MILLER CHAPTER SEVEN

Theories of Message Production

Adapted to:

COM 422Proseminar in Communication

School of CommunicationIllinois State University

BACKGROUND Encoding researchGoals research (ex: compliance-gaining)

Traits research (ex: comm apprehension)

Theories in this chapter move beyond this to consider explanations linking “what’s in the head” with “messages produced”

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF MESSAGE PRODUCTION (TABLE 7.1)

Speakers draw on vast stores of knowledge pursue a wide range of goals coordinate their own behavior with

that of interactional partners produce messages within time

constraints produce messages with little

conscious awareness

CONSTRUCTIVIST THEORY: BACKGROUND Developed by: Jesse Delia and colleaguesontology is largely social

constructionistepistemology :??

Emphasizes coding of open-ended responses from research participants

But is guided by theorySo constructivism is between objective and subjective (theory is link between knower and known)

THE CONSTRUCT SYSTEM

Construct system = an interpretive scheme for understanding the world (construct=opposites like tall-short)

Construct systems differ in Levels of differentiationOrganizationAbstraction

If a person has a construct system high in these qualities, he/she is cognitively complex

CONSTRUCT SYSTEMS ARE DOMAIN SPECIFIC

Domains can be cooking, cars, health, etc.

For constructivists, the most critical domain is the interpersonal construct system

Constructivists measure the complexity of the interpersonal construct system by using the Role Category Questionnaire (RCQ)

WHAT THE RCQ IS LIKE…

Write the initials of a friend on a blank piece of paper. Take 3 minutes to describe the friend in as much detail as possible.

Look at your answer in terms ofNumber of constructsLevel of abstractionOrganization of ideas

What are some possible underlying biases that this research might include?

PERSON-CENTERED COMMUNICATIONConstructivists consider messages

produced in terms of the extent to which they are person-centered.

Person-centered peopleAdapt to the needs of listeners (e.g.,

social support)Account for the situationAttend to multiple goals (e.g., conflict)

LINKING CONSTRUCTS AND MESSAGES

The link between what is in the head and messages produced is clear: People who are more cognitively complex will produce more person-centered messages

Why? The most promising suggests that cognitively complex individuals are better at attending to multiple goals in interactioni.e., instrumental and relational goals

MESSAGE DESIGN LOGICSDesigned by B.J. O’KeefeMain Point: Different ways of managing multiple goals in interaction (instrumental & face needs)

3 Message Design Logics: (Table 7.2) Expressive Design Logic Conventional Design Logic Rhetorical Design Logic

HOW MIGHT DESIGN LOGICS PLAY OUT IN AN ARGUMENT? CONVINCING CHILDREN?

CRITIQUE OF CONSTRUCTIVISM & DESIGN LOGICS

Metts: (not in Miller)Critiques note that these approaches

have not yet assessed the extent to which motivation mediates the effect of cognitive structures.

Just because someone is cognitively complex or capable of rhetorical design logic does not necessarily mean that he or she will use those abilities.

ACTION ASSEMBLY THEORY: BACKGROUND

Developed by John GreenePost-positivistic ontology of generative realismemphasizes the interaction of social,

physiological, and psychological components in the scientific explanation of human behavior

Epistemology is objectivist

STRUCTURES IN AAT: PROCEDURAL RECORD

The cognitive component in AAT

Part of an individual’s memory system

Contains information that links action, outcomes, and situations

Ex.: “If I yell at my roommate for being messy, she will refuse to cooperate.”Describe the procedural record for ordering at a restaurant

STRUCTURES IN AAT: OUTPUT REPRESENTATION

Behaviors produced from procedural

Output representations exist at four hierarchical levels(1) interactional representation(2) ideational representation(3) utterance representation(4) sensorimotor representation

PROCESSES IN AAT: ACTIVATION PROCESSES

Activation is the process by which particular procedural records are selected

Activation is a function of matches between the current situation and goals and information on the procedural record

Activation speed will depend on the strength of the procedural record (recency and frequency of activation)

PROCESSES IN AAT: ASSEMBLY PROCESSESOnce particular procedural records

are activated, they must be assembled into coherent behavioral representation

AAT sees assembly as a process of “coalition formation” of similar records. “momentary assemblages of activated

behavioral features that could be said to ‘fit’ together”

Process not always conscious, but takes timeSets of procedural records can be efficient

Preparing in advance

ACTION ASSEMBLY THEORY:EVIDENCE AND EXTENSION Tests of AAT have been based on the

tenet that “assembly takes time.” whether or not more complex message tasks

take more time.

There has been general support for AAT from these tests.

AAT has also been developed further to deal with conceptual and empirical concerns

THEORIES OF PLANNING AND GOALS:THE GOAL CONSTRUCTPrimary goals in interaction define

what a person is trying to accomplishSecondary goals are typically

concerned with relational issues in interactionIdentity goalsInteraction goalsRelational resource goalsPersonal resource goalsArousal management goals

BACK TO THE DATING SCENE…

What Primary and Secondary Goals might be active when asking for a date?

THE GOAL CONSTRUCT, CONT.

Can also consider “meta-goals”Efficiency (or effectiveness)

How to meet primary goals without wasting time or resources

AppropriatenessAvoid offending or casting bad image of self

Politeness theory and face theory

EFFECTIVENESS AND APPROPRIATENESS

How might effectiveness and appropriateness play out in correcting an employee (or grading a student’s speech)?

THEORIES OF PLANNING AND GOALS:PLANNING PROCESSES

Interaction plans provide the road map for achieving interaction goals

Plans are hierarchical and mental representations of goal-directed action sequences

The “hierarchy principle” suggests that when plans are thwarted, adjustments are made at low levels of plan abstraction

BERGER’S PLANNING THEORY AS A MODEL OF A SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION THEORY

Units/ConceptsPropositions/Laws of Interaction

System StatesBoundariesIN THE STUDY Operationalization variables

Hypotheses

OVERALL COMPARISON AND CRITIQUE

What are some ways in which the theories in this chapter are alike?

What are some comparative strengths and limitations, in terms of theory evaluation terms or conceptual strength, of the theories presented in this chapter?

How might knowing some of the theories in this chapter make you a better teacher/ friend / parent / worker/ social change agent/ etc.?