2ND EDITION. Introduction to Communication Studies Student Workbook - Chapter 4

Transcription

1 2ND EDITION Introduction to Communication Studies Student Workbook - Chapter 4

2 Chapter 4 Sensing and sense making Multiple choice questions Read the following statements and complete them by choosing the correct option from those presented. 1. A private set of neural signals inside of us that represent a world outside of us refers to... a. sensation b. cognition c. perception d. worldview 2. Perceptions are... a. unique b. shared c. similar d. experiences 3. Most of what we perceive is... a. visual b. auditory c. tactile d. haptic 4. Sensation requires... a. perception b. physical responses c. cognitive responses d. decoding of sensory information 5. The initial stages in which people process information in order to determine another individual s mind-set and intentions is called... a. perception b. cognition c. sensory perception d. social perception 2

3 CHAPTER 4: Sensing and sense making 6. A set of interlocking facts, ideas, beliefs, values and attitudes is called... a. cognition b. perception c. frame of reference d. social perception 7. In the electronic age our ratio of senses has shifted towards... a. visual perception b. logical perception c. linear perception d. aural perception 8. Elements that are near one another that tend to be grouped together refers to... a. closure b. proximity c. similarity d. trajectory 9. Filling the perceptual gaps refers to... a. figure-ground principle b. closure c. proximity d. similarity 10. When you only attend those points of discussion that directly concern your work, it is an example of... a. selective exposure b. selective perception c. selective attention d. selective retention 11. After sensory stimuli have selected and organised information, we give meaning to it by means of our frame of reference in what is called... a. perceptual closure b. perceptual organisation c. perceptual expectations d. perceptual interpretation 12. You validate a perception by comparing your interpretation with that of others, by... a. multisensory cross-check b. checking for perceptual bias c. consensus d. sensing and attending 3

4 Introduction to Communication Studies for Southern African Students 13. Storing the meanings that have been received so that they may be recalled later, is called... a. remembering b. responding c. attending d. interpreting 14. In this phase of listening you complete the process of listening by providing feedback to the speaker... a. responding b. attending c. interpreting d. remembering 15. A prime cause for inefficient listening is... a. fidgeting b. inaccurate listening c. selective attention d. lack of concentration 4

5 CHAPTER 4: Sensing and sense making Match the columns Match the terms in column A with the correct descriptions in column B. Column A Column B 1. Internal barriers a. validating the accuracy of your perceptions by crosschecking the interpretation through another sense 2. External barriers b. how we see what we want to see and hear what we want to hear by selectively attending only to certain stimuli because of physical limitations or subjective needs 3. Perceptual organisation c. distractions in the listening environment 4. Listening d. concentrating on each other s messages in order to provide appropriate feedback which shows affection, caring and warmth 5. Critical listening e. analysing, evaluating and challenging the content of the information 6. Interpretation f. a set of interlocking facts, ideas, beliefs, values and attitudes 7. Multi-sensory crosscheck g. arranging selections into meaningful patterns according to our frame of reference 8. Consensus h. remembering the information by concentrating on identifying and separating the main ideas from the supporting material that relates to them 9. Discriminative listening i. the process of explaining and evaluating what has been selected and organised 10. Reflective listening j. selecting only those stimuli that reaffirm our frame of reference our existing attitudes, values and beliefs 11. External barriers k. signals or sounds sent to the brain are processed by selecting what is relevant and then understanding and interpreting it 12. Selective exposure l. validating a perception by comparing your interpretation with that of others 13. Selective attention m. physical and psychological conditions that may inhibit active listening 14. Frame of reference n. the physical act of receiving aural stimuli (sounds) 15. Sensation o. initial response of the senses to stimuli from the environment 5

6 Introduction to Communication Studies for Southern African Students Answer Column A 1. Internal barriers Column B 2. External barriers 3. Perceptual organisation 4. Listening 5. Critical listening 6. Interpretation 7. Multi-sensory crosscheck 8. Consensus 9. Discriminative listening 10. Reflective listening 11. External barriers 12. Selective exposure 13. Selective attention 14. Frame of reference 15. Sensation 6

7 CHAPTER 4: Sensing and sense making Crossword puzzle Complete the crossword puzzle using the clues given below. 7

8 Introduction to Communication Studies for Southern African Students Questions Across 3. Lack of is a prime cause of inefficient listening. 5. Visual sensory memory visual information into the memory system. 7. is a prerequisite for efficient listening. 9. The type of listening that you engage in when you suspect that the source of the information may be bias. 11. Initial response of the senses to stimuli from the environment. 14. Validating a perception by comparing your interpretation with that of others. 15. Interactive process through which we interact with our world and others in it. 17. When people buy newspapers whose editorial policy confirms their existing political views, it is an example of selective. 20. Good continuation so that interrupted edges are perceived as continuous. Down 1. suggests that people adapt to their environments through a balance or ratio of the senses. 2. A private set of neural signals inside of us that represent a world outside of us. 4. Arranging selections into meaningful patterns according to our frame of reference is known as perceptual. 6. The primary means of obtaining information is through listening. 8. A perceptual inaccuracy. 10. responses sidetrack the topic of a conversation. 12. The physical act of receiving aural stimuli (sounds). 13. A word used to describe any artificial technique that aids memory or helps you remember a list of items perception allows people to make judgements about other people in their social world. 18. barriers are the physical and psychological conditions we bring to the communication situation that may inhibit active listening. 19. Complete an incomplete image by filling the perceptual gaps. 8

9 CHAPTER 4: Sensing and sense making Case study In the course of the day, you often find yourself in a position where someone, a close friend perhaps, or even an acquaintance, talks to you about a situation he or she has to deal with. You are expected to listen attentively and then respond. Here is such a scenario: Peter: I m really depressed. I have a good job and I earn a reasonable salary, but I m not happy. I realise now that working is not as great as I thought it would be when I gave up my university studies in order to be financially independent. I have some money saved. Even though I did not do particularly well at university before, I think I should quit work and start studying again. Actually, I don t know what I should do. There are five possible feedback responses you might make in trying to help Peter solve his problem. Each response illustrates a different technique of listening and responding. The five techniques are: 1. Advising and evaluating: How long have you felt this way? Have your negative feelings started only recently, or have you always felt depressed about what you are doing? 2. Analysing and interpreting: In other words, you re depressed and puzzled because your job isn t fulfilling, but neither was your studies, and they are the only two alternatives you see yourself as having. 3. Reassuring and supporting: Depression is often anger turned against yourself. Perhaps you are angry at yourself for not feeling fulfilled by what you are doing. 4. Questioning and probing: You don t know that you will do any better at university now. You really should stop complaining and thank your lucky stars that you have a good job. There are lots of people out there who don t and who would gladly swap places with you. 5. Paraphrasing and understanding: Lots of people have trouble making up their minds. There are hundreds of people who don t like their jobs and would not go back to university even if it was for free. You don t need to feel depressed. Each of these ways of responding communicates certain intentions and all of them may be helpful. We would not label any of them as good or bad, ineffective or appropriate because the purpose of all of them is to help someone solve a problem. We do, however, believe that 9

10 Introduction to Communication Studies for Southern African Students some of the responses are more helpful than others in building relationships and helping people to examine their feelings and thoughts in a different way. After you have studied the scenario, answer the following questions, giving reasons for each answer. 1. Identify each response in terms of the five alternatives listed at the beginning of the case Explain the effect you think each response would have on: a. the nature of your relationship with the communicator; and b. helping the communicator to see the problem in a different way. 10

11 CHAPTER 4: Sensing and sense making If the communicator was a close friend, which response do you think would be the most appropriate and which the least effective?... 11

12 Introduction to Communication Studies for Southern African Students 4. If the communicator was an acquaintance, would your answer to question 3 change?... 12