Class notes; Introduction to Communication Science
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Course
S_ICS (S_ICS)
Institution
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)
These are all the notes of the course Introduction to Comm, which includes theories like agenda-setting theory, cognitive dissonance theory and many more!
Introduction Communication
Science:
Chapter 1: Introduction
What is a Theory
= a set of systematic informed hunches about the way things work
• based on conducted research we check if the hunches are reliable.
• hunches connect bits and pieces of ideas and systems → later they grow on to be bigger and
better.
1. theory are like nets (nets that catch everything; say do or think) → not possible for
communication studies since it can’t predict free will
2. theory as lenses (a lens we use to focus, by focussing you blur out the other ideas) → what
we see is based on the perspective of the viewer we blur out the truth or other possible truths
3. Theories as maps (a map designed to help you understand certain topics)
all give a different conceptualisation of theory
What is communication
1. sender creates a message
2. encoding (turning a thought into something that can leave your mind)
3. message is send to a receiver (through a communication channel; phone, news, etc.)
4. receiver decodes the message and theories to interpret the meaning
What is communication (grif n)
= the relational process of creating and interpreting messages that elicit a response.
messages can be misinterpret → introduction of emoji
there should be a party of at least two otherwise it’s not communication
all messages will give make you give a response because even if it’s not vocal you may still think it
Chapter 2: Talk about Theory
Sparks (behavioural )
objective approach (commercial approach) →
1. The commercial uses the resonance principle of communication: the message evokes past
experiences, thus creating resonance between the message content and the person’s thoughts
or feelings.
2. Elements in the commercial.: positive attitude towards product increases the sales.
Alternative (interpretative; what the story is about) approach →
1. The story follows an archetypal mythic pattern ‘birth-death-rebirth’
birth → the horse is born and at the stable with his caretaker
fi
, death → (or void) the horse is taken by a Budweiser truck
rebirth → the caretaker and horse get reunited
1. Another sign is the 3 years which is a holy number in christianity
Knowing more about the background you may get a bigger appreciation for theories and their
subject.
Dimensions:
1. Ways of knowing; Discovering the truth or creating multiple realities →objective scholars;
there is one truth that only needs to be discovered(no room for interpretation). →Interpretive
scholars; the answer or truth depends on the person and time (why people behave in a
certain way).
2. Human nature; Determined or free will →objective scholars; nature/nurture. →Interpretative
scholars; focus on conscious choices made by people (people are in charge of their own fate)
3. The highest value; Objectivity or emancipation →objective scholars; nding the truth and
excluding a person’s own values. Their research is about what is! →Interpretative scholars;
it’s about understanding, using own values. Interpretative research is more about what ought
to be and how to better the world.
4. Purpose of theory; Universal laws or interpretative guides → objective scholars; seek for
universal laws, theories can have loose ends. → Interpretative scholars; not about proving
texts but about understanding them or giving meaning to them.
Chapter 3: Weighing the Words
What makes a theory good?
objective theory criteria:
• prediction of future events
• explanation of the data; collect data for precise answers
• make it relatively simple; rst look for the simplest theory than look further
• hypotheses can be tested - falsi ability
• practical utility → see if others have used theories
• quantitative research → aiming to mirror reality is helped when you test your theory on
numbers or people.
Interpretive theory criteria:
• clari cation of values → unmasking ideologies
• new understanding of people → studies on certain groups of people
• aesthetic appeal → should be a good read
• community of agreement → supported by scholars
• reform of society → often generates change we are in uenced to reach out more
• qualitative research → textual analysis or observing a group of interest
Chapter 5: Symbolic Interactionism
Interpersonal Communication
Bowling: sender sends to the recipient and the recipient just waits for it
fi fi fi fl fi
, Pingpong: a conversation that is going back and forth but there are multiple messages going back
and forth and since there is only one ball going round this doesn’t quite do justice to interpersonal
communication.
Charades: trans-active, cooperative/collaboration, ongoing process, adapting, create mutual
meaning. → we constantly change and alter our responses from the messages we get from the other
person.
Symbolic Interactionism Herbert Mead 1930’s
= Our thoughts, self-concepts and the community we live are created through communication
between individuals (Therefore language is essential in this process)
Social reality is constructed by people who give meaning to objects and people in reality. →
humans act towards people or things on basis of the meaning the have assigned to those people or
things. Stimulus → Interpretation → Response
meaning is given through communication, it arises from social interaction between people. =
negotiated through language.
An individual’s interpretation of symbols or concepts we learn are modi ed by a person’s thought
process → we can not think of concepts when we don’t have the words that we connect with the
meanings.
the self — people shape their self-concept based on what they think people view them → looking
glass (Charles Cooley)
objective scholars → poor theory
Mead’s texts in uenced a lot of research on socialisation systems and how we in uence each other
in communication.
Chapter 6: Expectancy Violations Theory
= in this interactive process expectancy play a big role. We use the expectations of behaviour of
people’s interaction patterns for the outcome of interactions. violations of expectations may distract
their recipients, shifting greater attention to the violator and the meaning of the violation itself.
personal space = invisible, variable, volume of space surrounding an individual that de nes his or
her preferred distance from others
4 proxemic zones (Hall):
• intimate distance 0 - 46 cm
• personal distance 46 - 122 cm
• social distance 122 - 366 cm
• public distance 366 cm
What happens when people violate expectancies?
→ current theory: proxemics expectations violated; orienting response/ mental alertness to focus
attention on violator.
core concepts:
fl fi fl fi
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