Communication Theory Research Articles

THE ROLE OF SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC RELATIONS IN CRISIS SITUATIONS

This article analyzes the theoretical foundations of the emerging concepts of anti-crisis PR, in particular, the tasks and functions of crisis management services are considered. A comparative analysis was made using the example of large global companies. The integration of new communication PR technologies during a turning point has been studied. The role of the media in maintaining a positive image of organizations is specifically noted. A definition is given to the concept of “crisis” and crisis communications. In addition, theories of crisis communications (reputation restoration, situational crisis) are considered. Using the example of foreign and national companies, anti-crisis measures are analyzed. McDonald’s Sets Out to Conquer the World by Changing its Image. 2003. A business journal from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Knowledge at Wharton. Electronic resource: https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/mcdonalds-sets-out-to-conquer-the-world-by-changing-its-image/ Date of the application: 21.06.2024. Muratova, N. 2022. Mass Media in State Strategic Programs of Information Society Development in Different Countries. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review. 5:4. 56-61. Post on Facebook, 2018. Electronic resource: https://www.facebook.com/oqtepalavash.official/photos/a.1419760331386261/2725700707458877/?type=3&theater / Date of the application: 19/06/2024. Меньшиков, А. 2013. Паблик рилейшнз в кризисных ситуациях. Комсомольск-на-Амуре. ФГБОУ ВПО «КнАГТУ. 75

Английские эвфемизмы на тему здоровья и болезни

Euphemisms for disease created by means of abbreviation and rhyming slang reflect new capabilities of euphemisms. This research is relevant since such euphemisms are widely used and require a more detailed examination. The article aimed to identify some synonymous euphemistic and dysphemistic names from the arsenal of communicatively correct expressions on the topic of health and illness in English, as well as to provide a sociocultural commentary on euphemisms in the form of rhyming slang and abbreviations characterizing two deadly diseases – cancer and AIDS – and such an unpleasant ailment as haemorrhoids. The key research method used here is descriptive, implemented in the techniques of systematization, generalization and interpretation of language material. The linguistic methods include contextual analysis and semantic interpretation. The topic of health and disease is represented by examples of euphemisms and dysphemisms selected from authoritative dictionaries of euphemisms and general and rhyming slang, as well as English-language fiction. Euphemisms and dysphemisms serve as an effective way to overcome taboos; they are used to smooth out unpleasant moments and “cover up” sensitive issues for the interlocutor, provided that the exact meaning of the statement can be guessed. In particular, the author selected euphemisms for cancer, AIDS and haemorrhoids in the form of rhyming slang and abbreviation since they had been overlooked by specialists in English euphemisms, which brings an element of novelty to the study of modern English euphemisms. Euphemisms associated with rhyming slang in Englishspeaking countries constitute a promising area of research. The main points and conclusions of this paper can be used when discussing euphemisms during lectures and seminars on the theory of language, lexicology, stylistics, text interpretation, and cross-cultural communication.

The Patterns of Interpersonal Communication in Building an Anti-Corruption Culture Among Customs Officers’ Families in Medan City

This research aims to analyze the patterns of interpersonal communication in building an anti-corruption culture among customs officers' families in Medan City, analyze the forms of interpersonal communication messages conducted by customs officers' families, and analyze the barriers to interpersonal communication in building an anti-corruption culture among customs officers' families in Medan City. The theory utilized in this research is Joseph A. Devito's theory of interpersonal communication. The research method employed is qualitative research. The number of informants in this study is five customs officers, with criteria including being married, residing in Medan City, and receiving recognition as an Officer of the Month or Officer of the Year. Data collection is conducted through interviews and passive participation observation. The results of this study indicate that the pattern of interpersonal communication in building an anti-corruption culture among customs officers' families in Medan City is through the equality pattern of communication. Interpersonal communication messages used in building an anti-corruption culture among customs officers' families include informative and persuasive messages. The barriers to interpersonal communication in building an anti-corruption culture among customs officers' families include semantic and psychological noise. The married couples in this study agree that interpersonal communication within a family plays a crucial role in building an anti-corruption culture.

The role of effective communication and collective intelligence in digital transformation of a company

The subject of the study is the role of effective communications and the mechanism of meaning emergence in the collective mind of a complex commercial social and technical system. We have synthesized the provisions of traditionally studied separately spheres of knowledge such as the communication theory, collective intelligence, corporate culture management, and motivation theory in the context of digital transformation of companies. The analysis of these concepts together provides a deeper understanding of the knowledge acquisition processes necessary to improve digital transformation effectiveness. The paper formulates the effective communication management principles that contribute to tacit knowledge identification and its successful formalization. We have proposed a distinction of related terms such as data, information, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and vision. The applied nature of the study is to deepen the understanding of the mechanism of innovative ideas emergence and to propose measures to minimize the risks of managing the communication system in organizations. The following approaches have been considered: values management, emotional intelligence development, decision-making routes and motivation mechanisms personalization, communication formats specification. The article may be useful for researchers whose interests include innovative trends in management, entrepreneurial activity development and enterprises digitalization effectiveness. The study results may be useful for managerial practitioners who develop and implement strategies for enterprises innovative development.

Studying time-resolved functional connectivity via communication theory: on the complementary nature of phase synchronization and sliding window Pearson correlation.

Time-resolved functional connectivity (trFC) assesses the time-resolved coupling between brain regions using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. This study aims to compare two techniques used to estimate trFC, to investigate their similarities and differences when applied to fMRI data. These techniques are the sliding window Pearson correlation (SWPC), an amplitude-based approach, and phase synchronization (PS), a phase-based technique. To accomplish our objective, we used resting-state fMRI data from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) with 827 subjects (repetition time: 0.7s) and the Function Biomedical Informatics Research Network (fBIRN) with 311 subjects (repetition time: 2s), which included 151 schizophrenia patients and 160 controls. Our simulations reveal distinct strengths in two connectivity methods: SWPC captures high-magnitude, low-frequency connectivity, while PS detects low-magnitude, high-frequency connectivity. Stronger correlations between SWPC and PS align with pronounced fMRI oscillations. For fMRI data, higher correlations between SWPC and PS occur with matched frequencies and smaller SWPC window sizes (~30s), but larger windows (~88s) sacrifice clinically relevant information. Both methods identify a schizophrenia-associated brain network state but show different patterns: SWPC highlights low anti-correlations between visual, subcortical, auditory, and sensory-motor networks, while PS shows reduced positive synchronization among these networks. In sum, our findings underscore the complementary nature of SWPC and PS, elucidating their respective strengths and limitations without implying the superiority of one over the other.

Multiple Goals Theory and Communication Quality Analysis for Fellows Communication Training.

End-of-life communication skills are vital to high-quality critical care. Patients and families often report deficiencies in end-of-life communication by providers. However, formalized training is difficult to implement and study on a large scale. Furthermore, curricula are often designed with early-stage clinical trainees in mind and are not tailored to advanced clinician learners. The goal of this pilot study was to explore educational and practical implications of using Multiple Goals Theory (MGT), Communication Quality Analysis (CQA), and communication logs as a three-pronged, reflective communication curriculum for advanced trainees. We describe design and qualitative evaluation of a novel, pilot, longitudinal curricular intervention for pulmonary and critical care fellows and program directors at a tertiary academic medical center. The 2-year longitudinal communication curriculum incorporates 1) a theoretical framework from communication science (MGT), with 2) a novel training modality of analyzing audio-recorded intensive care unit family meetings (CQA), and 3) written communication logs after an intensive care unit family meeting. The sample included 13 pulmonary and critical care medicine fellows and two program directors. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted on seven fellow interviews and on 23 communication logs completed. Four themes emerged from interviews: 1) fellows incorporated the skills into real-life practice and found the curriculum useful and valuable; 2) a key takeaway from MGT was the deemphasis of task goals; 3) CQA was an engaging opportunity for self-reflection and learning; and 4) written communication logs were perceived as helpful in theory but too burdensome in practice. Findings from analyses of the communication logs included that most fellows' writing was brief and without substantial reflection. Many scholars have argued that communication theory can impact practice, but few have recognized the potential of theory and methods, such as MGT and CQA, as educational tools. Our findings demonstrate that MGT is a feasible and useful theoretical framework for improving communication skills among advanced trainees, and CQA fosters meaningful self-reflection about practice. Communication logs were not feasible or useful training tools in this context, but CQA workshops helped fulfill the goals of narrative reflection. Next steps are to implement this curriculum in more programs and measure changes in behavior acquisition and clinical care.

Distance education and parents’ mental health: the role of resilience, parent-child communication and relationships

According to a UNESCO survey, 173 countries had closed schools and other educational facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. As online distance learning became a new normal in disruptive times, researchers began to examine its psychological impact on parents and children. Drawing on Buzzanell’s (2010, 2018) communication theory of resilience, this study examined the relationships between Chinese parents’ resilience, their attitudes toward distance learning, parent-child communication and relationship, and psychological wellbeing. Participants were 101 Chinese parents who had children that did distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings showed that parents’ resilience and attitudes toward distance learning had a positive, indirect effect on their psychological wellbeing through the mediation of parent-child communication and relationships. The study provides empirical support for the CTR theory as a fruitful lens for explaining family communication patterns and relationships, as well as psychological wellbeing during disruptive times. The study yielded important practical insights into how individuals can cope with the negative impact brought forth by unexpected and destructive events.

Human–AI communication in initial encounters: How AI agency affects trust, liking, and chat quality evaluation

Artificial intelligence (AI) agency plays an important role in shaping humans’ perceptions and evaluations of AI. This study seeks to conceptually differentiate AI agency from human agency and examine how AI’s agency manifested on source and language dimensions may be associated with humans’ perceptions of AI. A 2 (AI’s source autonomy: autonomous vs human-assisted) × 2 (AI’s language subjectivity: subjective vs objective) × 2 (topics: traveling vs reading) factorial design was adopted ( N = 376). The results showed autonomous AI was rated as more trustworthy, and AI using subjective language was rated as more trustworthy and likable. Autonomous AI using subjective language was rated as the most trustworthy, likable, and of the best quality. Participants’ AI literacy moderated the interaction effect of source autonomy and language subjectivity on human trust and chat quality evaluation. Results were discussed in terms of human–AI communication theories and the design and development of AI chatbots.

Social media communication and public engagement in different health crisis stages: The framing of COVID-19 in Chinese official media

Effective government social media communication plays a crucial role in mitigating public panic amid various public health crises, such as the H1N1 pandemic, the Ebola epidemic, the Zika epidemic, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A research gap exists in investigating government official social media communication strategies and effects on public engagement at specific COVID-19 crisis stages. This study examines the COVID-19 communication strategies the Chinese government used and the corresponding effects on public engagement at different COVID-19 crisis stages on social media. The Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Model, Framing Theory, and Situational Crisis Communication Theory are combined to develop a conceptual framework. Content analysis and coding were performed on two dimensions: health content theme (four sub-dimensions) and transparent communication style (three sub-dimensions). Public engagement was measured by the number of shares, comments, and likes. The results indicate a strong need for disease prevention information at the initial event/maintenance and resolution stages, while reassurance and government actions are highly valued at the resolution stage. Interactive features promote public engagement in key crisis stages.

Participatory Communication Model Based on Local Wisdom in Ecotourism of West Detusoko Village

Sustainable ecotourism development needs participation, participatory communication, and local wisdom. A participatory communication strategy needs to be implemented so that the community is willing to accept the policy and get involved in developing and maintaining these tourist destinations. Communication must be dialogical and symmetrical, and decision-making must be participatory by considering local wisdom. This study uses participatory communication theory. The study uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. Data collection uses literature studies, in-depth interviews, and FGDs. Informants in the study were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The research findings show that participatory communication in ecotourism planning and development includes Dialogue, Heteroglossia, Polyphony, and Carnival. Meanwhile, the model of community participation is empowered participation. Ecotourism based on local wisdom can increase community participation and build participatory communication. Optimizing ecotourism based on local wisdom can help increase people's income and maintain nature conservation and cultural preservation.

Information and Communication Theories in the Face of the Risks of 1948 to 2024

The objective of the present study was to review the literature with respect to information and communication theory. An exploratory and retrospective documentary study was conducted with a sample of sources indexed in indexed repositories. The results show the prevalence of five reactive dimensions to information, communication, opinion, meme and networks. In relation to the state of the art which highlights the importance of disaster risk communication, this paper highlights the importance of the literature review in order to model the relationships between the hegemonic categories. This paper highlights the importance of professional, academic and labor training based on the review of theories in the period from 1948 to 2024.

Artificial intelligence-driven virtual patients for communication skill development in healthcare students:

This study presents a scoping review of research on artificial intelligence (AI)- driven virtual patients (VPs) for communication skills training of healthcare students. We aimed to establish what is known about these emergent learning tools, to characterise their design and implementation into training programmes. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews framework was consulted. Searches occurred in six online databases to capture relevant articles from 2014 to 2024. Eight articles from five disciplines met inclusion criteria. A variety of design approaches, creation tools and VP appearances exist. Educational considerations such as consultation of educational theory, curricular integration and provision of feedback was overall lacking. Neutral to positive evaluations of satisfaction and acceptance of the VPs were provided by most students. Emerging literature suggests AI-driven VPs are increasingly being utilised for communication skills training, although their effectiveness is not established. Careful consideration of technological design features, educational theory and evidence regarding communication skill development should occur by clinical educators wishing to include AI-driven VPs in their training programmes. Further empirical research involving key stakeholders is needed to learn more about this technology. Implications for practice or policy: Students may find benefit from having opportunities to use AI-driven VPs for communication skill development. Developers could avoid some criticisms of AI-driven VPs by carefully addressing technical issues Educators should consult evidence on educational and communication theories when utilising AI-driven VPs. Researchers should consider increasing the involvement of key stakeholders in the design and evaluation of communication skill focused AI-driven VPs.

The Utilization of Vindes Social Media as a Visual Communication Case Study of Vindes Sport Content

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the use of social media in Indonesia and the world. Vindes Media is a digital platform that seeks to provide informative and entertaining content, providing space for the young generation to empower their aspirations, collaborate with each other, and contribute to the creative, sports and arts industries. This research aims to provide insight into effective communication with audiences interested in the world of sports. This research uses qualitative methods by utilizing Harold D. Lasswell's communication theory which describes communication through the question "Who Says What in Which Channel to Whom with What Effect". The expected output of this research is to contribute to academic understanding regarding the effectiveness and impact of using Vindes Media social media in the context of visual communication in the field of sports. Vindes presents interesting visual communication content so that many audiences are engaged and loyal. The conclusion of this research is that Vindes in its social media provides a means of visual communication for the Vindes Sport campaign through various types of visual communication, especially infographics, photography and visual videos. The visual communication content presented was also very interesting and in accordance with the event theme. The implication of this research is that Vindes' frequency of posting visual communication content is also quite large, around four posts every day. So, these few factors lead to great engagement and interaction with the audience

Social Communication in Maintaining Religious Tolerance Juntikebon Village Government, Juntinyuat Subdistrict

This research aims to investigate the social communication conducted by the Juntikebon Village Government in Juntinyuat Sub-District in Maintaining Religious Tolerance. The research utilizes a descriptive qualitative research method, employing data collection techniques such as observation and interviews. The data excavation in this research utilizes interview techniques, with the interviewed parties including, Secretary of Juntikebon Village and Head of Juntikebon Village. The theories employed in data excavation are social communication theory and tolerance theory. Based on the research findings, the social communication conducted by the Juntikebon Village government in implementing the value of religious tolerance shows that there is social communication established between the community and the government. It can be concluded that the social communication of the Juntikebon Village government in Maintaining Harmony of Religious Tolerance in Juntikebon Village, Juntinyuat Sub-District, becomes one of the significant values for community life, contributing to building the village regardless of social strata or religion, as religion is the right and obligation of every individual. Hence, there is no business for the government, as stated in the 1945 Constitution and Pancasila. Thus, the village community and the government do not discriminate between Islam and Christianity.

“Tear down this wall”. A theory of strategic communication that integrates both communication and organizational theory

PurposeThe term strategic communication has become firmly established in recent years. The emergence of the term was associated with the hope of finding a more fitting description for overlapping communication processes, since existing approaches can hardly fulfill these expectations. To date, the research has been dominated by communication-focused and, in particular, organization-focused approaches that show little interest in the alternative perspective. An integrating perspective can overcome the wall that exists between the communication level and the organizational level.Design/methodology/approachThe integrating communication and organizational theory framework is developed on the basis of Niklas Luhmann’s “Theory of Social Systems” (TSS), which can be attributed to the “Communication Constitutes Organization” (CCO) perspective. This perspective seems appropriate because its communication theory integrates the sender and addressee perspectives, and its extended organization theory can be used to describe in detail the organizational structures of strategic communication.FindingsThe communication theoretical framework states that one of the functions of strategic communication is to reduce complexity to a single follow-up option. From the sender’s perspective, strategic communication can be defined as an attempt to encourage acceptance of a follow-up option proposed out of self-interest. The organizational theory framework that both builds on this and is linked to it first shows the diversity of strategic organizational communications before explaining their formal and informal structures.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to offer a comprehensive framework that integrates concrete strategic communication activities as well as the (in)formal organizational structures that lead to their emergence. On the one hand, this enables a more differentiated description of all relevant aspects of communication theory (e.g. tonality, clarity vs. ambiguity and technical dissemination medium). On the other, the organizational theoretical framework offers a systematization that can be used to describe various formal and informal structures comparatively. Above all, this kind of inclusive, integrating framework is the prerequisite for research that relates the diverse concrete strategic communication activities to an organization’s formal and informal rules and thus understands them as (primarily) the result of organizational decisions.

Peranan Komunikasi Dalam Sistem Sosial : Analisis Teori Niklas Lukman

The theory of communication as autopoiesis proposed by Niklas Luhmann offers a revolutionary perspective in understanding communication in social systems. Luhmann argues that communication is not just a tool for exchanging information, but is an independent process and has autonomous mechanisms to maintain and reproduce itself. This theory combines the concept of autopoiesis which originally came from biology, where a system can produce and maintain its own components through internal interactions. In Luhmann's theory, communication is seen as a basic element of a social system that has the ability to create and reproduce social structures through processes communication itself. Luhmann emphasized that communication occurs through three main elements: information, message, and understanding. This process not only transmits information, but also shapes and constructs social reality. Communication in Luhmann's view is a selective process that involves selecting the information to be communicated, the way the information is conveyed, and how the information is understood by the recipient. Apart from that, the theory of communication as autopoiesis is relevant in the context of modern communication which is increasingly complex and fragmented. In the digital era, where information spreads rapidly and in large quantities, understanding communication as an autopoietic process helps us understand how information is processed, selected, and internalized in social systems. It also helps in understanding the challenges and opportunities that have arisen from developments in communication technologies, such as social media and the internet, which have changed the way we communicate and interact with each other. Overall, Niklas Luhmann's theory of communication as autopoiesis provides a powerful theoretical framework for understanding communication as an independent and dynamic process in social systems. This theory not only provides insight into how communication functions in a social context, but also offers analytical tools for exploring the complexity and dynamics of communication in modern society. By understanding communication through the lens of autopoiesis, we can better capture the essence of the communication process and how it shapes our social reality.

Artistic Resistance and Resilience in Sank, or the Patience of the Dead, by Aristide Tarnagda

Abstract Burkina Faso has faced a security crisis unlike any other in its history for the past eight years. The government has lost control of up to 35 % of the national territory, and there are as many as two million internally displaced persons living in the big cities. The emblematic figure of Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso’s president from 1984 to 1987, has soared beyond the local image of the “upright man” (the ideal to which the very name “Burkina Faso” refers) to that of a globally recognised icon of resistance against imperialism. Theatre artists are inspired to create theatrical performances that “represent” (or “face up”) this great figure, as the recent edition of the Ouagadougou-based biannual theatre festival called Les Récréâtrales invited them to do. This paper emphasises theatre’s contribution to efforts of artistic resilience and resistance in Burkina Faso. It addresses the question: How do Burkinabè artists produce acts of artistic resilience through performance? In other words, does the staging proposed by the Burkinabè playwright Aristide Tarnagda carry the seeds of hope for a Burkina Faso entirely liberated from terrorism? The theory of communication developed by J.L. Austin in How to Do Things With Words (1962) and Anne Ubersfeld’s (1982) semiotic analysis theory provide the key critical concepts of this study.

Applying the right remedy? Crisis management reporting on different destination resilience under the internal crisis events

ABSTRACT Research on precise crisis management reporting strategies for destinations with different levels of resilience remains insufficient. Therefore, based on situational crisis communication theory (SCCT), this study analyses the interaction effects of crisis management reporting and perceived destination resilience on the maintenance of destination-tourist relationship quality by conducting three scenario-based experiments. The results indicate that, among destinations facing internal crises, matching constructive crisis management reporting with high perceived destination resilience and matching nonconstructive crisis management reporting with low perceived destination resilience can maintain destination-tourist relationship quality more effectively. Moreover, destination trust and perceived responsiveness play mediating roles in this process. The study reveals the influencing factors and process mechanisms associated with the process of maintaining destination-tourist relationship quality under the impact of internal crises, thereby expanding the theoretical framework for and content of destination crisis communication research and providing practical guidance for tourism crisis response and management.

“The burden is upon your shoulders to feed and take care of your children, not religion or culture”: qualitative evaluation of participatory community dialogues to promote family planning’s holistic benefits and reshape community norms on family success in rural Uganda

BackgroundFamily planning has significant health and social benefits, but in settings like Uganda, is underutilized due to prevalent community and religious norms promoting large family size and gender inequity. Family Health = Family Wealth (FH = FW) is a multi-level, community-based intervention that used community dialogues grounded in Campbell and Cornish’s social psychological theory of transformative communication to reshape individual endorsement of community norms that negatively affect gender equitable reproductive decision-making among couples in rural Uganda.MethodsThis study aimed to qualitatively evaluate the effect of FH = FW’s community dialogue approach on participants’ personal endorsement of community norms counter to family planning acceptance and gender equity. A pilot quasi-experimental controlled trial was implemented in 2021. This paper uses qualitative, post-intervention data collected from intervention arm participants (N = 70) at two time points: 3 weeks post-intervention (in-depth interviews, n = 64) and after 10-months follow-up (focus group discussions [n = 39] or semi-structured interviews [n = 27]). Data were analyzed through thematic analysis.ResultsThe community dialogue approach helped couples to reassess community beliefs that reinforce gender inequity and disapproval of family planning. FH = FW’s inclusion of economic and relationship content served as key entry points for couples to discuss family planning. Results are presented in five central themes: (1) Community family size expectations were reconsidered through discussions on economic factors; (2) Showcasing how relationship health and gender equity are central to economic health influenced men’s acceptance of gender equity; (3) Linking relationship health and family planning helped increase positive attitudes towards family planning and the perceived importance of shared household decision-making to family wellness; (4) Program elements to strengthen relationship skills helped to translate gender equitable attitudes into changes in relationship dynamics and to facilitate equitable family planning communication; (5) FH = FW participation increased couples’ collective family planning (and overall health) decision-making and uptake of contraceptive methods.ConclusionCommunity dialogues may be an effective intervention approach to change individual endorsement of widespread community norms that reduce family planning acceptance. Future work should continue to explore innovative ways to use this approach to increase gender equitable reproductive decision-making among couples in settings where gender, religious, and community norms limit reproductive autonomy. Future evaluations of this work should aim to examine change in norms at the community-level.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov (NCT04262882).

Fugitive publics: sex, sexuality, and science communication

This article attends to the absences and silences of sexual identity and knowledge in science communication scholarship. It locates identitarian debates within this scholarship and utilises queer theory to encourage a shift towards a post-identitarian approach to conceptualising sex (as a social act) in science communication. In this way, this article advocates for a queer science communication that critically examines normative identities, practices, institutions, and policies, and makes room for subjugated knowledges within science communication theory and practice.