Communication models

1. Communication Models
How we try to understand
communication

2. What are models?
• Drawings
• Charts
• Diagrams
• Pictograms
• Schematics
• Cartoons
Models represent
relationships, flows,
structures, or
interactions.

3. Why are models useful?
• They help simplify complex ideas
– For teaching purposes
– For evaluation purposes
• They offer an organized way of looking
at a complex process

4. What makes a model “good”?
• All the main points of the relationship or
process are described
• The description is simple and clear
• The description contains as little textual
explanation as possible

5. The Shannon and Weaver
Communication Model

6. Modified S&W Model of
Human Communication

7. Noise in the Modified
Shannon and Weaver Model
• Physical:
– Occurrences in the physical surroundings
or in the media that can distort a message
• Physiological:
– Physical discomfort in the body of either
the sender or the receiver
• Psychological:
– Negative feelings in the mind of either the
sender or the receiver

8. Noise, cont’d
• Perceptual
– Incorrect perceptions of the message and
the receiver by the sender, and vice-versa
• Semantic
– Misinterpretation of words and sentences
by the sender or receiver

9. Berlo’s SMCR Model
•SOURCE
•MESSAGE
•CHANNEL
•RECEIVER
Four elements in the
communication
process

11. Berlo’s Elements, cont’d.
• SOURCE
– Communication skills
– Attitudes
– Knowledge
– Social system
– Culture

12. Berlo’s Elements, cont’d.
• MESSAGE
– Content
– Elements
– Treatment
– Structure
– Code

13. Berlo’s Elements, cont’d.
• CHANNEL
– Seeing
– Hearing
– Touching
– Smelling
– Tasting

14. Berlo’s Elements, cont’d.
• RECEIVER
– Communication skills
– Attitudes
– Knowledge
– Social system
– Culture