The Listening Process
What are the five stages of the listening process?
Answer: Receiving, Interpreting, Recalling, Evaluating, Responding)
What is the most basic type of listening focused on identifying sounds or cues?
Discriminative listening
What is environmental noise?
Distractions from surroundings such as chatter or air conditioning
What is active listening
Combining positive listening behaviors with focused mental effort
What are listenable messages?
Orally delivered messages designed to be easily understood
Which stage involves identifying main and supporting points?
Interpreting stage
Which type of listening is used to comprehend and retain information?
Empathetic listening
What kind of noise stems from illness, injury, or fatigue?
Physiological noise
What are “back-channel cues”?
Verbal or nonverbal signals that show attentiveness, like nodding or “uh-huh”
What kind of sentence structure helps make a message more listenable?
Short, active sentences
During which stage do we assess the credibility of a message or speaker
Evaluating stage
What kind of listening involves evaluating messages for truth and logic?
Critical listening
Which barrier occurs when our biases block us from hearing others’ perspectives?
Psychological noise
What should you do to improve listening at the receiving stage?
Prepare to listen, focus, and avoid interruptions
What should you use to help your audience follow your message?
Transitions, lists, and signposts
What is the term for asking clarifying questions to check understanding?
Active responding or paraphrasing
Which type of listening focuses on understanding and sharing another person’s feelings?
Empathetic listening
What bad listening habit involves pretending to listen when you’re not?
Pseudo-listening
What should you separate during the evaluating stage to avoid confusion?
Facts, inferences, and judgments
What is one benefit of giving effective feedback
It improves understanding and boosts confidence
Which stage can be improved by using mnemonic devices and repetition?
Recalling stage
Name the four listening styles discussed in the chapter
People-oriented, Action-oriented, Content-oriented, Time-oriented
Name two cognitive barriers to listening.
Difference between thought and speech rate, lack of focus/concentration
What is the purpose of perception checking in listening?
To verify understanding and reduce misinterpretation
What are two ways to make feedback constructive rather than critical?
Focus on behavior, not the person; be specific and supportive