Finds that readers of a news report featuring extreme exemplar distortion considered carjacking a more serious problem than those who read reports featuring minimally, mildly, or substantially distorted exemplars. Finds that subjects overestimated the incidence of extreme outcome but did not differ in evaluations of newsworthiness, importance, or…

Examines divergences of self-reported from observed communication behavior. Finds that perceived relationship to the group explained 59% of the variance of the average size of commission errors, and the collective communication load on members explained 61% of the variance in the number of omission errors. Proposes a model relating situated…

Explores several assumptions in the evolution of speech communication as an academic discipline. Examines the series of choices to elevate the discussion of speech communication subject matters over and above the experience and pleasure of the speaking subject. Argues the position of speech within human science as "communicology" or a…

Examines Exxon's communication efforts in the wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster. Identifies communication practices that damaged the corporation's credibility, antagonized the public, and contributed to the public perception of its corporate arrogance. Notes that the Valdez spill makes a good case for classroom study. (PRA)

Explores the relationship between the boundary spanning communication of individual organization members and organizational legitimacy. Finds that perceptions regarding the nature of the boundary spanning communication of an agency head and a staff scientist contributed importantly to the sociopolitical delegitimation of the organization. (RS)

Examines the relationship between an individual's ability to differentiate communication with his or her sensitivity to conversation. Shows a link between conversational sensitivity and cognitive complexity. (SR)

Finds support for the general notion of construct accessibility and its effect on judgments can help account for the influence of television viewing on social reality estimates. Shows that subjects who watch comparatively more television not only overestimate frequency or probability but also give faster responses to various types of cultivation…

Addresses the debate over rhetoric's epistemic status in terms of Nietzsche's critique of epistemology. Suggests that Nietzsche's aestheticism provides an alternative to the debate. Focuses on differences between the rhetorics of the epistemic and the aesthetic. (SR)

Continues the process of questioning what is taken for granted in communication research and expanding the views of rhetorical processes. Explores how and where texts are created, and how texts interact with each other, especially in terms of "intertextual interanimation." (RS)

Offers empathic criticism (based on eavesdropping at three conferences) as an academic practice that might help return the life to critical self-reflection and social practice. Contrasts it with reigning critical approaches. (SR)

Reexamines the history of the apprehension, consumption, and production of reality by means of the aural in light of developments in virtual reality technology. Suggests that, by acknowledging and examining its roots in aural media, the connections of virtual reality to the discourse of authenticity are made clear. (SR)

Investigates the perseverance of preinteraction expectancies in the face of actual communication behavior, the separate effects of personal attribute and communication expectancies, and the role of expectancy confirmation or disconfirmation on postinteraction evaluations. Confirms the validity of expectancy violations theory. (SR)

Notes that the rhetoric of Frances E. Willard relied primarily on "womanhood" arguments, making her uniquely successful at promoting woman suffrage with conservative audiences. Concludes that the popularization of Willard's strategies represented a transformation of the symbolic context of the suffrage movement. Examines the implications…

Investigates whether the measurement distinction between first- and second-order measures of cultivation results in operationalizations that are independent or related to one another. Finds that the two are related to a weak degree at a general level, but stronger relationships exist on a contingent analysis. (SR)

Reports a test of three competing explanations of the influence of prosocialness (benefiting society) on the operation of two sequential request techniques (foot-in-the-door and door-in-the-face). Finds that prosocialness did influence compliance but that it had no demonstrable impact on the operation of either request technique. (NH)