Applied Interpersonal Communication Matters

It is an important time for scholars of communication to develop rich theory addressing critical applied interpersonal issues. Stress, substance abuse, violence, health problems, divorce, safety, and aging are but a few of the problems individuals address in their day-to-day interpersonal communication. That communication is critical to coping successfully with these challenges. Stressing the timeliness of such applied contributions, the International Communication Association instituted a regular feature in its newsletter on communication matters, and focused its most recent conference on applied issues in communication. This edited volume, containing individual chapters by original researchers, explores socially meaningful contributions to the study of interpersonal problems involving language and social action.

Interpersonal Communication, Fourth Edition empowers you to become a more confident communicator by providing you with both the knowledge and the practical skills you need to make effective communication choices in today's rapidly changing and technologically advanced society. Rather than "telling" you how to communicate, authors Richard L. West and Lynn H. Turner offer a toolbox of key skills so you can actively choose and experiment with strategies appropriate for a given situation. Filled with realistic examples and scenarios that reflect the diversity and interactions of today's students, this practical text makes clear connections among theory, skills, and the life situations we all encounter on a daily basis. New to the Fourth Edition: New personal reflection questions for the IPC Careers and IPC Around Us features help you discover the relevance of interpersonal communication in your everyday life. A new applied theory feature, IPC Praxis, shows you how to apply the theories outlined in the chapter narrative to your life experiences. New chapter wrap-ups, key questions for application, and communication application tests provide you with opportunities to assess what you have learned in the chapter. SAGE edge provides you with helpful tools, including eFlashcards, practice quizzes, and more, in one easy-to-use online environment.

Studies in Applied Interpersonal Communication offers solutions for communication problems that erupt in our daily lives. By focusing on socially meaningful applied research in communication, this book offers a new direction for interpersonal communication studies. Featuring original studies that are practical and relevant, chapters provide readers with a balanced combination of rigorous research with pragmatic application. This book will generate enthusiasm among students and scholars and inspire future research that moves beyond the theoretical and toward the practical.

Smith and Steven R.

Why Communication Matters is a compilation of entries from the blog of the same name. Taken together these clear, concise essays make the case for the relevance of real, meaningful, effective communication in both professional and personal life. The essays are organized by theme into eleven chapters. These themes include relationships, communication in the classroom and on the job, communication for self-improvement, and leadership. The book also touches on communication theories and concepts, shares the author's reflections, and looks ahead to what the future of interpersonal communication may hold. Each of the entries is followed by discussion questions for use in class or as prompts for self-reflection or writing. The organization of the text allows professors and students to move effortlessly between topics, making the connections that seem most appropriate for the organization of diverse communication courses. Designed to lead to meaningful interactions among those who aim to advance the act of communicating in their personal and professional lives, Why Communication Matters can be used in communication courses and by professionals whose careers require excellent communication skills.

Communication Matters helps students move beyond an intuitive appreciation of communication to explore core principles of the discipline. By helping students take personal responsibility for their communication behaviors, by encouraging critical reflection, and by actively applying the key concepts to diverse contemporary challenges, the program fosters an understanding of the many important ways communication matters in daily life.

This fully revised text demystifies interpersonal communication skills by bringing the latest research together with practical guidance that prepares students to discern key communication dynamics and communicate more effectively in all areas of their lives. The new edition draws on current theory and research to guide students through the foundations of the discipline, recent developments in scientific research, and tips for improving their own interpersonal communication skills. In addition, readers will find: Expanded coverage of technology and computer-mediated communication, including explicit examples of what interpersonal communication looks like online. Invitations to engage with elaborated descriptions of theories and related resources on the companion website whenever prominent theories of interpersonal communication are mentioned in the text. A commitment to gender inclusive language and topics, as well as a new feature, "IDEA: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access," that invites students to consider ways to address exclusion and inequity in interpersonal communication. The fully revamped companion website includes updates across all resources, additional videos, self-quizzes for students, and all-new instructor resources, which can be accessed at www.routledge.com/cw/solomon. Also new to the companion website for this edition are links to essays and videos featuring the work that students in the Communication Studies program at the California State Prison, Los Angeles County, produced in response to self-reflection prompts in the first edition. These materials provide insight into facets of interpersonal communication in these students’ lives, and they offer a broad range of rich life experiences. Interpersonal Communication: Putting Theory into Practice, Second Edition is ideal for undergraduate students in courses on interpersonal communication and communication skills.