Deck 1: Communication Theory and Professional Practice

Question 1

.A stimulus that interferes with communication is referred to as:

A) encoding.
B) decoding.
C) feedback.
D) noise.
E) culture.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Communication theories help the professional:

A) maximise his/her income.
B) manipulate the media to his/her advantage.
C) narrow the communication gap between the professional and the client.
D) avoid litigation.
E) save time.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The transactional model of communication is best described as:

A) a model of encoding and decoding messages.
B) a model where the experience of the individual is paramount.
C) a model that focuses on meaning rather than message in communication.
D) Schramm's circular model of communication.
E) a model where the technical transmission of messages is highlighted.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The transactional model of communication:

A) means that parties to the communication negotiate meaning.
B) specifies that communication can only take place if rewards are offered to receivers.
C) ensures that the meanings of words always stay the same.
D) means that the message sent is the same as the message received.
E) shows that meaning can never be fully communicated.

Question 5

Purposive communication enables the professional to:

A) be clear about the reason for communicating.
B) theorise about audiences.
C) avoid non-verbal cues.
D) understand clients' personalities.
E) use the telephone effectively.

Question 6

Which two of the following statements explain the expression,'Meanings are in people,not in words'?

A) Everyone tells lies.
B) People always hide their true thoughts.
C) Meanings can change from one context to another.
D) People bring their own background,experience and therefore understanding to the use of words.
E) Some words are untranslatable.

Question 7

When a receiver decodes a message,he/she is:

A) turning thoughts into symbols.
B) sending his/her thoughts to the source.
C) turning symbols into ideas and feelings.
D) turning thoughts into feelings.
E) turning feelings into thoughts.

Question 8

Communication as transmission means that:

A) messages change according to time and place.
B) the intention of the sender ensures the success of the communication.
C) the sender encodes the message and the receiver decodes it.
D) communication can only be one-way.
E) the message must be in writing.

Question 9

'Communication is symbolic' means that:

A) encoding and decoding change meaning in the communication.
B) the communication process is circular.
C) senders and receivers use signs and symbols that have meaning within a culture or between cultures.
D) words are not symbols,only pictures.
E) symbolic communication between cultures is impossible.

Question 10

Which of the following words would NOT be useful in defining communication?

A) Intentional
B) Accidental
C) Encoded
D) Symbolic
E) Reciprocal

Question 11

Symbolic interactionists see communication as:

A) a socially constructed mechanism.
B) a deep inner model of conversation with the self.
C) a transactional model of communication.
D) a game; a piece of theatre.
E) a set of meanings imposed by the rules of society.

Question 12

According to the transmission model of communication:

A) choosing the medium of communication is as important as constructing the message.
B) the telephone is the worst medium of communication.
C) 'channel' means the same thing as 'medium'.
D) other examples of media are film and television programs.
E) the mobile phone is a channel,not a medium.

Question 13

Which statement would be the best to use in a communication code of ethics for professionals:

A) 'Professionals should communicate in a democratic way; they should take everyone else's opinion into account.'
B) 'Professionals should communicate in a clear way,with a focus on understanding and respect.'
C) 'Professionals must avoid emotion and feelings at all costs and only be logical in their communications.'
D) 'Professionals should communicate in the same way that other professionals communicate; that is best practice.'
E) 'Professionals should be persuasive for the interests of their field.'

Question 14

'The sharing of meaning through information,ideas and feelings',as a definition of communication,implies that:

A) Feelings are more important than logical arguments.
B) information becomes distorted through prejudice.
C) each party contributes to meaning.
D) concepts or opinions must be ignored in the search for objectivity.
E) meanings negotiated must be checked with dictionary definitions.

Question 15

The reciprocal creation of meaning',as a definition of communication,means that:

A) we can take a message to mean anything.
B) meaning can never be certain.
C) two parties may begin with different meanings and then negotiate a closer understanding.
D) meaning is generated only through language.
E) one party to the communication will always dominate the other.

Question 16

According to the transmission model of communication:

A) messages are conveyed from sender to receiver via media.
B) there must be an intention to communicate by the sender.
C) electronics methods are essential to communication effectiveness.
D) semantics must be understood before transmission is complete.
E) telephones are notoriously unreliable.

Question 17

Feedback is important to communication because:

A) unless we receive feedback to our letter,we have not communicated.
B) if your letter annoys me and I tear it up,feedback has not occurred.
C) non-verbal signals cannot be regarded as feedback.
D) feedback must be immediate.
E) feedback tests the effectiveness of our message.

Question 18

The receiver's verbal and/or non-verbal response is called:

A) encoding.
B) decoding.
C) feedback.
D) noise.
E) channels.

Question 19

1 According to Shannon and Weaver's model,there are three types of noise: mechanical,semantic and psychological.Which type of noise is represented by each of the following situations?

A) Tracey is presenting a brief overview of her report at a corporate dinner.The dinner is held in a function room adjoining the main lobby of a very noisy hotel.
B) Co-workers Sam and Tom are from different socioeconomic backgrounds.Tom cannot understand why Sam uses slang phrases so frequently.
C) Mark is interviewing for a new secretary.Brenda is one of the applicants.Brenda has a very strong physical resemblance to Mark's grandmother.
D) Liz sees an advertisement for a new perfume.The scene of the advertisement is set on a yacht.The scene reminds Liz of the time she spent on a yacht when she was younger.
E) Stephen calls Hamid on his mobile.The line is bad and they can barely hear each other.