Two-Level Perspective on Technology: Effects, Framing, and Communication - Prof. S. Stewar, Study notes of Communication

Download Two-Level Perspective on Technology: Effects, Framing, and Communication - Prof. S. Stewar and more Study notes Communication in PDF only on Docsity! COMM 4325: Exam 1 Study Guide For all questions, you should be able to explain concepts in your own words (not memorized definitions) AND be able to offer examples from your own experience (not covered in class.). All questions are SHORT essay. Two level perspective on technology 1. Explain the differences between deviation and amplification. a. Deviation from an old technology can amplify changes b. Small change can make big change c. Changes in a “technology” can cause changes in the system 2. Explain the differences between first and second level effects of technology adoptions. a. 1st level effects are the effects technology adoption has on a products productivity and efficiency i. Efficiency effects- cost displacement and value added b. 2nd level effects are unforeseen possible social outcomes of technology adoption i. New uses of technology ii. New ways of working and living iii. New skills iv. New ways of thinking Information/Communication 1. Explain how humans create information or meaning by a process of framing a. Frame- what you know to make sense of the cue b. Frames come from schemata (organized sets of perceptions) i. Attributions and explanations of past events ii. Initial frame of reference for selecting and organizing experiences c. Humans put past experiences/events into their schemata and when a word, smell, facial expression, tone of voice, or phrase reoccurs, we use those past experiences/events to determine the next possible step 2. Discriminate information from communication. Communication is the sense you make from information 3. Explain the difference between data, information, and knowledge. a. Data: stimuli (the part of the world you are attending to) b. Information: the sense you make of the data; your interpretation i. Information is specific to particular events and data c. Knowledge: the sense you make of the information; generalizable information i. General, abstract ii. Labels and explanations for what is going on 4. Explain the differences between social perceptions and object perception a. Social perceptions: perceptions of self, other, and the relationship between self and other i. Student-teacher relationships and relationships with others in class b. Object perceptions: perceptions about everything else i. What we’re doing, how we’re doing it, why we’re doing it Diffusion of innovations 1. Explain the five stages in the innovation process. Knowledge- What have I learned about the innovation Persuasion- What are my attitudes Decision- should I adopt Implementation- How do I use it Confirmation- did I make the right decision 2. Explain the five perceived attributes of technologies/innovations. Relative advantage- Compatibility and familiarity Complexity Trialability Observability 3. Explain reinvention Reinvention is where you use a new innovation for something other than what it was intended. 4. Explain the influence of mass communication and interpersonal communication on the diffusion process. In the knowledge Stage: Mass communication is more important that interpersonal communication in the diffusion process. (Advertising/information) In the persuasion Stage: Interpersonal communication is more important that mass communication 5. Explain the difference between change agents and opinion leaders. Change agents- are different and competent (Dorks) Opinion Leaders- similar and trusted (friends) 6. Identify the five categories of adopters and recognize at least one characteristic of each. Innovators- venturesome; open to new ideas, change agents, educated Early adopters- respect; part of the local system, opinion leaders, reduce uncertainty Early majority- deliberate; adopt just before average people of any system Late Majority- skeptical; may have relatively scarce resources Laggards- traditional; stuck in the past, suspicious 7. You should be able to relate the Diffusion article to the Murray article. Theories of mediated communication 8. Explain the central argument posed by media richness theory. It “focuses on the choices a communicator must make about the proper channel for disseminating particular messages; recognizes that as new communication technologies develop, the decision about the best way to send a message becomes more complex.”  CMC- Any human symbolic text based interaction conducted or facilitated through digitally based technologies.  Actual People engaged in a process of message interchange in which the medium of exchange at some point is computerized. o What different in CMC?  Cannot see people  Messages are created and edited before sent (not generally true in FTF interactions)  Personal space/ physical contact is eliminated  New and undefined situation o Text only o Ephemeral: lack of tangible artifact (objects)  Tools for self presentation and expression are different o Enhanced communication process o Presentation can be personalized  Due to lack of social/nonverbal feedback cues in CMC people may show more dis-inhibited behavior  People don’t recognize others as “individuals” because they do not see them  Motives o Social- relationship development o Object- buying things o Mixed- relaxation/etc.  Energizing component  Negative- might say no that will not move me toward that technology  Positive- comfortable, involved, willing to try technology  CMC motivation- ratio of approach to avoidance attitudes, beliefs, and values in a given CMC context.  Competence is defined as the degree to which one can perform in a manner that achieves a standard. o Communication competence  Effective  Appropriate  Ethical  Having the motivation, knowledge and skill to perform those behaviors.  Knowledge o Relfleted in constructs such as  Planning, uncertainty reduction  Familiarity, expertise, comprehension  May be compartmentalized  Cognitive comprehension of content and procedural processes involved in conduction appropriate and effective interaction in the CMC. 3.) Discuss the cues and information that guide our behavior in social situations and how these may be different in CMC. SEE ABOVE 4.) Recognize and discuss the four basic skill clusters used in effective CMC  Attentiveness o Displaying concern for, interest in and attention to the others in the interaction  To what degree are the topics brought up by others taken up in one’s own content?  Appropriate use of questions and social support  Sophistication of message content  Politeness and appropriateness of message content  Composure o Displaying assertiveness, confidence, being in control  Avoiding cues of uncertainty/qualifiers  Use of directives and compliance gaining tactics  Topic initiations  Coordination o Management of timing, initiation and closure of a conversation, topic management  Management of the number and length of messages  Rapidity of response  Content and task relevance of responses  Expressiveness o Displaying vividness and animation in verbal and nonverbal expression  Emoticons, paralinguistics, humor  Breadth, depth, and self disclosure  Based on context of the comm. There will be variation based on o Cultural-  Can’t tell man vs woman o Chronological  Different time commitments  Grandmothers, brothers, me…all different skill levels depending on how much time they spend on the internet o Relational  Just like in face to face o Environmental  Deals with features of the medium  What can the medium support o Functional factors  What are you doing?  What are the goals of your communication? 5.) Discuss the significance of the feedback loop on motivation  As competence outcomes are experienced, motivation and knowledge change. o Attitudes (more or less anxiety) o Understanding 6.) Compare mindlessness and mindfulness  Mindlessness o Failure to attend to, evaluate and utilize new information in a communication episode to guide communication o New information can come from  Medium  Message  Interaction o Overreliance of existing categories o Premature cognitive commitment  Assumption about what/how things are going to be  Mindfulness o Acknowledging the unique nature of each communication episode o Actively considering the uniqueness when making comm. Decisions o Analysis of routines  Change when needed 7.) Compare the CMC and MCC models. See slides