Using Communication Theory

"Using Communication Theory was a rarity in bridging the gap between ideas and practice. It was itself a model of good communication and in its second, revised edition, it is still a most reliable and accessible guide to the lessons that communication theory and research offer to practitioners, especially in planning for change." - Denis McQuail, Professor Emeritus, University of Amsterdam "Using Communication Theory has become a classic in the education of communication. It is the comprehensive and self-evident source for theories and models, forming the base for the study of professions requiring communication planning." - Larsåke Larsson, Örebro University What does theory have to do with the practice of communication? Communication planning is used daily by thousands of people: public relations practitioners, technical writers, information campaigners, advertising professionals, organization consultants, educators, health communicators and more. Without a solid understanding of communication theory, practitioners have difficulty getting their messages heard. The second edition of this best-selling textbook has been updated with the student firmly in mind. With new learning features that directly engage with the practical side of theory, students will: Practice what they learn with activities and exercises. Apply their own experiences to theory through prompts to reflection. Consolidate their learning with highlighted definitions and lists of key terms. Take it further with boxed excerpts from classic texts. Showing how theories relate directly to the planning and experience of effective communication, Using Communication Theory - 2nd Edition provides indispensable insights into the practical nature of communication theory. In today’s landscape of communication overload, this book remains an essential, authoritative guide for both students and practitioners.

This broad-ranging textbook provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to using communication theory in real-life communication activities. Planned communication, both interpersonal and through the mass media, is a standard facet of modern life. It is as evident in public health campaigns on smoking, drugs or AIDS as in commercial advertising and public relations. This textbook outlines how such communication can be informed by an understanding of the theories of communication that have evolved over the last thirty years. How are ideas diffused through the mass media and other channels of communication? How does the audience read a message? What is known about the impact of different ways of handling a communication ca

References -- Chapter 8: Taking It to the Next Level -- Focus Groups as a Feminist or Critical Method -- Interactive Focus Groups -- Leaderless Discussion Groups -- Focus Groups as Delphi Method -- Focus Groups in CBPR (Community-Based Participatory Research) -- Mini-Groups -- Larger Groups ("Town Forums") -- Preexisting or Bona Fide Groups -- Multiple or Ongoing Group Sessions -- Different Settings (Living Room vs. Conference Style) -- Focus Groups as Part of Multiple or Mixed Methods Research -- Summary -- References -- Index

Featuring contributed chapters from established and emerging communication theorists with varied cultural backgrounds and identities, Communication Theory: Racially Diverse and Inclusive Perspectives decenters traditional views of communication by highlighting perspectives from the global majority. The text deviates from a white-colonial-normative theoretical core to provide students with a more holistic exploration of communication theory. The book helps readers understand how the communicative experiences of marginalized groups represent important theoretical frames necessary for a full, comprehensive view of communication. It offers innovative conceptions of communication theorizing centered in and through the perspectives of African American/Black, Latinx, Asian American, and Indigenous/First Nations people. Through the presentation of canonized theories alongside innovative, cutting-edge theories, the text challenges students to expand and enhance the ways in which they see, use, and apply communication theory. A unique feature of the text is the inclusion of storied reflections--personal narratives that reveal scholars at various stages of their careers ruminating on their own experiences with theory. These reflections demonstrate how ethnic and racialized standpoints can inform and advance scholarship within the discipline. Communication Theory presents an inclusive, holistic approach to communication theory and inspires continued exploration, research, and theory in the discipline. It can serve as a primary textbook as well as a companion volume to other textbooks on communication theory.

The audience; The communicator; The community.

This text presents and explains theories in communication studies from the epistemological perspectives of the researchers who use them. Rather than representing a specific theoretical paradigm (social scientific, interpretive, or critical), the author team presents the three major paradigms in one text, each writing in his or her area of expertise. Every theory is explained in a "native" voice, from a position of deep understanding and experience, improving clarity for readers. The text also provides insights on using communication theory to address real-life challenges. Considering that theories are developed to guide scholarly research more than to provide practical advice, this feature of the book helps students create realistic expectations for what theories can and cannot do and makes clear that many theories can have practical applications that students can use to their advantage in everyday life. Offering a comprehensive exploration of communication theories through multiple lenses, Exploring Communication Theory provides an integrated approach to studying communication theory and to demonstrating its application in the world of its readers. Online resources also accompany the text. For students: practice quizzes to review key concepts; for instructors: an instructor’s manual featuring chapter outlines, lists of key terms, discussion questions, suggested further readings, and both in-class and out-of-class exercises, as well as lecture slides and sample essay test questions.