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A First Look at Communication Theory cover

A First Look at Communication Theory

by Em Griffin, Andrew Ledbetter, Glenn Sparks

11th Edition

Publisher: McGraw-Hill Higher Education

(0 reviews)
Communication Studies

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Book Details

Print ISBN9781264296101
eText ISBN9781264978397
PublisherMcGraw-Hill Higher Education
Publishing Year2023
Edition11th Edition
LanguageEnglish
Pages576

In an era defined by rapid digital transformation, algorithmic media, and shifting social dynamics, understanding how we connect is more critical than ever before. A First Look at Communication Theory 11th Edition offers a comprehensive, highly accessible entry point into the complex web of human interaction. By demystifying dense academic frameworks, this text empowers students to analyze everyday conversations, digital media messages, and global cultural phenomena with newfound clarity. It successfully transforms abstract intellectual concepts into practical tools for navigating our hyper-connected world, making it an indispensable resource for contemporary communication classrooms that seek to bridge theory and practice.

The authors of A First Look at Communication Theory 11th Edition present a beautifully balanced exploration of both objective and interpretive theories, spanning interpersonal communication, group dynamics, rhetoric, media influence, and intercultural relations. Rather than overwhelming readers with dense academic jargon, the text employs a highly conversational narrative style that keeps students actively engaged throughout their learning journey. Each theory is presented as a distinct, valuable lens through which to view human behavior, encouraging students to appreciate the diverse intellectual traditions that shape the discipline. By anchoring complex ideas in relatable pop culture references, historical events, and real-world scenarios, the authors foster critical thinking and help students recognize the immediate relevance of academic scholarship to their personal and professional lives.

Designed primarily for undergraduate courses, this volume features a flexible, modular structure that allows instructors to customize their syllabus by skipping or reordering chapters without losing conceptual continuity. This edition introduces updated scholarship, fresh cultural examples, and enhanced digital resources, including interactive self-help quizzes and exclusive author conversation videos that bring theoretical concepts to life. Whether utilized in a traditional physical lecture hall or accessed as a digital resource, the A First Look at Communication Theory 11th Edition PDF provides students with a solid foundation for advanced study in media, rhetoric, and public relations. It remains the premier choice for educators seeking to inspire the next generation of communication scholars.

Table of Contents

  1. Chapter 1: Launching Your Study of Communication Theory

    • • What is a Theory?
    • • What is Communication?
    • • Images of Theory
  2. Chapter 2: Talk About Theory

    • • Objective or Interpretive?
    • • Ways of Knowing
    • • Human Nature
  3. Chapter 3: Weighing the Words

    • • Scientific Standards
    • • Interpretive Standards
    • • Evaluating Communication Theory
  4. Chapter 4: Symbolic Interactionism

    • • George Herbert Mead
    • • Meaning, Language, and Thinking
    • • The Self and Society
  5. Chapter 5: Cognitive Dissonance Theory

    • • Leon Festinger
    • • Three Mental Mechanisms
    • • Dissonance and Persuasion
  6. Chapter 6: Social Penetration Theory

    • • Altman and Taylor
    • • Personality Structure
    • • The Onion Analogy
    • • Social Exchange
  7. Chapter 7: Uncertainty Reduction Theory

    • • Charles Berger
    • • Axiomatic Theory
    • • Information Seeking Strategies
  8. Chapter 8: Cultural Approach to Organizations

    • • Geertz and Pacanowsky
    • • Metaphors of Organizational Life
    • • Thick Description
  9. Chapter 9: Agenda-Setting Theory

    • • McCombs and Shaw
    • • Media Agenda and Public Agenda
    • • Three Levels of Agenda Setting
  10. Chapter 10: Genderlect Styles

    • • Deborah Tannen
    • • Women and Men in Conversation
    • • Report Talk vs. Rapport Talk

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