Communication

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Communication

Topics

Functions of Communication
Information Flow
Communication Channels
Barriers to Effective Communication
     

Readings

Starling pp. 341 - 345
Garnett, "Communicating Effectively" (RES #8)
Handouts - Communication #1 
Handouts - Communication #2
     

Lecture Notes

View or print lecture notes as an adobe acrobat file
     

Video Picks

There are several good movies that illustrate the challenge of effective communication, particularly in the face of cultural differences. A few of my personal favorites include:
Enemy Mine (1985) staring Dennis Quaid and Louis Gosset Jr.: A science fiction fantasy that tells the tale of two creatures from different worlds who while fighting one another crash land on the same barren planet.  They are soon forced to learn how to communicate and become friends in order to survive.  The film illustrates many of the common barriers to effective interpersonal communication.
Crimson Tide (1995) staring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman: Tells the tale of a breakdown in the chain of command on a nuclear submarine that results when communication between the submarine and headquarters is severed. 
Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster (1992): An HBO movie that tells the tale of the Exxon Valdez accident and the cleanup efforts.  While not the greatest movie in the world, the movie does give a fairly accurate depiction of how communication problems between federal, state, and local government agencies and the public impeded the cleanup efforts.
 

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