Examines whether role assignments to television sets (assignments of particular content to particular screens) influence what viewers think about what they watch. Finds that designating TV sets for specialized functions or uses results in more positive evaluations of the content, even when the TV sets and programming are identical. (SR)

States that recent theorizing about the role of analogy in persuasion suggests that "rebuttal" analogy addresses two communicative functions by serving as argument and a method of social attack. Examines message receivers' perceptions of rebuttal analogy and rebuttal analogy users. Finds that participants perceived the communicator using…

Finds that soap operas analyzed in 1994 contain more frequent sexual incidence on an hourly average, both within the same soaps analyzed a decade earlier and even more so on two additional very popular soaps. Shows that the more frequent sex centers on physical intercourse, primarily among partners not married to anyone; and sexual activity is…

Describes Karl E. Weick's role in developing organizational communication research and illustrates how others have adopted and utilized some of his pivotal concepts. Summarizes ways in which ongoing research has enhanced understanding of organizing as communicating, organizing as sense-making, and organizational culture. (SG)

Critically analyzes magnitude estimation scaling for its potential use in business communication research. Finds that the 12-15 percent increase in explained variance by magnitude estimation over categorical scaling methods may be useful in theory building but may not be sufficient to justify its added expense in applied business communication…

Discusses several problems with the introspective approach to communication theory, which takes evidence of interpersonal processes and translates this evidence into corresponding internal surrogates such as self concept, attitude, and mental maps. (SR)

Discusses the nature, scope, and clarity of both David Tukey's and Jeffery Bineham's claims (presented in previous articles in this issue). Analyzes their exchange from the standpoint of one whose work is being neither attacked nor defended. Evaluates Bineham's critique of Tukey's position, Bineham's own counterargument, and the case study Bineham…

Demonstrates the use and potentially positive effects of postpurchase communication on order refund requests and reorder rates. Finds that dissonance was effectively reduced through postpurchase communication. (MG)

Examines the growth and scope of corporate benefits packages and their usefulness to the average worker. Assesses a sample of benefits packages from Fortune 500 corporations and finds that both the documents' readability and comprehensibility levels are beyond those of the average worker. (MG)

Examines "delayed completion," a procedure speakers use to finish an incomplete turn after an intervening utterance by another speaker. Describes delayed completion as a device for resolving overlap. Examines relationship to interruption and to sequences of actions in conversation. (MS)

Examines research on negativity effect (the disproportionate weighing of negative information in comparison to equally valenced positive information in the formation of judgments). Investigates the informativeness explanation of the negativity effect in the context of conversational interactions. Rejects a reliance on evaluative extremity and…

Posits a strategy of resistance to the influence of attack messages in political campaigns. Finds that political campaign messages can be designed to inoculate supporters of candidates against subsequent attack messages of opposing candidates. (MS)

Replies to Rowland's article (same issue) on Fisher's views of the narrative paradigm. Clarifies the narrative paradigm by discussing three senses in which "narration" can be understood, and by indicating what the narrative paradigm is not. (SR)

Argues for a revised perspective on presidential crisis rhetoric informed by an understanding of differing exigencies and functions. Uses speeches by Ronald Reagan to examine two types of crisis rhetoric. Concludes that crisis rhetoric can not be viewed as a homogeneous type of discourse. (MM)

Supports the argument that, consistent with Durkheim's theory, the modern Olympic games are secular religious festivals. Presents survey data on the public's thinking, showing a relatively consensual core of values, ideas, and sentiments affirming the Olympic tradition and distinct from thinking about professional sports. (SR)