Examined whether beliefs about competence differ among conceptions of prototypic communicators of different levels of competence and among communicators in different competence-relevant situations. Results indicated that large differences in beliefs about competence only exist when evaluating behaviors of the average communicatively competent…

Shows two experiments at Delft University of Technology support the conclusion that an introduction makes audiences more willing to listen to a speech. States subjects (in experiment 1) viewed videotapes of professional presentations on "Sick Building Syndrome." Indicates audiences respond to exordial techniques in a predictable manner.…

Reports on a research program investigating a model of mediator communicative competence in a divorce mediation context. Presents coding schemes for categorizing mediator interventions and disputants' negotiation tactics. Displays and interprets data by focusing on the pragmatic value of the model for practicing divorce mediators. (MM)

Classroom communication between deaf students was modeled using a question-and-answer game. Participants consisted of student pairs that relied on spoken language, pairs that relied on American Sign Language (ASL), and mixed pairs in which one student used spoken language and one signed. Although the task encouraged students to request…

Reports on a study to determine the communication needs of various professions. Results indicated that communication is equally important for the professions represented in the study and though oral and written communications are both perceived as important, those questioned spent twice as much time using oral communication. (SRT)

Explores the consequences of differences in message design logic and goal structures for success in regulative communication situations. Finds that the level of message design logic was associated with every type of assessed effectiveness. Notes that differences in message goal structures had more selective effects on message evaluations. (SR)

Explicates the production of multiple-goal messages from the perspective of action assembly theory. Reports an experimental investigation contrasting the speech of participants pursuing multiple social goals with the speech of people pursuing a single task. Finds that people pursuing multiple goals have longer speech-onset latencies with greater…

Reviews published assessments of oral communication across the curriculum programs in higher education. Reports activities and results from a faculty and student development program at a midsized comprehensive state university. Suggests that this approach holds significant promise for curricular development and improvement of student communication…

Tests the Multidimensional Model for teaching students to self-manage communication apprehension by self-selecting treatment techniques. Finds significantly greater reduction in communication apprehension level when teaching the Multidimensional Model than when only using traditional skills training. (SR)

A study investigated the relationship between shared communication links and the process of organizational innovation in a privately owned medical clinic providing comprehensive medical care to children and adults. Participants were the physicians and physician assistants employed at the clinic. Data were collected through questionnaires before…

A study to determine whether five Pittsburgh hospitals have communication training programs and whether the programs have been or are currently being evaluated examined the following research questions: (1) whether they have ever used a communication training program (i.e., writing, interpersonal communication, public speaking, group leadership);…

A study explored the effects of both the sales representative's and the target consumer's biological gender upon the persuasive strategy choice of the salesperson. Data from 204 salespeople responding to a 27-item questionnaire were collected over a 6-week period. The results indicate clear differences between men and women sales representatives…

A study investigated the relationships between conflict message strategy utilization and the criterion variables of communication satisfaction and interpersonal solidarity in situations of interpersonal conflict. Subjects were 114 college students and their "willing" conversational partners. Each subject completed a questionnaire…

Provides strong support for the hypothesis that as communication reticence increases, expectations of success in communication situations decreases. Investigates the predictive utility of employing multiple measures of reticence as compared to single operationalizations. (NKA)

Identifies 25 recent studies isolating communication skills related to the organizational context. The skills most frequently identified are listening, written communication, oral reporting, motivating/persuading, interpersonal skills, informational interviewing, and small group problem solving. (JMF)