Question 1

Jessica's best friend forgot her birthday. She wants to share how disappointed she feels but doesn't want to start a fight, so she is struggling to choose the best words. Before she can send her message, Jessica needs to complete the process of ______.

Accepted Answer

Encoding refers to the process of translating thoughts, ideas, and feelings into a message that can be understood by others. In this scenario, Jessica needs to choose the right words to express her disappointment without starting a fight. Therefore, she is still in the process of encoding her message before sending it to her friend.

Question 2

While Kyle is listening to his friend Pete talk about his recent mountain biking adventure, he becomes distracted by a new text message on his phone. Kyle's shift in attention has interrupted the process of ______ his friend's message.

Accepted Answer

Kyle's shift in attention has interrupted the process of decoding his friend's message, which means interpreting or understanding the message being communicated.

Question 3

Which of the following is the means by which a message is conveyed from one person to another?

Accepted Answer

The channel is the means by which a message is conveyed from one person to another.

Question 4

When he's at home, Benjamin continuously monitors his favorite social media platform on his smartphone. When he attends classes on his college campus, Benjamin changes his behavior and puts his phone away. He is adapting to the ______.

Accepted Answer

Benjamin is adapting to the context of his environment, where the norms and expectations are different from those within his home environment. The context refers to the physical, social, and psychological environment in which communication occurs, and it can greatly influence communication behavior.

Question 5

Which of the following is a form of physical noise?

Accepted Answer

The whir of a ceiling fan is a form of physical noise because it is a sound that interferes with communication. A and D are forms of psychological noise because they are internal mental states that can inhibit effective communication. C is not a form of noise as it is the intended message being communicated by the professor.

Question 6

Miles skipped breakfast this morning. Now he is hungry and having trouble listening to his professor giving instructions for a major class project. Miles is experiencing ______ noise.

Accepted Answer

Physiological noise refers to internal bodily factors that affect communication, such as hunger or fatigue. In this case, Miles' hunger is causing physiological noise that is interfering with his ability to listen effectively.

Question 7

The first day at a new job, Caitlin's supervisor gives her instructions about a task using a word she has never heard before. Caitlin is confused about what to do because her supervisor's message includes ______ noise.

Accepted Answer

Semantic noise refers to barriers in communication caused by differences in the meaning of words or symbols used by the sender and receiver. In this scenario, Caitlin is confused because she doesn't understand the meaning of the word used by her supervisor.

Question 8

Unlike physical noise, semantic noise ______.

Accepted Answer

Semantic noise is a type of communication barrier that occurs when the receiver does not understand the meaning of the message. It involves factors such as language barriers, jargon, cultural differences, and misunderstandings. Unlike physical noise, which is an external distraction that can interfere with the transmission of the message, semantic noise is a part of the message itself that needs to be decoded by the receiver. It is not determined solely by the sender and can happen in any language or cultural context. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Question 9

On the way to attend class, Juan notices an unfamiliar rattling sound in his car's engine. Once in class, Juan spends his time worrying whether he will be able to drive home and finds it difficult to listen. Juan is experiencing ______ noise.

Accepted Answer

Juan is not being impacted by any external physical or physiological noise that would impede his ability to hear the lecture. Rather, the rattling sound in his engine is affecting him psychologically, causing worry and distraction during class.

Question 10

______ noise is often present in the words that bullies choose to demean and intimidate other people.

Accepted Answer

Semantic noise refers to a distortion in the encoding and decoding of the meaning of words used in communication. This can occur when the words used by a bully to attack and intimidate are chosen deliberately to cause confusion or to have different meanings for the victim than for the bully themselves. This type of noise can make it difficult for the victim to understand the true intentions or message being conveyed, and therefore, further contribute to the harm caused by the bullying.

Question 11

One-way messaging is also called ______.

Accepted Answer

One-way messaging means that information is only flowing in one direction, from the sender to the receiver. Unidirectional is the term used to describe this type of communication. A is incorrect because transactional implies a two-way exchange of information. C is incorrect because omnidirectional refers to information being able to flow in all directions. D is incorrect because interactive implies a back-and-forth conversation between the sender and receiver.

Question 12

One of the main differences between the linear model and the transactional model of communication is ______.

Accepted Answer

The linear model depicts communication as a one-way process where a sender transmits a message to a receiver, while the transactional model shows communication as a simultaneous and interactive process where both the sender and receiver are sending and receiving messages back and forth.

Question 13

Josh and Erin are both fine art majors who sit next to each other in their Drawing I class. When Josh asks Erin if she is free after class to go to the cafeteria for lunch, Erin nods and smiles. Erin is ______.

Accepted Answer

Erin is providing nonverbal feedback to Josh by nodding and smiling in response to his request for lunch.

Question 14

Gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice and eye contact are considered nonverbal because they ______.

Accepted Answer

Nonverbal communication does not use language to convey meaning, and includes gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, and eye contact.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of unintentional nonverbal communication?

Accepted Answer

Yawning is an example of unintentional nonverbal communication because it can happen automatically and without intention, possibly indicating boredom or tiredness. The other options are intentional nonverbal communication (covering your mouth when you cough to be polite, laughing to show appreciation, shaking hands as a greeting).

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of intentional nonverbal communication?

Accepted Answer

Giving a thumbs up signal is a deliberate and intentional nonverbal communication that conveys agreement, approval, or support. The other options listed are either involuntary/non-intentional (squinting due to sun glare or losing voice due to illness) or verbal communication (using filler words such as "ums" and "likes").

Question 17

Why do communication scholars say that nonverbal communication has "primacy?"

Accepted Answer

Communication scholars say that nonverbal communication has "primacy" because nonverbal messages are the first ones we pay attention to, even before we hear anything verbal.

Question 18

The theory that our prehistoric ancestors communicated first using nonverbal gestures is referred to as ______ primacy.

Accepted Answer

The theory of nonverbal primacy suggests that humans communicated using nonverbal gestures before they developed verbal language. This theory is rooted in the biological and evolutionary history of humans, making it a phylogenetic theory. Option B (ontogenetic) refers to how individuals develop and learn communication skills throughout their lifetime, which is not applicable to this theory. Option C (interactional) and D (transactional) refer to more contemporary theories of communication that focus on the dynamic nature of communication between individuals or groups.

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of ontogenetic primacy?

Accepted Answer

Ontogenetic primacy refers to behaviors and abilities that are present early in development and are critical for survival. A baby waking up and crying for their parents' attention is an example of ontogenetic primacy because it is an instinctual behavior that is necessary for the survival and well-being of the infant.

Question 20

When Ali meets Jamie at a friend's party, he immediately notices that she is about the same height and has similar facial features as his old girlfriend. That relationship did not end well. For the rest of the night Ali avoids Jamie, demonstrating the impact of ______ primacy.

Accepted Answer

Ali's behavior demonstrates interactional primacy, where his previous interactions and experiences with someone who looks similar to Jamie influence his current behavior and interactions with her.

Quiz 1: Nonverbal Communication Origins