Question 1

Which of the following statements about theory is true?

Accepted Answer

All three statements are true. A theory is indeed an organized set of statements that explains some phenomenon, and it is an abstract idea that is subject to rules of logic and organization.

Question 2

A theory consists of all of the following parts, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions are not typically considered a part of a theory itself; they are more about how concepts within a theory are measured or observed in practice.

Question 3

To help us understand how parents' disclosures about divorce influence their children's well-being, Dr. Afifi and her colleagues created a picture that describes different factors that influence parents' decisions to disclose. In other words, Dr. Afifi and her colleagues created:

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

Whereas a ________ is a group of people who share ideas about the communication process, a ________ is the set of ideas that they share.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Whereas a ________ is a group of...

Question 5

When theorists attempt to identify the reasons, motives, and interests that underlie behavior (i.e., how and why people act the way they do), their primary objective for developing theory is to provide:

Accepted Answer

The primary objective of developing theory when attempting to identify the reasons, motives, and interests that underlie behavior is to provide an explanation for the behavior in question. While description, understanding, prediction, and reform can all be important outcomes of developing theory, the primary goal is to explain the behavior in question.

Question 6

Relational dialectics theory was developed by Dr. Leslie A. Baxter, a communication professor at the University of Iowa. This fact is part of the theory's:

Accepted Answer

The intellectual tradition of a theory refers to the theoretical foundations on which it is based and the scholars who influenced its development. Knowing that relational dialectics theory was developed by Dr. Leslie Baxter at the University of Iowa provides insight into the theory's intellectual tradition.

Question 7

Uncertainty reduction theory states that as the amount of uncertainty increases, an individual's tendency to ask questions and seek information increases as well. This statement represents one example of a theory's:

Accepted Answer

The statement represents a claim made by the uncertainty reduction theory. The other options don't fit the given statement as well.

Question 8

Which of the following statements about a theory's concepts is true?

Accepted Answer

Concepts in a theory are indeed specific ideas with explicit definitions (A), and when these concepts are tested in research, they often become variables, which are measurable representations of those concepts (C). Scholars do not invent a new set of concepts for every unique event (B), making E the correct choice.

Question 9

In the post-positivist paradigm, the role of communication is:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the post-positivist paradigm, the role of...

Question 10

The branch of philosophy that is concerned with how we know what it is we know is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

The branch of philosophy that deals with knowledge, its limits, scope, and methods is called epistemology. Ontology is concerned with the nature of existence and reality, while axiology deals with value and ethics. Methodology is a general term for the study of methods used in research or investigation, and etymology is the study of the origin and evolution of words.

Question 11

All of the following statements are examples of claims, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Statement B is not a claim, but a definition of the term "divorce". The other statements are all claims that can be proven true or false.

Question 12

Which school of thought believes only in what can be directly observed or experienced with the senses?

Accepted Answer

Post-positivist scholars believe in the scientific method and only accept knowledge that can be empirically tested and observed. They reject subjective interpretations, personal beliefs, and value judgments, and aim for objectivity and neutrality in their research.

Question 13

Dr. Trethewey looked at how firefighters socially construct risks and hazards in ways that align closely with their preferred identities as professionals who want nothing more than to "get it on" with fire. She conducted her study within which of the following paradigms?

Accepted Answer

The interpretive paradigm focuses on understanding how individuals make sense of their experiences and construct meaning through their interactions with others. Dr. Trethewey's study of how firefighters construct risks and hazards through their professional identity aligns with the interpretive paradigm.

Question 14

When a communication theory seeks to understand the subjective experiences of others, it seeks to provide:

Accepted Answer

When a communication theory seeks to understand the subjective experiences of others, it aims to provide insight. This means that it seeks to provide a deeper understanding or awareness of these experiences, rather than just a description, prediction, control or reform.

Question 15

Which of the following purposes of communication theory draws our attention to the ways communication can change the social circumstances of the marginalized or less privileged?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of communication theory that draws our attention to the ways communication can change the social circumstances of the marginalized or less privileged is emancipation. Emancipation seeks to empower individuals and groups who have been oppressed or disadvantaged by societal structures or power dynamics. It focuses on the role communication plays in improving social justice and equality.

Question 16

_____ are what theories do for us, whereas _____ are what we do with theories.

Accepted Answer

The first blank refers to the broader overarching role or impact of theories, which is their general function. The second blank refers to the more specific actions or applications of theories, which are specific purposes. Therefore, the best option is B, where general functions correspond to theories and specific purposes correspond to what we do with them.

Question 17

Specific purposes of communication theory may include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

All of the other choices (A, B, D, and E) are specific purposes of communication theory, but organization is not typically considered a specific purpose. However, communication theory can certainly aid in organizing communication practices and understanding how communication functions within different organizations.

Question 18

After reading structuration theory, Dr. Schrodt and his colleagues applied concepts from the theory to examine how divorced parents negotiate their financial responsibilities and visitations with their children. This example best illustrates which general function of communication theory?

Accepted Answer

Research stimulation is illustrated here, as the application of structuration theory to a new context (divorced parents negotiating responsibilities) stimulates further investigation and research into how communication functions in specific scenarios.

Question 19

Communication Privacy Management theory helps us understand why sexually abused children tell some people about their abuse, and not others. In doing so, the theory seeks to provide:

Accepted Answer

Communication Privacy Management theory seeks to explain why sexually abused children choose to disclose their abuse to some people and not others based on their perceived control over the information and their relationships with the potential confidants.

Question 20

All of the following statements about interpretive scholars are true, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Interpretive scholars do not strive to maintain an objective, value-neutral position when studying social behavior. Instead, they acknowledge that their own perspectives and cultural backgrounds influence their interpretations. They believe that knowledge is subjective and constructed through communication and social interactions. Interpretive scholars recognize that their work is inherently value-laden and that they cannot completely detach themselves from their own biases and values. This contrasts with positivist scholars who aim for objectivity and seek to uncover universal laws through empirical observation and analysis.

Quiz 2: Conceptualizing Communication Theory