Research – A set of systematic procedures for gathering credible information about some object or process- Communication focuses on message related behavior - Theories and models of communicationo Theory = Explanationo Model = visual depiction - Components of communication researcho Theory – an idea or an explanation (non-theoretical research exists but it is in the vast minority) o Method – where the people who are doing the research literally tell what it happening, reads like a report o Results o Discussion- Communication theory – the ultimate goal of communication research is the development of communication theoryo Abstract – theory as a map – break things down into their simple core partso Constructed - General definition of theory – any attempt to explain or to represent a phenomenon- Types of theories o Implicit theory vs explicito Implicit – The everyday theories of how we explain things that happen every day. Incomplete, don’t specify conditions, untested. Not the same sort of integrity as  o Explicit – The ones taught in classes, tested and held up to scrutiny, produce knowledge that is verifiable. The gold standard,professional. Traditions in the field of Comm(As the list goes on, it goes less from science and closer to pure humanism)- Socio Psychological tradition – scientific study of communication (PURE SCIENCE)- Cybernetic tradition – Humanism but it has the most in common with science, how different parts of a system are connected with messages- Rhetorical tradition – the study of speech- Semiotic tradition – signs- Socio – cultural tradition, hardcore humanism; how people create reality through communication- Critical tradition – Call themselves critics of social life, social media, words, etc. What’s good and what’s bad about communication. If something is bad they’re going to cut it down. - Phenomenological tradition – gentler way to understand humanism, every human being has a story that is worthy of being told and theywant to seek out that storyPerception: the process by which you filter and interpret what your senses relay so you can create a meaningful picture of the world. Stages of perception (can occur in a few milliseconds)  In order- Selectiono Where you are picking out the things in the environment that youare going to pay attention to.- Organizationo We put the things we see in order. Sort the information.- Interpretationo Figure out what it all means.o Essence of the humanistic perspective. Object Characteristics that affect Perception- Intensityo We’re more likely to notice things that are ‘stronger’ to us.- Repetition/Patterno Melodies or chord progressiono The more you hear it, the more you notice it- Change of Repetition/Patterno Like a change in chord, etc.o Break in patterno Human brain likes to organize things, and when that pattern is broken, it wakes the brain back up and makes us pay attentionPerceiver characteristics that affect perception - Point of view- Present needs and purposes- ExpectationsCommunication issues associated with perception.- Self concept/Self esteem-o Self Concept: your relatively stable impression of yourself. How you view and define yourself, how you would explain who you are to others. Self definition. o Self Esteem: your feelings of self worth. - Impression formationo Neutrally judging people, figuring out who they areo Primacy effect- first  The first information that you get Sometimes we let the first information we get have a significant impact on our perception and overall judgment o Recency effect- the most recent impression The last impression can have an impact of judgment The last experience and so on Focus on first and last