What is a Model?

1. Mortensen: In the broadest sense, a model is a systematic representation of an object or event in idealized and abstract form. Models are somewhat arbitrary by their nature. The act of abstracting eliminates certain details to focus on essential factors. . . . The key to the usefulness of a model is the degree to which it conforms in point-by-point correspondence--to the underlying determinants of communicative behavior.

2. Models are metaphors. They allow us to see one thing in terms of another.

The Advantages of Models:

1. They should allow us to ask questions. 2. They should clarify complexity. 3. They should lead us to new discoveries-most important, according to Mortensen.

Limitations of Models:
1. Can lead to oversimplifications: There is no denying that much of the work in designing communication models illustrates the oft-repeated charge that anything in human affairs which can be modeled is by definition too superficial to be given serious consideration. 2. 3. Can lead of a confusion of the model between the behaviors it portrays. Premature Closure: The model designer may escape the risks of oversimplification and map reading and still fall prey to dangers inherent in abstraction. To press for closure is to strive for a sense of completion in a system.

What is Communication Model? I.

According to W.R. Tracey, Communication model is a representation of a communication process and not any separate system; rather a simple way to present the various objective oriented events. II. Communication models are merely pictures; theyre even distorting pictures, because they stop or freeze an essentially dynamic interactive or transactive process into a static picture. III. Communication theory models offer a convenient way to think about communication, providing a graphical checklist which one can use to create anything from a speech to a major advertising campaign.

Types of Communication Models:

A. Aristotelian Persuation model:
It is the oldest and simplest model of communication. Here the form of communication observed by Aristotle is persuasive in nature. In this model the messages flow in a one way process. But this model does not include all the elements of communication. It includes only three elements of communications, such as speaker, message and listener/receiver. This model may be shown in the following way: Setting

Speaker

Message

Listener
Setting

Aristotelian Model of Communication In this model, the feedback is not present because the main goal is only to persuade the audience. The spokesperson or the speaker when speaks something in powerful thoughtfulness aptitude, passes the speech to the audience. The speech that is targeted to the audience brings some alteration in the mind of the receiver (audience) which is known as the effect.

B. Hovland Model of Communication:

This model of communication is almost similar to Aristotelian Persuasion model. The only difference between these two models is that in Hovland Model the listener will be in a predetermined position. That is the message is sent to a predetermined listener. The listener also gives his reaction to the speaker. This model may be shown in the following way: Setting

Speaker

Message

Listener
Setting

Hovland Model of Communication

C. The Newcomb Interpersonal Model:

The Newcomb Interpersonal Model is one of the simplest models of communication. Suppose, A wants to communicate a message to B. But B is not known to him. Another person X is known to both A & B. Hence, A will communicate message to B through the help of X. B will also communicate message to A with the help of the same person X. It will be more clear to us if we go through the following figure:

A Relationship

Newcomb model of communication

D. Shanon & Weavers Information Theory Model:

This model involves an information source which selects a desired message transmitter which changes the message and it is sent through some communication channel to a receiver to whom the message was originally intended. This model can be represented by thisfigure:

A noise source means any interference with the transmission and reception of the message. The noise may be of two types: a) Mechanical Noise: It comes from any mechanical source. b) Semantic Noise: Semantic noise is the difference between the meaning intended by the sender and the receiver of the message. It is obvious that such a model can be helpful to the evangelist who desires to communicate the gospel accurately and clearly. He wants to avoid any barriers that might prevent the gospel from taking root in the heart of the listener. Strengths of Shannon-Weaver Model: This model, or a variation on it, is the most common communication model used in low-level communication texts. Significant development. Within a decade a host of other disciplinesmany in the behavioral sciencesadapted it to countless interpersonal situations, often distorting it or making exaggerated claims for its use.

 Taken as an approximation of the process of human communication. Significant heuristic value. The concepts of this model became staples in communication research Provided an influential yet counter-intuitive definition of communication. Criticisms of Shannon-Weaver Model: Emphasis in on the transmission of message Developed to separate noise from information-carrying signals Flow of communication is linear and one-way Assumes that communication is relatively unproblematic Referred to as an information model.

E. Berlos Model (1960):

The simplest and most influential message-centered model of our time came from David Berlo (Simplified from David K. Berlo, The Process of Communication (New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1960)). Essentially an adaptation of the Shannon-Weaver model.

This model became significant after World War II because: I. The idea of source was flexible enough to include oral, written, electronic, or any other kind of symbolic generator-of-messages. II. III. Message was made the central element, stressing the transmission of ideas. The model recognized that receivers were important to communication, for they were the targets. IV. The notions of encoding and decoding emphasized the problems we all have (psycho-linguistically) in translating our own thoughts into words or other symbols and in deciphering the words or symbols of others into terms we ourselves can understand. Criticisms of Berlos Model: Emphasis is on the relationship of the source and the receiver Success of the communication depended on communication skills Focus on message construction and use of language and words Developed to study the flow of communication as a human activity Communication skills involve the ff: Knowing and applying the codes grammar Knowing and using a broad vocabulary Knowing and applying the conventions

Adapting the use of code to your audience Ownership of media of communication is observed.

F. Collins and Guetzkuws Group Communication Model:

It deals with communication in the decision making group which occurs as a basic part of organizational communication. This model may be shown in the following way:

As it is seen in the above figure, the top three boxes represent the source, behavior, and reward associated with the task aspects of group operation, while the lower three boxes represent the source, behavior and reward associated with interpersonal aspects of group operations. Obstacle in the task environment and interpersonal environment affects the group s interpersonal communication behavior. In sum, Collins and Guetzkows theory is a very important and prominent model to study. Through its simplistic language, it emphasized the importance of interpersonal concepts in the group decision-making process. People still enter groups with task and interpersonal obstacles, and it is imperative to note and be aware of them. Group behaviors are also vital to understand because they predict group outputs, where the ideal goal is the creation of an assembly affect. Finally, rewards are extremely significant because if they are positive, group members will have better feelings toward future decision-making groups.

G. Thayers Organizational Model:

Organizational model attempts to show or to place the individual communication efforts within the large organizational communication setting which influences him or her. It is based on levels of communication. The levels are (i) Organizational, (ii) Interpersonal, (iii) Intrapersonal and (iv) Technological which are derived from four basic sources or determinants of human communication behavior. These basic sources are physiological, psychological, sociological and technological. This model of communication will be more clear to us from the following diagram:

Organizational Technological Interpersonal

Intrapersonal

H. Wenburg and Wilmots Transactional Model:

The transactional model represents the communication as a process of simultaneous message exchange. According to Wenburg and Wilmot All persons are engaged in sending (encoding) and receiving (decoding) messages simultaneously. Each person is constantly sharing in the encoding and decoding process and each person is affecting the others. The transactional model emphasizes the idea that communication is mutual as well as reciprocal. The following figure shows a transactional model of communication.

In the transactional model, communication takes place without sharp distinction between the source and receiver roles. A person occupies both roles at the same time. Although these models linear, interactional and transactional can be applied as accurate description of the communication process, yet the ranges of application differ. A linear model is very limited in practice because few instances of human communication truly happen in a oneway fashion. Giving orders to the subordinates and issuing policy statements through memorandums or newsletters with no expectation of getting feedback, appear to be linear. But most organizational communications are interactional and transactional. Mediated forms of communication are better performed through interactional process. Interaction through an electronic or paper medium separates communicators from receivers simultaneous response and structures communication as a process of message exchange. The transaction model is most appropriately used in situations where face to face communications occurs through speech and various nonverbal behaviors. To the extent that is participant in such an encounter has an awareness of self and others in the situation, the sender (source) and receiver aspects of human communication are performed simultaneously.

Which communication model is most acceptable?

From the discussion of all models of communication above, the transactional model of communication is considered to be the most acceptable on the following grounds: 1. It brings fulfillment in communication process because all the elements of communication process are present here. 2. Without any feedback communication is supposed to be incomplete. The transactional model emphasizes more on feedback and therefore, gives a full view of communication process. 3. Transitional model of communication reflects simplicity and thereby, anybody can easily understand the actual content of the message sent. 4. Obtaining the concise and complete information through exchanging the message between the sender and the receiver under transactional model, the decision making task is very simple.