Communication Commons^™

Editorial Board

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Editor's Page, Lawrence W. Hugenberg

Basic Communication Course Annual

I am excited about this inaugural Basic Course Annual. The essays published in this volume are exciting and form a solid foundation upon which future editions will rest. There are a variety of essays included, some related to the history of the basic course, others offering insights into basic course pedagogy, and others discussing the administration of multisectioned basic communication courses.

Contents

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

The Basic Course In Speech Communication: An Historical Perspective, Pamela L. Gray

Basic Communication Course Annual

The purpose of this paper is to trace some of the changes that have taken place in the basic course in speech communication through the use of representative literature concerning the basic course.

In addition, a direction for the future, indicated by the literature, will be suggested. This paper should serve as both an historical perspective of this course and a summary of the changes that may have occurred as this course has responded to philosophical/ intellectual and/or pragmatic pressures.

What We Know About The Basic Course: What Has The Research Told Us?, William J. Seiler, Drew Mcgukin

Basic Communication Course Annual

Research in the basic speech communication course is vital to our understanding of what we know about it, how it is administered and taught. The paper examines theoretical as well as empirical literature relevant to the basic course. Our examination suggests that the literature is deplete of a consistent base of knowledge on which to design the basic course. The paper concludes by discussing a proposal for systematic research to help provide a foundation for teaching and administering the basic course.

A Comparison Between Psi-Based And Self-Contained Formats Of Instruction In The Introductory Speech Communication Course, Pamela L. Gray, Nancy L. Buerkel-Rothfuss, Richard W. Thomas

Basic Communication Course Annual

This study assesses differences between two instructional methods in a basic speech communication course: a modified Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) and a self contained format. Communication skills, communication apprehension, self-esteem, and academic achievement in, perceptions about, and satisfaction with the course are compared. Using t-tests to compare means and mean exchange scores, the PSI-based format was found to be more effective than the self-contained format. Comparing these data with an earlier study designed to compare the PSI-based format with more traditional lecture-recitation format, the self-contained approach appears to be a better alternative than the lecture-recitation for teaching the course, …

Using Plays And Novels As Case Studies In The Basic Course, Roger Smitter

Basic Communication Course Annual

Article presents a rationale for the use of case studies and the case study method in the undergraduate speech communication classroom. Examples are provided for using plays and novels. The advantages and disadvantages of using plays and novels as cases are presented.

A Unit On Relationship Termination For The Basic Course, Lynn A. Phelps

Basic Communication Course Annual

Basic interpersonal communication courses stress relationship development but seldom address the concept of relationship termination. If addressed, termination is often viewed from a negative perspective. Yet in today's mobile society, the concept that a person will continue to develop new relationships throughout their life without terminating any of their previous relationships is ludicrous at best. The purpose of this article is to suggest units on relationship termination which are appropriate for the basic communication course.

Teaching Ethics In The Basic Survey Speech Communication Course, William A. Haskins

Basic Communication Course Annual

The teaching of ethics in speech communication courses is not new to most communication curricula. Emphasis upon teaching ethics in speech communication courses, however, appears to be growing. Attention on the teaching of ethics appears to be growing as well as in many basic speech communication classes. This paper, then, provides general suggestions on teaching ethics in a basic speech communication course.

The Necessity Of Separating Idealized Accountability From Realized Accountability: A Case Study, Karen Greenberg

Basic Communication Course Annual

This essay presents the hidden distinction between the idealized accountability and the realized accountability of the basic communication course. It illuminates this difference as this difference is evidenced in the ethical dimension of the rhetoric of basic communication course instructors'manuals. Contrary to popular myth, the basic communication course does not aim to reinforce the importance of the creation and maintenance of students' or instructors' identities, but aims to reinforce the importance of the creation and maintenance of educational systems. That is, this course mystifies one type of social hierarchy rather than elucidating many.

Implications Of Student And Instructor Involvement In The Basic Course, Samuel P. Wallace, Don B. Morlan

Basic Communication Course Annual

The purpose of the study is to test the notion that students in the basic course who possess high levels of communication competence will perform better in and subsequently will be more satisfied with the course than their counterparts with low levels of competence. Results show no support for the initial hypothesis. Further analysis, however, showed that the level of instructor competence has a significant effect on student evaluation of instructors.

Training Or Teaching? A Professional Development Program For Graduate Teaching Assistants, Douglas M. Trank

Basic Communication Course Annual

Basic course directors are urged to consider the range of roles available to them in working with graduate teaching assistants. The key element in establishing an effective professional development program is the development of an appropriate atmosphere where the graduate instructors know they are viewed as valuable members of the faculty. Such a program must remain flexible enough to meet the needs of the graduate instructors and the department it serves. Treating graduate instructors as colleagues and involving them in the process, giving them power and freedom, and valuing the teaching they do benefits the students, the graduate instructors, the …

Author Identification

Basic Communication Course Annual

Biographical information about the authors and editors who contributed to this issue

Basic Communication Course Annual Vol. 1

Basic Communication Course Annual

Full issue (212 pages; 14.6 MB)

A Rating Of Doctoral Programs In Selected Areas Of Theatre: 1987--1988, Renee Edwards, Kittie Watson, Larry L. Barker

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article reports the results of a national survey evaluating perceived quality of doctoral programs in theatre. Members of two professional associations were asked to rate programs in areas including history and criticism, performance theory, production and performance, theatre for young audiences, dramatic literature, playwriting, and overall quality. The study also collected rankings of top programs and examined the bases of evaluation such as familiarity with faculty, graduates, administrators, publications, and hearsay. Results show that familiarity with faculty and graduates was the most frequently cited basis for ratings, and confidence in evaluations was linked to direct knowledge rather than hearsay. …

Research Grants And Their Role In Promotion And Tenure, Bert E. Bradley

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article investigates faculty attitudes toward the role of research grants in promotion and tenure decisions. A survey of tenured professors in a liberal arts college was conducted to assess whether grants should substitute for, supplement, or carry equal weight with publications. Results show that most faculty opposed substituting grants for publications or basing promotion solely on grants. Respondents emphasized that grants are a means to enable research rather than an end in themselves, and that scholarly publications remain the primary indicator of academic contribution. Some faculty supported partial credit for grants when they resulted in publications or significant research …

Aca News

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This news update announces leadership changes and organizational developments within the Association for Communication Administration. Highlights include the installation of a new president and president-elect, election of three new members to the Executive Committee, and appointment of a replacement member due to a resignation. The bulletin also provides information on recent manuscript submissions, lists referees for the previous year, and outlines upcoming ACA-sponsored programs at regional conventions. These updates reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen leadership, expand professional engagement, and maintain active participation across affiliated associations.

A Rating Of Doctoral Programs In Selected Areas Of Mass Communication: 1987--1988, Kittie W. Watson, Renee Edwards, Larry L. Barker

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article reports findings from a national survey evaluating perceptions of doctoral program quality in mass communication. The study employed peer ratings from members of two professional associations to assess programs across ten areas, including research methodology, media effects, broadcasting, journalism, public relations, advertising, and overall quality. Results provide comparative rankings of programs, offering insight into how doctoral training in mass communication is perceived by academic peers. The analysis considers bases for evaluation such as familiarity with faculty, graduates, and publications, as well as the role of hearsay in shaping judgments. While noting limitations related to sample size and the …

Top Published Authors In Communication Studies 1915--1985, Nancy F. Burroughs, Diane Christophel, J. Cole Ady, Elizabeth A. Mcgreal

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article presents a historical analysis of publication productivity in communication studies between 1915 and 1985. Using the Index to Journals in Communication Studies Through 1985, the study identifies the top published authors in the field and examines patterns of scholarly output across seventy-one years. Results reveal that fewer than one percent of authors produced a disproportionately large share of publications, with the top group contributing nearly fourteen percent of all articles. The analysis highlights gender disparities, noting only a small number of women among the most prolific authors, while also documenting shifts in doctoral training institutions over time. The …

Evaluating Grant In The Promotion And Tenure Process: The Perspective Of A Faculty Member, David Appleby

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article critiques the growing emphasis on grant funding as a measure of faculty productivity in promotion and tenure evaluations. It describes how increasing administrative pressure to pursue grants risks narrowing definitions of scholarship, privileging fundable projects, and undervaluing significant research that may not attract external support. The discussion highlights tensions between academic values and financial imperatives, noting how reliance on funding can distort research priorities, create inequities across disciplines, and reduce attention to teaching and intellectual development. Examples illustrate the consequences of equating grantsmanship with research excellence, including a shift toward projects designed primarily for fundability. The article argues …

Report From The President, Robert M. Smith

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This report marks the Association’s transition from an emerging to a mature national organization in communication arts and sciences. It reflects on the leadership that guided the Association’s development, highlights the appointment of a new Executive Director, and acknowledges the relocation of the National Office. Emphasis is placed on continuity, service to members, and the collective commitment of officers and membership to support future growth and success.

The Department Chair As Responsible Academic Leader: A Competency--Based Perspective, Randy Y. Hirokawa, J. Kevin Barge, Samuel L. Becker, Judith L. Sutherland

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article presents a competency-based perspective on academic leadership, focusing on the role of department chairs in higher education. It critiques traditional trait, style, and functional approaches to leadership for their limitations in explaining how chairs contribute to departmental effectiveness. The study reports faculty perceptions of nineteen competencies necessary for effective leadership, which cluster into four categories: resource management, climate management, image management, and faculty development. Findings indicate that these competencies are generalizable across different academic units and strongly predict perceptions of leadership effectiveness. The discussion emphasizes the chair’s role as a mediator between faculty and administration, requiring skills that …

Twenty Years Of Research By And About Women In Major Communication Journals: 1967--1986, Pamela J. Cooper, Lea P. Stewart, Sheryl A. Friedley

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article analyzes the presence of women and gender-related topics in major communication journals over a twenty-year period from 1967 to 1986. The study examines authorship patterns, the proportion of articles focusing on communication and gender, and the participation of men and women in gender-related scholarship. Findings show that while men authored the majority of articles during this period, the proportion of female authorship steadily increased, along with co-authorship between men and women. Approximately four percent of published articles addressed communication and gender, with contributions from both male and female scholars. The analysis suggests that blind review policies and broader …

Evaluating Grants In The Promotion And Tenure Process: Perspectives Of A Chief Academic Officer, Elisabeth A. Zinser

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article considers the role of extramural funding in faculty evaluation and its implications for promotion and tenure. It reviews the growing diversity of funding sources, including government, corporate, and foundation support, and identifies economic, technological, and institutional pressures that have increased emphasis on external grants. The discussion acknowledges the benefits of additional resources but cautions against risks such as external influence over research agendas, restrictions on publication, and erosion of academic values. It argues that funding should not substitute for achievements in teaching or scholarship, but rather serve as evidence of professional recognition and academic citizenship. Recommendations emphasize balancing …

Grantsmanship And Tenure, Robert R. Smith

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article examines the relationship between grant activity and faculty evaluation, focusing on its role in promotion and tenure. It situates grant-seeking within the historical adaptability of universities, noting that institutions have long balanced financial necessity with the preservation of academic values. The discussion emphasizes that while universities increasingly pursue external support, traditional measures of achievement such as publications and creative work remain central to long-term advancement. Grants are portrayed as useful when they facilitate research, teaching, or creative activity, but limited in value if disconnected from scholarly outcomes. Disciplinary differences are highlighted, with sciences relying heavily on funding to …

Children In The Entertainment And Advertising Industries, Gary Partington

Research outputs pre 2011

This survey of the employment of children in the entertainment and advertising industries has described the nature and process of employment of children in the following areas:

a) film dramas and documentaries

b) television commercials

c) radio commercials and dramas

d) print advertising

e) live theatre

f) modelling.

The survey was limited in its scope, and any conclusions based on it must be regarded as tentative until a more thorough investigation based on a larger, more representative sample is conducted. Even so, some companies appear to maintain high standards of conduct in relation to the employment of children, judging from …

The Cowl - Special Midnight Madness Edition - 1989

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Special Midnight Madness Edition, 1989. 4 pages.

Lesbian And Gay, Polly Thistlethwaite, Daniel C. Tsang

Publications and Research

"The time is past when librarians can assume no patron is lesbian or gay, or that there is no interest in gay research," Dan Tsang and Polly Thistlethwaite wrote in the introduction to the 'Lesbian and Gay' section of Katzes' 1989 edition of Magazines for Libraries. This title review of the queer periodicals of the day was intended to serve as a guide and justification for 'mainstream' libraries' collection building. The number and range of titles in Thistlethwaite and Tsang's collaborative entries (1989, 1992, and 1995) far exceeded any mainstream library collection known to either of the authors who …

Making Sense Of America : A Phenomenological Analysis Of Chinese Nationals' Interactions In The U.S., Donna Marie Ecelroy

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis systematically explores the interactive experiences of Chinese students and scholars in the U.S. Specifically, the research asks: How do Chinese students and scholars (from the People's Republic of China) interpret their interactions in the U.S., and how do their interpretations change over their tenure in the U.S.?

Research on general issues of cultural experience and adjustment is reviewed. Further, meta-theoretical issues in the study of cultural experience and adaptation are addressed. These issues provide a background for both the phenomenological grounding of this study and the qualitative approach used for data collection and analysis.

A News Discourse Analysis Of La NacióN, Jimen Chan

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is a study of La Nacion, the largest circulating newspaper in Costa Rica. The purpose of this study is to examine whether claims made by La Nacion regarding their fairness and balance of news coverage are justified.