
Person 1
Person 2
Communication
is the shared
meaning
constructed
between the two
people
CONTENT &
RELATIONAL
dimensions.
Communication Contexts






Intrapersonal
Interpersonal (Dyadic)
Small Group
Public
Mass
Computer Mediated Communication (CMC)
Any Questions???
Group Activity



Choose a communication context.
Using paper and markers, draw the
context.
Identify –


Sender, Receiver, Message (Code; V/NV),
Channel, Noise, Feedback, Context
Be prepared to present this to the class.