Cognitive Dissonance
People seek information that is incompatible with their current beliefs.
A. True
B. False
False.
The principle of selective exposure suggests that people seek information that supports their current beliefs.
Which research method do cultural approach scholars use when trying to understand an organization’s culture?
A. Surveys.
B. Ethnography.
C. Textual analysis.
D. Experiments.
B. Ethnography.
Cultural approach scholars believe ethnography provides a depth of insight that cannot be accomplished by other methods.
The dramatistic pentad describes:
A. The speaker.
B. The speech.
C. The drama described in the speech.
D. None of the above.
C. The drama described in the speech.
This is a key point that can trip students up! For example, if a person gives a speech about France, the scene is France, even if the speech is delivered in Japan.
Aristotle was a student of:
A. Cicero.
B. Plato.
C. Socrates.
D. Quintilian.
B. Plato.
__________ is a systematic logic, a set of routine practices, and an ideology that values control over all other concerns.
A. Consent.
B. Managerialism.
C. Involvement.
D. Constitution.
B. Managerialism.
Deetz’ theory seeks to critique the power structure of the managerialist approach.
Bem tried to simplify cognitive dissonance theory by arguing that:
A. Dissonance cannot be measured.
B. We simply interpret our own behavior in the same way we interpret the behavior of others.
C. We reduce dissonance by enhancing our self-esteem.
D. Dissonance addresses only attitudes, not behavior.
B. We simply interpret our own behavior in the same way we interpret the behavior of others.
Bem’s reliance on self-perception eliminates dissonance as an explanatory mechanism for behavior and attitudes.
When cultural approach scholars write about stories, they often use language such as, “This story means…”
A. True
B. False
B. False
They would not write this way because they believe stories have multiple layers of meaning, not just one.
If a speaker emphasizes agency, the speaker’s philosophical approach is most likely:
A. Realism.
B. Determinism.
C. Idealism.
D. Pragmatism.
D. Pragmatism.
Recall that agency offers a detailed description of methods; that resonates with a pragmatic “get-the-job-done” approach.
A(n) _____________ is an incomplete version of a formal deductive syllogism.
A. example
B. proof
C. argument
D. enthymeme
D. enthymeme
By omitting part of the argument, the speaker may make the argument more aesthetically pleasing. The enthymeme also invites the listener to cognitively participate in the process of persuasion.
Corporate colonization occurs when:
A. One company establishes a monopoly over an industry.
B. Workers do not have a say in managerial decisions.
C. Corporations encroach into every area of life outside the workplace.
D. Government officials give special preferences to organizations that they favor.
C. Corporations encroach into every area of life outside the workplace.
Deetz believes that such corporate colonization is rampant in Western industrial societies.
In the language of cognitive dissonance theory, compliance is:
A. Changing another person’s mind.
B. Avoiding dissonance by maintaining consistency between attitudes and behaviors.
C. Public conformity to expectations without internal conviction.
D. Providing sufficient incentive to induce counterattitudinal behavior.
C. Public conformity to expectations without internal conviction.
The danger of large incentives is that it leads to compliance—and compliance may disappear when the large reward does.
Sarah has been doing an ethnography of a local computer store for the past six months. She’s filled ten notebooks with her observations. What must Sarah add to convert this thin description into a thick description?
A. Quantitative survey data.
B. Structured interview transcripts with store managers.
C. Her own interpretation of the store’s practices.
D. Theory developed by researchers of similar organizations.
C. Her own interpretation of the store’s practices.
Interpretation is a key ingredient in a good thick description.
In his apology for not submitting homework on time, Denny emphasizes that the library was closed, his roommates were being distracting, and his boss had demanded he work overtime all last week. Which philosophical approach does Denny’s apology seem to reflect?
A. Realism.
B. Determinism.
C. Idealism.
D. Pragmatism.
B. Determinism.
This is a tough question! Denny is emphasizing the when and where—in other words, scene. And an emphasis on scene reflects philosophical determinism.
Communication scholars have devoted substantial scholarly attention to how language generates competence, trustworthiness, and care. This is most closely associated with which of Aristotle’s modes of persuasion?
A. Logos.
B. Ethos.
C. Pathos.
D. Mythos.
B. Ethos.
Aristotle refers to those three characteristics as intelligence, character, and goodwill.
Deetz believes that corporate decisions should be made by:
A. Those who own stock in the company.
B. Anyone impacted by corporate policy.
C. Employees with the least amount of power in the organization.
D. Both management and labor union leaders.
B. Anyone impacted by corporate policy.
Deetz seeks to increase the scope and diversity of people who participate in corporate governance.
Cooper’s revision to the theory, known as the “new look,” reinterprets the classic $1/$20 experiment. How does Cooper explain that study’s results?
A. The liars felt bad because they knew they had duped another person into a boring task.
B. The liars felt bad because they believed they were honest people at heart.
C. The liars felt bad, but drew on other areas of life success to offset their negative feelings.
D. The liars only said they felt bad because they thought that was what the experimenter wanted them to say.
A. The liars felt bad because they knew they had duped another person into a boring task.
For Cooper, the starting point of dissonance is the belief that we have hurt another person.
What is one way that cultural approach scholars have justified the expense of their work, given that they believe that changing corporate culture is impossible?
A. Emphasizing that understanding an organizational culture is valuable in its own right.
B. Emphasizing the utility of understanding culture for organizational recruitment.
C. Emphasizing how studies lead to more accurate organizational communication theories.
D. Emphasizing that although culture may not change, the practices that constitute culture can be made more fair and ethical.
B. Emphasizing the utility of understanding culture for organizational recruitment.
If a company understands its culture, it may be able to more effectively recruit workers who will enjoy their job and contribute meaningfully to the company.
How can a rhetorical critic determine the meaning of a speaker’s god-term?
A. By looking it up in the dictionary.
B. By examining what other rhetorical critics have written about that term.
C. By inspecting what words cluster around the god-term in the speech.
D. By interviewing the speaker about his or her intended meaning of the god-term.
C. By inspecting what words cluster around the god-term in the speech.
Burke privileged discovery of the god-term’s meaning by examining the speaker’s own words. Even an interview with a speaker may not reveal the hidden meanings within the speech.
For her retirement dinner, the company holds a ‘roast’ for Sara, where they all take turns giving short speeches that both poke fun at her quirky personality but also praise her for contributions to the company. Aristotle would most likely categorize these speeches as:
A. Deliberative.
B. Forensic.
C. Epideictic.
D. Ritualistic.
C. Epideictic.
An epideictic speech heaps praise or blame on a person for the benefit of the current audience.
Deetz encourages managers to see themselves as ____________ rather than _______________.
A. persuader; mediator
B. mediator; persuader
C. leader; follower
D. follower; leader
B. mediator; persuader
A mediator brings together people with divergent interests, trying to find common ground and solutions that everyone can live with. That’s a good picture of Deetz’ ideal for corporate leadership.
Bill has made up his mind that he’s voting for Olaf Goodson, so he avoids newspaper articles critiquing the candidate. Bill is most clearly engaging in:
A. Minimal justification.
B. Postdecision dissonance.
C. Selective exposure.
D. Counterattitudinal advocacy.
C. Selective exposure.
We avoid information we disagree with because the cognitive dissonance it creates can make us uncomfortable.
On the classic NBC comedy Parks and Recreation, Leslie Knope frequently tells stories about the importance of her role in the parks department. This is most clearly an example of a:
A. Personal story.
B. Corporate story.
C. Collegial story.
D. Cultural story.
A. Personal story.
Which of the following occurs in the realm of motion?
A. Janie gets tired because she hasn’t slept in 36 hours.
B. Janie drives her car to the store to get milk.
C. Janie criticizes her roommate for not cleaning up the apartment.
D. All of the above.
D. All of the above.
Yvette is trying to persuade her sister Dakota. Yvette wants Dakota to let her borrow her favorite dress. Yvette tells a heartrending tale about how she doesn’t have a suitable dress, and she’ll feel so lonely if she has to miss the school dance. Yvette’s argument primarily uses which mode of persuasion?
A. Logos.
B. Ethos.
C. Pathos.
D. Mythos.
C. Pathos.
The essence of the pathos mode of persuasion is reliance on emotional appeals.
When codetermination occurs along with an informational model of communication, Deetz refers to the resultant organizational practice as:
A. Strategy.
B. Consent.
C. Involvement.
D. Participation.
C. Involvement.
Deetz does not think this is ideal because it allows expression of ideas but no real decision-making power.