Communication Textbooks Research Articles

Understanding Criteria Development: A Rationale and Method for Instruction

One of the most neglected topics in Technical Communication textbooks and professional articles is the concept of criteria development. Most approaches to teaching criteria development tend to be prescriptive, overly superficial, and, at times, confusing and misleading. One can develop criteria for evaluating the relative merits of potential solutions to problems only after a thorough problem analysis. Criteria themselves derive from two sources: assumptions drawn from the conditions of the problem itself and external constraints that create additional barriers to problem solutions. This article provides a rationale for emphasizing methods of teaching criteria development and describes a heuristic for identifying relevant criteria. Such an approach also addresses national concerns that we develop teaching methods that allow students to think logically, systematically, and analytically.

Process vs. Product in Freshman Composition and Business Communication Textbooks and in Our Teaching

Process vs. Product in Freshman Composition and Business Communication Textbooks and in Our Teaching

The Theoretical Bases of Persuasion: A Critical Introduction

Most business communication textbooks limit their treatments of persuasion to the classical rhetorical model, motive-goal theories, and psychological organizational structures. Suggesting the need to integrate contemporary persuasion theory into the business communication literature, the author synthesizes a wide range of persuasion theories and relevant research using four theoretical approaches: learning theory, consistency theory, perceptual theory, and functional theory. Where appropriate, the author suggests practical implications of these theories to business communication.

Sexist language and speech communication texts: Another case of benign neglect

A systematic examination of fifty‐five communication textbooks published since 1980 reveals a noticeable lack of interest in sexist language. Potential explanations for the finding are explored.

A Comparative Analysis of Topics Covered in Twenty College-Level Communication Textbooks

A Comparative Analysis of Topics Covered in Twenty College-Level Communication Textbooks

Readability of Business Communication Textbooks-An Empirical Study

Relatively few studies have been conducted to determine the readability of business-related textbooks. This article reports the results of a survey of twelve recently published textbooks in business communication to deter mine the level of readability of those textbooks. The survey shows that, using the Flesch Reading Ease Score, important differences do exist in readability among business communication texts. The majority of the texts surveyed were found to be within or below the lower end of the undergraduate level reading range.

Humor in communication textbooks

A systematic content analysis revealed that humor is frequently employed in contemporary communication textbooks. Substantial differences were found in the amount and type of humor employed in speech, interpersonal, and mass communication texts: The bulk of the humor was judged to be used to teach rather than to attract or entertain.

Conflicting views of conflict an analysis of basic speech communication textbooks

This article reports the analysis of thirty‐eight textbooks intended for the basic undergraduate speech communication course and published since 1970. The analysis focuses on how and to what extent communication in conflict is treated in these textbooks. Four categories reflecting differences in approaches to communication in conflict as well as in extensiveness of treatment are identified. The approaches discovered are contrasted with the orientations suggested by recent books and articles on the subject of communication in conflict by speech communication scholars.

Programmed textbooks in communication.

Journal Article Programmed Textbooks in Communication Get access Thomas R. King Thomas R. King 1Florida State University Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Journal of Communication, Volume 17, Issue 1, March 1967, Pages 55–62, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1967.tb01162.x Published: 07 February 2006