Andrea Skawinski

Discussion Prompt 0
In this week’s readings, the first chapter discussed the definition of communication,
communication contexts, types of theories, and how to evaluate them. It touched on how the
definition of communication has evolved overtime and is much more complex than one would
believe it to be. There are many factors when considering what communication means because
there are two or more people and there are also nonverbal cues that have to be factored in as
well. There are many different contexts in which communication can take place that range from
the thoughts in our own heads that influence the way we communicate to the way the people and
the world around us influence communication. In the second chapter, the author discusses
whether research or theory came first, and concludes at the end of the chapter that while no one
knows what came first, the approach of social scientists such as those studying communication is
a deductive one, meaning that a working theory or hypothesis is developed prior to beginning
research. The various research methods were explained and what makes each unique was
mentioned. Experimental research is the only kind of research that can determine causality,
surveys are the only way to find out what someone is thinking or feeling, textual analysis
uncovers the content, nature, and structure of messages, and ethnography takes place in the
environment that is being studied and allows the researcher to become immersed in the culture.
The various contexts in which communication takes place is an idea that is applicable to
the state of the world right now. The mass communication context, where mass mediated
messages are influencing people is particularly relevant to the world we are living in right now.
With COVID-19, the 2020 Presidential Election, and the protests regarding racial injustices in
the United States, the way the messages from mass media outlets have a great deal of influence
on people right now. This one context is altering many of the other communication contexts. The
cognitive context has been altered for many because they are more afraid while others are feeling
more encouraged and feel as though they have found their voice. Interpersonal interactions are
changing because of physical distancing and due to the fact that in today’s world our words carry
extra weight, so we have to be very intentional with our language. The persuasive context also
plays a big role in 2020 because it seems that everyone is not shy about voicing their opinions
and trying to persuade people to agree with them. The mediated context is important because
technology plays a major role in influencing communication, especially in a world where we are
not allowed to get within six feet of one another. For many, technology is the main source of
communication and information. I think that the events of this year have greatly impacted the
communication contexts that the textbook writes about. How most people traditionally thought
about these communication contexts, I believe has changed this year due to all the changes and
events going on in the world.
Theory development is also applicable to the current times. I think a lot of theories that
have been previously made could potentially be challenged by the circumstances of the world. I
have heard researchers say before that they would like to study how people would react to
isolation or confinement for long periods of time, but they often cannot not study this because of
ethical issues. However, the entire world was living in isolation and confinement for the past
several months, so a lot of theories can be generated and developed from COVID-19. I think that
any theories that had been previously developed about how people would react to being socially
and physically isolated for an extended period of time could be challenged because people’s
reactions right now are the most genuine due to the fact that this is real life for all of us, and not
some “experiment.”
Discussion Questions:
1. How have various communication contexts changed because of COVID-19?
2. Does living in a politically correct world make people more competent communicators
because they have to be more intentional with word choice?