Intro Stuff
Communication is an intrapersonal process in which individual employ symbols to establish and interpret their meaning in an environment.
True or false?
False
Not intrapersonal, but interpersonal.
Let's discuss
Why to we create theories?
In order to explain, predict, or understand something.
... also, in order to create social change.
With this approach to knowledge, the scientist believes that the world is objectively knowable, predictable, and measurable.
Positivistic
What does "meta theory" mean?
Take a guess..
Theorizing about theory.
Let's think about what this means.
I developed a new theory. This theory is very specific. It only predicts what 23-year olds say to a cashier at a grocery store when buying frozen pizzas with cash after 9PM on Fridays.
What is the most obvious criticism that you could give this theory?
SCOPE.
This theory is limited in scope.
Could also argue that it's not USEFUL or PARSIMONIOUS.
_________ is an arbitrary representation of phenomenon, which needs to be agreed upon by a group in order for it to have meaning.
A symbol
What are some examples?
The process of developing ideas that can allow us to explain how and why events occur is known as ________.
Theorizing.
And. everyone does it all the time.
Which approach to research examines power structures and imbalances of power?
The critical approach to research.
Bonus: What if there are no power imbalances? THEN what approach would the researcher take to finding truths?
In order, what are the 3 meta theories?
ontology, epistemology, axiology
Tip: remember them in this order
I theorize that invisible unicorns exist. I tell you to prove me wrong.
What is wrong with my assertion?
It is not falsifiable!
ALL decent theories must be testable/falsifiable.
Of the 7 communication traditions, which 3 traditions are the primary focus of UCSB's Communication Program?
Interpersonal, organizational, and mass media
Bonus: what are the OTHER 4 traditions?
An abstract system of concepts and their relationships, that help us to understand a phenomenon, is known as a _________.
Theory
Note: there are many definitions of "theory", and this is just one of them.
Bonus: Tell me a theory.
Recall the two types of reasoning. Which type of reasoning could most likely be referred to as "theory building"?
Inductive reasoning
In HBO's Westworld, Bernard asks Deloris "have you ever questioned the nature of your reality?"
Which meta theory is primarily concerned with asking "what is real?"
Ontology
Bonus: how might a chemist's ontological approach differ from a sociologist's ontological approach?
I developed DOG Theory (Dogs Obviously Good theory). DOG Theory asserts that both:
All dogs are good boys, AND, some dogs are not good boys.
What is the main criticism that you can offer for DOG theory?
It lacks LOGICAL CONSISTENCY.
These two things cannot both be true at the same time.
What is organizational communication?
(recall that org comm is one of the 7 traditions of comm)
The study of communication within organizations.
Bonus: What are some examples of organizational communication?
What is a paradigm?
A paradigm is the way that someone thinks about the world.
Some examples to clarify: marxist paradigm, scientific paradigm, darwinism paradigm, buddhist paradigm, and infinitely more!
If I believe that every person has their own truth and my job as a researcher is to learn and interpret those unique truths, then I take a ________ approach to research.
interpretive approach
Bonus: is this a quantitative approach to research?
Which meta theory is primarily concerned with understanding the researcher's values and ethics?
Axiology
Food for thought: Think about a genetic researcher and what their values might be.
Dr. Afifi developed a theory that really stimulated research in a new area of communication.
That means that this is a theory with strong ________.
Heurism
Is your theory stimulating new ideas? What is the amount of new research inspired by the this theory?
Is the final exam cumulative?
Not really. But stuff that you learn this week (comm basics, meta theory, comm traditions, etc.) WILL be carried into the final.
What are the three ways that a researcher can think about the world?
3 approaches:
positivistic, interpretivistic, critical
Recall the two types of reasoning. Which type of reasoning could most likely be referred to as "theory testing"?
Deductive reasoning
Recall Comm 88 (the research methods class).
Which meta theory is Comm 88 primarily concerned with?
Epistemology
Why? Explain this to me.