The document explores the theory of communication, detailing its processes, types, and channels, while highlighting the importance of non-verbal cues and the potential barriers that can disrupt effective communication. It categorizes communication into one-way, 1.5 way, and two-way channels, describing their characteristics and providing examples. Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of choosing the right communication channel to enhance understanding and avoid misinterpretations.

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Communication theory
Communication 2018
Developed by Joelle Peters, Delivered by Kim Thomas

2. Contents
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
~ What is communication
~ Types of communication
~ Channels of communication
- One way
- 1.5 way
- Two way
~ Barriers to communication
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What is communication?
• Transmission of information,
including our thoughts and ideas,
feelings and specific information
that we feel may be useful to
others
• Communication helps keep social
relationships functioning normally
• Communication is the basis of
culture, as it allows us to share our
way of doing things with others
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What is the communication process ?
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• Person A ‘encodes’ a message
• Sends it through a channel
• Person B receives it and process it
• In full communication, person B
can respond and send a message
back to person A using the same
process

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Communication Codes
We can ‘encode’ communication in many different ways:
• Visual signs / symbols (semiotics)
• Non-verbal communication
• Speech
• Writing
• Electronic media
• Telepathy??

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Visual signs/symbols
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Non-verbal communication
• Body language
– Posture, how we stand
– Gestures, using hands to communicate
– Face, different expressions
– Eyes, how we use eye contact
• Voice
• Dress
• Space
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The importance of non-verbal signs
• You cannot stop communicating non-verbally.
• Non-verbal communication, intentional or not, has a great
influence on forming and defining relationships.
• People are more inclined to believe non-verbal signals
rather than words.
• Miscommunication occurs more easily without non-verbal
communication because it carries so many important
cues.

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Spoken communication
• Pronunciation
• Intonation
• Vocabulary
– Meaning
– context

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Written communication
• Recorded
• Cannot be changed easily
• Can be transmitted easily across time and space

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Electronic Media
Electronic media is becoming more common and includes:
• Texts
• Television
• Radio
• Internet
• PowerPoints
• CD ROMS
• USBs
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Channels
• In the basic communication process, a sender puts a message in
words and transmits it to a receiver who interprets the message.
• The channel of communication depends on the audiences ability to
respond.
• There are three channels of communication
• One way
• 1.5 way
• Two way

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One way communication channel
A one way channel is one where all signals can flow in only one
direction with no opportunity for the receiver to respond
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– A one way channel is one where all signals can flow in only one
direction with no opportunity for the receiver to respond. For
example a news radio broadcast or perhaps a movie.
Can you think of some examples?
• Commercial radio broadcast
• T.V.
• Internet multicast/podcast
• Security announcements
• Posters
One way communication channel

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Communications Exercise part one
One way communication
• You will need to be in pairs, one person is ‘A’ and one person is ‘B’,
• ‘B’ needs paper and a pen
• ‘A’ will face the projector
• ‘B’ will face away from the projector
• ‘A’ will describe the shape on the screen to ‘B’
• ‘B’ will try to draw the shape
• ‘B’ can not look at the board or ask any questions
• ‘A’ can not look at what ‘B’ is drawing
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Here comes the shape…
• Are only A’s looking?
• Are you sure?
• Here it is!
• Try to get ‘B’ to draw this shape
• Be as accurate as possible
• NO questions
• NO looking at what they are drawing
• You have 2 minutes to complete the task
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How did it go?
• Did your shape match the shape on the screen?
• If you were giving instructions, how confident were you that they were
being followed?
• If you were drawing the shape, how confident were you that you were
doing the right thing?
• Would you like to be communicated like this in a work environment?
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1.5 communication channel
A 1.5 way channel has two or more people or devices, which can
communicate with one another with a time delay.
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1.5 way communication channel
A 1.5 way channel has two or more people or devices, which can
communicate with one another with a time delay. For example a
letter.
Can you think of some examples?
Brochure, letter, email, text, report, voice mail

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Two way communication channel
A two way channel has two or more people or devices, which can
communicate with one another in both directions with no time
delay. Sending
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Two way communication channel
A two way channel has two or more connected people or devices,
which can communicate with one another in both directions with
no time delay. For example a phone call.
Can you think of some examples?
Face to face conversations, telephone, video conferencing

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Communications Exercise (part two)
Two way communication
• You will need to be in pairs, ‘A’ and ‘B’,
• ‘B’ needs paper and a pen
• ‘A’ will face the projector
• ‘B’ will face away from the projector
• ‘A’ will describe the shape on the projector to B
• ‘B’ will try to draw the shape
• ‘B’ can ask questions
• ‘A’ can look at what ‘B’ is drawing and point at the drawing etc.
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Here comes the shape…
• Are only A’s looking?
• Are you sure?
• Here it is!
• Try to get ‘B’ to draw this shape
• Be as accurate as possible
• YES questions
• YES you can look at what they are drawing
• You have 2 minutes to complete the task
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How did it feel?
• Was this shape more accurate?
• If you were giving instructions how confident were you that they were
being followed correctly?
• If you were drawing the shape how confident were you that you that
you were doing the right thing?
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Advantages of the right channel
An ‘advantage’ is a good, positive, or beneficial outcome. What are
some advantages of using the right channel of communication?
• Speed
• Personal attention of listener
• Immediate feedback and clarification
• Supplemented by nonverbal cues
• Targets correct audience

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Disadvantages of wrong channel
An ‘disadvantage’ is a bad, negative, or harmful outcome. What are
some disadvantages of using the wrong channel of
communication?
• Time consuming
• No evidence of understanding
• Serious decision is not possible or delayed
• Delay feedback
• Different interpretation
• Cause damage in business (loss of time or damage to resources)

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Campus Communication Exercise
• You will have half an hour to walk around campus and find at least
two examples of each type of communication channel and describe it
on your hand out. This may include communication which you know
happens in a polytechnic context but couldn’t see today.
• Be back in class 30min from now to share what you found
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Campus Communication Investigation
• What examples of one way communication did you see?
• What examples of 1.5 way communication did you see?
• What examples of 2 way communication did you see?
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Barriers
• Barriers are things that interrupt the communication process.
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Barrier

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Barriers
• Barriers are things that interrupt the communication process.
• Some barriers might be small. For example some one is sniffing.
• Some barriers may be large. For example speech difficulties.
• There is usually a way to over come a barrier
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Examples of barriers
• Physical disabilities
• Physical distance
• Boredom
• Illness

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Barriers
• Barriers are things that interrupt the communication process.
• Can you think of any examples? Please write example on
whiteboard. Sending
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Barrier

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And more examples of barriers
• Physical disabilities
• Physical distance
• Boredom
• Illness
• Different languages
• Cultural differences
• Different values
• Misunderstandings
• Unequal power
• Lack of trust
• First impressions - prior contacts
• Environment (wind and rain on tunnel
house roof vents)
• Poor listening skills
• Different meanings given to same
words
• Problems with technology

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Barriers
• In a professional environment you will need to work around barriers.
• In groups of four or five choose two or three barriers, and discuss
how you would work around these to communicate in a workplace
context.
• Share one of your barriers and solutions with the rest of the class.
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Homework! Reflective work book
• Over the next week pay attention to the communication which is
happening around you.
• Look for barriers to communication and how these are solved.
• One part of your assessment is creating a reflection work book. It’s a
good idea to fill in the ‘barriers to effective communication’ section of
your reflective workbook while this idea is still fresh in your minds.
• Well that is if I had your workbook for you-let me communicate more
about this next week-in the meantime please ponder your first
communication session and try to nutshell your learning today.
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