Question 1

When Phil said, "I need to talk to you about something that may upset you; let's talk in my office," he was using _______.

Accepted Answer

Phil was using feedforward to prepare his listener for a potentially upsetting conversation and to establish a suitable environment (his office) for the conversation to take place. Phatic communication is small talk used to establish rapport and not relevant to the situation described. Feedback is a response to communication that has already taken place and is not applicable in this context. The principle of cooperation is a general guideline for effective communication and not specific to this instance.

Question 2

Which of the following is a guideline for speaking with someone who has a speech or language disorder?

Accepted Answer

Asking for clarification allows for effective communication with someone who has a speech or language disorder. Finishing their sentences or appearing uninterested can be disrespectful and undermine their abilities. Saying "slow down" or "relax" may also come across as condescending.

Question 3

Staying on topic with what is relevant to the conversation follows the maxim of _______.

Accepted Answer

Staying on topic and relevant to the conversation aligns with the maxim of relation, which suggests that contributions to a conversation should be pertinent and directly related to the topic at hand.

Question 4

Frank dreads talking to Ryan because Ryan goes on and on and never lets Frank speak. Ryan is guilty of _______.

Accepted Answer

Monologic communication is a type of communication where only one person dominates the conversation and does not allow the other person to participate. Ryan's behavior of going on and on without giving Frank a chance to speak is an example of monologic communication.

Question 5

Raising your hand near your ear is an example of a back-channeling cue to _______.

Accepted Answer

Raising your hand near your ear is a non-verbal cue often used to pace the speaker, signaling them to continue or slow down.

Question 6

When being praised for his role in diffusing a crisis, the department leader shrugged off taking credit for his success by saying that his team's hard work had made all the difference. This is an example of the maxim of _______.

Accepted Answer

The department leader is downplaying his own role in diffusing the crisis, and instead giving credit to his team. This is an example of self-denigration, which is the maxim of modesty.

Question 7

Part of the maxim of ________ is using words that the listener will understand.

Accepted Answer

The maxim referred to in the prompt is the maxim of manner, which states that one should use clear and concise language that the listener will easily comprehend.

Question 8

To settle the crowd down and get down to business, Carl says, "Okay folks, let's get this meeting started." This is an example of _______.

Accepted Answer

Carl's statement is an example of feedforward, which is a message that helps to set expectations and establish guidelines for communication or behavior. In this case, Carl is using his statement to signal to the group that it's time to focus on business, and to encourage them to listen and participate in the meeting.

Question 9

When closing an email with NRN, this means _______.

Accepted Answer

NRN stands for "No Reply Necessary" indicating that the recipient of the email does not need to respond.

Question 10

If you tell someone he or she has a great smile, this is what type of feedback?

Accepted Answer

This is person-focused feedback as it is directed towards the individual's personal attribute (their smile) rather than their behavior or actions. It is also positive feedback, as it acknowledges and compliments something about the person.

Question 11

When Reggie told his instructor, "I need you to give me a makeup test," he was violating the maxim of _______.

Accepted Answer

Reggie's statement is not tactful as he is directly requesting a makeup test without any consideration of his instructor's schedule or workload.

Question 12

________ theory argues that the bandwidth of communication influences the degree to which the communication is personal or impersonal.

Accepted Answer

Social presence theory argues that the degree to which communication is personal or impersonal is influenced by the bandwidth of communication, meaning that the more cues and feedback that are available in the communication channel (e.g. face-to-face communication versus text-based communication), the more personal the communication is perceived to be.

Question 13

"Do you mind if I sit by you?" is an example of a(n) _______.

Accepted Answer

"Do you mind if I sit by you?" is an example of a relational reference because it pertains to the relationship or spatial arrangement between the speaker and the listener, specifically asking for permission to change their physical proximity.

Question 14

Good excuse makers _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Good excuse makers _______.
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Question 15

Indicating agreement, indicating involvement, pacing the speaker, and asking for clarification are functions of _______.

Accepted Answer

Indicating agreement, indicating involvement, pacing the speaker, and asking for clarification are all examples of back-channeling, which are non-verbal or verbal cues that show the listener is actively engaged in the conversation.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about the influences on self-disclosure is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

This is a true statement as research has shown that Americans tend to have a more open and direct communication style and are more likely to self-disclose than individuals from Japan and Germany. Cultural differences and values play a significant role in the willingness to share personal information.

Question 17

According to ________ theory, you can develop close relationships in both face-to-face and online contexts.

Accepted Answer

Social information processing theory suggests that individuals can develop close relationships in both face-to-face and online contexts by using various cues and information available through computer-mediated communication. This theory argues that individuals who engage in online communication have the capacity to compensate for the lack of social cues in computer-mediated communication by using alternative cues like language, tone of voice, and text-based communication. This allows individuals to develop close relationships even without physical interaction.

Question 18

Madison gets annoyed because her friend Susannah forwards to her every chain email that lands in her inbox. Madison needs to tell Susannah to stop violating the maxim of _______.

Accepted Answer

The maxim of quantity states that one should not provide more or less information than is necessary. Susannah's constant forwarding of chain emails violates this maxim as it inundates Madison's inbox with unnecessary information.

Question 19

Which of the following is TRUE in relation to interruptions?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that individuals in positions of power, including superiors and men, tend to interrupt those in less powerful positions, including inferiors and women. Option A is incorrect as studies have found that men actually interrupt more frequently than women. Option C is incorrect as back-channeling cues are non-interruptive feedback such as nodding, saying "mm-hmm," etc. Option D is not supported by research, as studies have found no significant difference in interruption rates between mothers and fathers.

Question 20

To directly point out that someone is wrong would violate the maxim of _______.

Accepted Answer

Directly pointing out that someone is wrong can potentially harm the relationship and create conflict, thus violating the maxim of preserving peaceful relations. Options A, B, and D are not relevant to the situation.

Quiz 8: Conversational Messages