Communication in

Extension and Development UNIT 3 MODELS AND THEORIES OF

COMMUNICATION

Structure
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Models of Communication
3.3 Theories of Communication
3.4 Let Us Sum Up
3.5 Key Words
3.6 References / Selected Readings
3.7 Check Your Progress – Possible Answers

3.1 INTRODUCTION
Dear Learner, you may be aware that a model provides a simplified view of
complex object, phenomenon, or process, so that fundamental properties or
characteristics can be high-lighted and examined. Models highlight some features
that their designers believe are particularly critical, and there is less focus on
other features. Thus, by examining models, one learns not only about the object,
situation, or process, but also about the perspective of the designer. Similarly,
theories are analytical tools for understanding, explaining, and making predictions
about a given subject matter. As with other subject areas, models and theories of
communication also provide important insights into the various perspectives of
the communication. Keeping this in view, the important models and theories of
communication are discussed in this unit with suitable examples.

After studying this unit you should be able to:

• Explain the important models of communication.
• Describe the important theories of communication.

3.2 MODELS OF COMMUNICATION

A model is a systematic representation of an object or event in idealized and
abstract form. Models are somewhat subjective by their nature. The act of
abstracting eliminates certain details to focus on essential factors. However 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.

In the Information and Communication Technology era, the field of

communication has changed considerably. Yet the models used in the introductory
chapters of recent communication textbooks are the same models that were used
forty years ago. This is, in some sense, a testament to their enduring value.

3.2.1 General Communication Model

You are well aware that communication takes place when the sender selects a
certain message and gives it a special treatment for transmission over a selected
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channel to a receiver who interprets the message before taking the desired action. Models and Theories of
Communication
This can be represented through a diagram as follows (Fig. 3.1)

Sender Message Treatment Channel Receiver

Fig. 3.1: General Communication Model

If you recall the contents of the first unit, the above figure represents the elements
of communication process.

Sender : We may call sender as communicator / speaker / source. In the context

of extension and development, you are the sender of the messages. You decide
what messages to send, how to treat it, which channel to use so that your audience
can receive and follow it. If you make poor choice, your communication is likely
to fail.

Message : Message is the information package or technical know how of

extension and development programmes. It may be a single line of message with
a picture as in a poster or complete information through pamphlet / booklet.

Treatment : It refers to the ways in which the message is handled before it is

placed on the channel. Its purpose is to make the message clear, understandable
and realistic to the audience.

Channel: It is the path of the communication. Examples for channels include,

news paper, radio television etc.

Receiver: The receiver may be a single person when we write a letter, it may be
a group of people who read a circular letter / news letter or it may be the masses
that listen to radio programme / see television or read a news paper. The more
homogenous the receivers are, the greater the chances of effective communication.

In any model of communication, we can find few or all of the above elements of
communication process.

3.2.2 Aristotle’s Model

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) was the first to give the earliest basic persuasive
communication model. His explanation includes three communication elements
viz.,
• Speaker
• Subject
• Audience
Aristotle was of the opinion that these three elements are essential for a meaningful
communication and that we can organize our study of communication process
under the three headings: i) the person who speaks, ii) the speech that he/she
produces, and iii) the person who listens.

As per ancient times, five processes are involved in the study of communication,
namely invention, organization, language, memory and delivery. From Aristotle’s
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Communication in view, generation of message involves invention (finding the content), arrangement
Extension and Development
(organizing the material in logical sequence), language or style (to reach the
audience), memory and delivery (the practice of actual presentation).

Speaker Speech Listener

Setting
• Invention
• Organization
• Language
• Memory
• Delivery

Fig. 3.2: Aristotle’s Communication Model

Aristotle Vs. Persuasive Communication

Aristotle was of the opinion that persuasion was a result of the influence
that a speaker makes. He used ‘discovery of the available means of
persuasion’ for defining the whole art of persuasive communication.
Aristotle’s communication model formed a basis for other earlier
communication models. Though Aristotle’s model was one of the pioneering
models, his theory laid emphasis that persuasive communication as a one-
way process transpiring from the communicator to the receiver. The
important role of feedback from the receiver was not included as a part of
process of persuasion.

3.2.3 Lasswell’s Model

Lasswell put forth one of the basic but significant communication models with
social scientific background in 1948. This model includes the sequence namely
i) who says ii) what, iii) in which channel, iv) to Whom, v) under what
circumstances, and vi) with what effects.

This model provides explanation for linear, one-way communication. This model
gives importance to the communicator and his message but like in Aristotle’s
model, the element of feedback was not included. However, this model had helped
improving the understanding about communication among social scientists
engaged in communication theories. This model was useful in political
communication, propaganda and political symbolism. The model also assumes
the communicator wishes to influence the receiver and, therefore, sees
communication as a persuasive process.

Check Your Progress 1

1) What do you mean by communication model?
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2) Name the five elements in general communication model. Models and Theories of
Communication
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3) What is the major limitation in Aristotle’s and Lasswell’s communication
models?
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3.2.4 Stimulus-Response Model

Stimulus- Response (S-R) model is one of the basic interpersonal communication
models (Fig 3.3). Person ‘A’ communicates something to person ‘B’ with X
effect [A ÆB = X ]. However, according to Newcomb (1958), the expression ‘A’
communicates something to ‘B’ comprises a number of sub-categories, such as
when, how, in what medium, under what circumstances etc.
A1 B2
S1-2
=X

B1 A2
Fig. 3.3 : Stimulus-Response Communication Model

Limitation of Stimulus – Response Model

• The Stimulus- Response (A - B) does not fit into the facts. A may say
something to B, but what B hears and interprets depends upon B and
not of A. Also what A says may be a necessary condition of B’s
subsequent behavior, but the sufficient condition is how B processes
A’s statements (s).
• It is possible that A’s saying does not fall into a temporarily off mind.
Whereas, A’s saying may be meaningful to B, only to the extent, (a) B’s
mind is active and (b) B’s level of comprehension to understand A’s
statement in the context in which it occurs.
• Neither A nor B, nor even X in this model is independent of any of the
conditions of, when, how, in what medium, and under what
circumstances etc. So describing communication in linear form is too
simplistic assumption. Rather communication is a complex system of
elements and their interactions. 49
Communication in 3.2.5 Schramm’s Model
Extension and Development
As per Schramm model of communication (1964), there is a source, who encodes
a signal, and there is a receiver, who decodes the signal. The sender and receiver
must be tuned together and maximum output from communication can be
achieved based on the common field experience of both the source-encoder and
the decoder-receiver (Fig. 3.4).

Sourcee Encoder Signal Decoder Receiver

Fig. 3.4 Schramm’s Model of Communication

Role of Field of Experience in Schramm’s Communication Model

As per this model, both an encoder and a decoder receive and transmit. A
person will decode a message, interpret based on past filed experience and
wisdom, and then encode a response accordingly (Fig 3.5). Thus each one
is constantly communicating back to the other and the return process is
termed as feedback (Fig. 3.6). This model focused on organic nature of
communication rather than mere mechanical transfer of message. Schramm
(1964) emphasized that communication process is continuous.

Field of experience Field of experience

Source Encoder Signal Decoder Destination

Fig. 3.5 Role of Field of Experience in Schramm’s Model of Communication

Message

Decoder Decoder

Interprete Interprete

Encoder Encoder

Message

Fig. 3.6: Feedback in Schramm’s Communication Model

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 Models and Theories of
Merits and Limitations of Schramm’s Communication Model Communication
Merits
• Field of experience: Schramm provided the additional notion of field
of experience which refers to the type of orientation or attitudes which
sender and receiver maintain towards each other.
• Feedback: Communication is reciprocal, two-way, even though the
feedback may be delayed.
• Context: A message may have different meanings, depending upon the
specific context or setting.
• Culture: A message may have different meanings associated with it
depending upon the culture or society, Communication systems; thus,
operate within the confines of cultural rules and expectations to which
we all have been educated.
Limitations
• Schramm’s model, while less linear, still accounts for only bilateral
communication between two parties.
• The complex, multiple levels of communication between several sources
was not explained by this model.

3.2.6 Intermediary Model

This model also sometimes referred to as the gatekeeper model or two-step flow
model (Katz, 1957). This model focuses on several important intermediaries
who play an important role in the communication process (Fig.3.7). Many of
these intermediaries have the ability to decide what messages others see, the
context in which they are seen, and when they see them. They often have the
ability, moreover, to change messages or to prevent them from reaching an
audience (destination). In extreme variations we refer to such gatekeepers as
censors.

Speaker Gatekeeper Audience

Fig. 3.7: Katz’s Intermediary Model of Communication

Role of Intermediaries / Gatekeepers in Communication

In mass communication media, editors / associate editors decide what stories
will fit in a newspaper or news broadcast, with the intermediary or gatekeeper
role. Under the more normal conditions of mass media, in which publications
choose some content in preference to other potential content based on an
editorial policy, we refer to them as editors (most mass media), moderators
(Internet discussion groups), reviewers (peer-reviewed publications), or
aggregators (clipping services), among other titles.

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Communication in 3.2.7 Shannon and Weaver’s Model
Extension and Development
Shannon and Weaver (1949) provided a visual mode of communication system
in relation to electronic media popularly referred to as Shannon and Weaver
model of communication or ‘Mathematical model of communication’ (Fig. 3.8).
This model includes:
• An information source, which produces a desired message out of a set of
possible messages, written or spoken words, pictures, music etc
• A transmitter which changes this message into signals suitable for transmission
• A channel, which carries signals from the transmitter which transfers to the
receiver
• A receiver, a sort of inverse transmitter which transfers the transmitted signals
back into a message, and
• A destination, the final consumer of the message.
The three levels of problems in the communication of information indicated in
the model are
• Technical – problems related to the accuracy of transferring information
from sender to the receiver, through signals.
• Semantic - problems related to the interpretation of meaning by the receiver
as that of intended meaning of the sender
• Influential - problems concerned with the success with which the meanings
are conveyed to the receiver and the subsequent desired behavior on his
part.

Receiver Destination
Source Transmitter
Signal Received
Signal Message
Message

Noise Source

Fig. 3.8: Shannon and Weaver’s Communication Model

While transmitting signals, there is a possibility that some unwanted disturbances

such as sound in the case of radio, telephone called ‘noise’, are also likely to be
added. This model attempted to explain how to overcome noise and how much
redundancy is necessary so that the receiver can successfully receive the signal
and in turn the right messages.

Important Concepts in Shannon and Weaver’s Model

Information: The information is viewed as a measure of one’s freedom of
choice when one selects a message.
Entropy: The information can be measured by entropy i.e one’s degree of
freedom of choice to select a message. The ratio of the actual to the
maximum entropy is called relative entropy.
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 Models and Theories of
Redundancy: The amount of information that can be eliminated or added Communication
in a noiseless channel, so that the message would still have meaning.
Channel capacity: The amount of information that can be transmitted per
unit of time. Beyond optimum level of information would lead to errors.
Noise: Any unwanted sound, distortion that may be added into the channel
which are beyond the control of the transmitter or receiver. However, the
efficiency of a communication system can be increased by reducing the
noise, or by increasing the band width or by increasing the signal power.
Coding process: Whenever we produce or receive a message we use codes.
Efficient coding involves best matching the statistical characteristics of the
information source and the channel.

Shannon and Weaver’s model mainly deals with problems of communication at

the technical, semantics and effectiveness levels. From this model, we can learn
that for reducing the uncertainty and minimizing the effects of noise by considering
the capacity of the sender to encode and that of the receiver to decode messages.
Though the model attempts to explain further the process of communication, it
is a linear, one-way communication model without any emphasis on feedback.
In this model communication is presented as a linear, one-way process. Shannon
and Weaver make a distinction between source and transmitter, and receiver and
destination i.e. there are two functions at the transmitting end and two at the
receiving end.

Check Your Progress 2

1) Write any two limitations of stimulus – response model of communication.
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2) Write the examples for intermediaries / gatekeepers in mass communication.
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3) What do you mean by entropy?
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Communication in 4) Write the three levels of problems in the communication of information as
Extension and Development
per Shannon and Weaver model.
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3.2.8 Berlo’s Model

Berlo’s (1960) model includes the following elements in a communication process
(Fig. 3.9).
• Source
• Encoder
• Message
• Channel
• Decoder and
• Communication receiver
As per this model, any communication has some source. The source has ideas,
needs, intentions, information, and a purpose for communicating. The purpose
is expressed in terms of message. So, there is an encoder. The encoder codifies
ideas into meaningful message. This message is to be carried through an effective
medium termed as channel. The source can manage the effectiveness of
communication by appropriately choosing the channel. The source chooses the
appropriate channel and sends the message by encoding it. On the other side, the
target of communication the receiver decodes the message and places in a form
so that he can understand its meaning.

Factors Influencing Communication Elements in Berlo’s Model

In Berlo’s model, each element - source, message, channel and receiver is

influenced by some factors ( Also see Fig 3.9).

Source and Receiver: Influenced by communication skills, attitudes,

knowledge and social and cultural systems.

Channel : Influenced by the form of senses viz., seeing, hearing, touching,

smelling and tasting.

Message : Influenced by structure, elements, content, code, and treatment

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 Models and Theories of
Communication
S M C R
Source Message Channel Receiver

Communication Seeing Communication

Elements Structures
skills Skills

C Hearing
Attitudes C Attitudes
O
O
N
D Touching
Knowledge T Knowledge
E
E
N Smelling
Social Social system
system T
Tasting
Culture Culture

Fig. 3.9: Berlo’s Communication Model

Significance of Berlo’s Model

This model is improved one over the earlier models because:
• It considers behavioral theory and as a result the model was widely
quoted among scholars in communication research.
• It views the communication process as continuous two-way process /
activity between the source and receiver and the noise is minimized by
appropriate feedback.
• The flow of feedback between source and receiver allows the interchange
of roles wherein the source may play a role of receiver and vice versa.
• Because of inclusion of feedback in the model and the variables
explaining the performance of elements the model is quite popular in
communication research.

Strengths
i) The idea of ‘source’ was flexible enough to include oral, written, electronic,
or any other kind of “symbolic” generator-of-messages.

ii) ‘Message’ was made the central element, stressing the transmission of ideas

iii) 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.

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Communication in Weaknesses
Extension and Development
i) Tends to stress the manipulation of the message—the encoding and decoding
processes.
ii) It implies that human communication is like machine communication, like
signal-sending in telephone, television, computer, and radar systems.
iii) It even seems to stress that most problems in human communication can be
solved by technical accuracy by choosing the ‘right’ symbols, preventing
interference, and sending efficient messages. But even with the ‘right’
symbols, people misunderstand each other. “Problems in “meaning” or
“meaningfulness” often aren’t a matter of comprehension, but of reaction,
of agreement, of shared concepts, beliefs, attitudes, values.

3.2.9 Leagan’s Model

In Unit 1 of this block, we discussed the communication definition by Leagans
(1961). According to him, communication is a process by which two or more
people exchange ideas, facts, feelings, impressions in ways that each gains a
clear understanding of the meaning, intent and use of the message. Thus the
elements in the communication model by Leagans are:
• Communicator
• Message or content
• Channels of communication
• Treatment of message
• Audience and
• Audience response / Feedback.
In this model, greater thrust is placed on treatment of message and audience
response (Feedback). This model is more popular in agricultural extension,
wherein, the focus is on transferring the technology to farmers and bringing
desired behavior and therefore, the communicators fine tune their communication
based on feedback.

Activity 1 : Study the communication models given in the above section.

Identify the common elements and write them.
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Check Your Progress 3

1) Name various communication models.
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2) Write the factors influencing communication in Berlo’s Model. Models and Theories of
Communication
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3) Write the elements in Leagan’s communication model.
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3.3 THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION

Theories about any phenomenon in general will highlight the key concepts
involved in it.
Thus, theories of communication will be useful for a person who is trying to
understand a given communication event by way of providing a framework which
suggests what he/she should look for.
The theories of communication can be broadly classified into three groups namely:
i) Theories of interpersonal communications
Ex : Linguistic theory of communication
ii) Theories of mass communication (message flow models)
Ex : Theories of Mass Media Effects
iii) Theories of communication distortion
Ex: Theory of communication distortion and & Theory of communication
distortion in transit

3.3.1 Linguistic Theory of Communication

The description of language systems is dealt in linguistic theory of communication.
The bottom-line of linguistic theory is social interaction. A system of symbols
(words/vocabulary) and appropriate methods of combination of words (syntax)
is the basis for any language. Each language has its own symbols to convey
meaning and has evolved over a period. In spite of prevalence of various
languages, there is common thread of principle of interpretation, response and
reward that governs all learning and communication.

When we use a language, we are not transmitting the meaning but people tend to
get the meaning from our spoken words based on their own experiences and the
rules of the concerned languages. When we write words, they are basically linear
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Communication in or one-dimensional. However, they become multidimensional when we speak
Extension and Development
because of facial expressions, body movements and gestures and also vary
according to the context in which we speak. How we choose the words determine
the effectiveness of communication. Appropriate syntax would be useful in
placing structural relationship among words indicating certain objects for the
reader or receiver. When we use words to convey denotative meanings along
with careful structuring, the accuracy increases.

System of symbolization in human communication is explained in this theory.

The process is explained as:
i) A message starts a meaning in the mind of source
ii) The message is encoded into linguistic form
iii) Linguistic forms are coded into physical signals
iv) Signals are transmitted through channels as physical signals
v) The receiver transforms the physical signals into linguistic form
vi) Linguistic forms are decoded into messages
vii) Messages are interpreted, screened and acted upon by the receiver.
Williams (1975) mentioned two dimensions of this theory.
a) Psycholinguistic Theory: This theory deals with the psychological basis
of using the language by any individual in other words the coding behavior.
The cognitive psycholinguistic approaches were of the assumption that the
human brain has the potential to diversify the coding processes in any
communication and also in developing language skills. The individual
expertise or good exposure to a given language enables him to better perform
in life and manage situations.

b) Sociolinguistic Theory: In a society, the process of communication involves

both personal factors and social factors or social context. The sociolinguistics
is concerned with the relationship between variations in using language
according to personal as well as contextual situations. In the sociolinguistics,
any individual using a language must count on not only his knowledge of
language competence, but also the pragmatic use of language in relation to
varying characteristics of communication situations within cultural contexts.
Hymes (1972) termed this approach as communication competence.

How we speak a language (modes of speech) is important concept of

sociolinguistic theory that helps to have better knowledge about the relations
between communication and language.

Language and the way we use it differs across situations and different people
and this form a patterns of features. In other words, the linguistic theory also
portrays patterns of variation in language across different people, stimuli,
relationships, context and competence. If a person is having the ability to use a
code, he needs to have a lot of knowledge and additional consideration of factors
so as to be sensitive to social demands on patterns of communication.

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3.3.2 Theories of Mass Media Effects Models and Theories of
Communication
With the advancements in information technologies, there is expansion in use of
mass media in the society. The social impact of mass media is gaining importance
in social science especially Sociology and Social Psychology. There are a few
theoretical frameworks which explain the variation in the effects of mass media.

a) Theory of Individual Differences: Defleur (1966) was of the opinion that

audience of a given medium is not aggregated group who perceives in a
similar fashion to whatever content is directed towards it. The principle of
selective perception is important aspect. This would explain the varying
communication behavior of a mass media audience. The psychological
framework of the concerned person influences any individual response to a
mass media message. In brief, we can say that individual differences in
psychological structure causing the variation in effects of mass media from
person to person.

b) Psychodynamic Model of Persuasion Process: It has been realized that

the mass media has tremendous persuasion effects. The basis of persuasion
depends upon modifying the internal psychological structure of the
individual. Such influence helps in moderating the psychodynamic
relationship between internal processes and manifestation of overt behavior.
This will ultimately lead to actions/ behavioral change intended by the
persuader. DeFleur (1966), had proposed psychodynamic process of the
persuasion as shown in Fig. 3.10. In addition to the external actions which
have been intended by persuasive message, there are other kinds of effects
also. That is, people comprehend ideas and practices sometimes beyond
message even it may include non-intended or opposite effects also. The
variations may be due to individual differences as well as environmental
factors.

Persuasive Alter latent Achieve change

message psychological in overt behavior
process

Fig. 3.10: Psychological Persuasion Process

c) Theory of Social Categories: As per this theory similar to individual

differences in responses to a given stimuli, behavior of broad social categories
of people remain to be almost uniform/common to given stimulus. The theory
assumes that though there exists heterogeneity among people in a society,
people with more or less similar characteristics or background are likely to
exhibit similar behavior, leading to uniform response to mass media. Both
the individual differences and social categories theories are extended forms
of Stimulus-Response model. In this, the combination of psychological
processes, normative patterns within social categories and their interactive
influence in communication process in the form of stimulus and response is
explained.

d) Theory of Social Relationships: Theory of social relationships to some

extent, deal the communication in the form of two stage processes. In a
mass media communication, there is possibility that well-informed
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Communication in individuals first attend to mass communication and receive the information.
Extension and Development
Later, this information is passed on through interpersonal channels to
individuals who had less access to the mass media. Opinion leaders/
gatekeepers would have direct access to mass media in a given society.
Those individuals apart from giving information would usually add their
attitudes and interpretations to the content as per their value system to the
other members in the society. Sometimes, these opinion leaders even
persuade the other members to behave in a particular pattern. Between the
stimulus and the response in the mass communication process, the informal
social relationship prevailing in the society functions as intervening variables.

3.3.3 Theories of Communication Distortion

The important theories under this category are :
a) Theory of communication distortion and
b) Theory of communication distortion in transit.
The first one states that larger the volume of communication, larger would be
the communication distortion. Increasing the volume of communication, increases
more chances for misunderstanding, mis-interpretation, less concentration and
low priorities. The second one emphasizes that messages pass through many
layers in an organization. Therefore, repetition and reproduction of the same
message is multiplied into many which reduces the efficiency of communication.

Check Your Progress 4

1) Name the three categories of communication theories.
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2) Differentiate between Psycholinguistic and Sociolinguistic concepts.
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3.4 LET US SUM UP

In this unit, we started by looking at the meaning of models and theories of
communication. We studied the general communication model and Aristotle’s,
Lasswell’s, Stimulus-Response, Schramm’s, Intermediary, Shannon and Weaver’s,
Berlo’s and Leagan’s Communication models along with the communication
elements in each model. In the second part of the unit, we discussed different
theories of interpersonal communication, mass communication and communication
60 distortion.
The overview of communication models and theories suggests that Models and Theories of
Communication
communication can be described in terms of networks, which gives the observer
some indication of who is communicating with whom and it can also be described
in terms of the types of interactions which are occurring among communicators.
Further, it can be described in terms of message transactions, which indicate
how the elements of communication combine to produce a unique unrepeatable
event. It can be also viewed from the point of view an individual gathering
information as he passes through his environment.

3.5 KEY WORDS

Sender : We may call sender as communicator / speaker /
source of message. Sender decides what messages to
send, how to treat it, which channel so that his/ her
audience can receive and follow it.
Message : Message is the information package or technical know
how of extension and development programmes. It
may be a single line of message with a picture as in a
poster or complete information through pamphlet /
booklet.
Treatment : It refers to the ways in which the message is handled
before it is placed on the channel. Its purpose is to
make the message clear, understandable and realistic
to the audience/ receiver.
Channel : It is the path of the communication.
Receiver : The receiver may be a single person when we write a
letter, it may be a group of people who read a circular
letter / news letter or it may be the masses that listen
to radio programme / see television.
Entropy : The information can be measured by entropy i.e one’s
degree of freedom of choice to select a message. The
ratio of the actual to the maximum entropy is called
relative entropy.
Redundancy : The amount of information that can be eliminated or
added in a noiseless channel, so that the message
would still have meaning.
Channel capacity : The amount of information that can be transmitted
per unit of time.
Noise : Any unwanted sound, distortion that may be added
into the channel which are beyond the control of the
transmitter or receiver.
Psycholinguistic Theory: This theory deals with the psychological basis of using
the language by any individual in other words the
coding behavior.
Sociolinguistic Theory: The sociolinguistics is concerned with the relationship
between variations in using language according to
personal as well as contextual situations.
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Communication in
Extension and Development 3.6 REFERENCES / SELECTED READINGS
Dhama, O.P. and Bhatnagar, O.P. (2007). Education and Communication for
Development. Oxford and IBH [Link]. Ltd.

Berlo, D K. (1960). The process of communication. Holt Rinechart and Winston,

New York.

Kaplan, A. (1964). The Conduct of Inquiry: Methodology for Behavioral Science,

Chandler, San Francisco.

Ray, G L. (1991). Extension Communication and management, Naya Prokash,

Calcutta.

Samanta, R K. (1990). Development communication for agriculture. B R

Publishing Corporation, Delhi.

3.7 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS – POSSIBLE

ANSWERS
Check Your Progress 1
1) A communication model is a systematic representation of elements of
communication process in an abstract form.
2) The five elements in a general communication model are : sender, message,
treatment, channel and receiver.
3) The important role of feedback from the receiver was not included in
Aristotle’s and Lasswell’s communication models.
Check Your Progress 2
1) The Stimulus- Response (A - B) does not fit into the facts. A may say
something to B, but what B hears and interprets depends upon B and not of
A. Also what A says may be a necessary condition of B’s subsequent behavior,
but the sufficient condition is how B processes A’s statements (s). It is possible
that A’s saying does not fall into a temporarily off mind. Whereas, A’s saying
may be meaningful to B, only to the extent, (a) B’s mind is active and (b)
B’s comprehensive level to understand A’s statement in the context in which
it occurs.
2) Intermediaries / gatekeepers in mass communication includes editors, sub-
editors, reviewers etc.
3) Entropy is one’s degree of freedom of choice to select a message.
4) The three levels of problems in the communication of information as per
Shannon and Weaver model are : technical, semantic and influential.

Check Your Progress 3

1) Various communication models are : Aristotle’s, Lasswell’s, Stimulus-

Response, Schramm’s, Intermediary, Shannon and Weaver’s, Berlo’s and
Leagan’s .
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2) In Berlo’s model, each element - source, message, channel and receiver is Models and Theories of
Communication
influenced by some factors. Source and receiver are influenced by
communication skills, attitudes, knowledge and social and cultural systems.
Channel is influenced by the form of senses viz., seeing, hearing, touching,
smelling and tasting. Message is influenced by structure, elements, content,
code, and treatment.

3) The elements in Leagan’s communication model are ; Communicator,

Message or content, Channels of communication, Treatment of message,
Audience and Audience response / Feedback.

Check Your Progress 4

1) The three categories of communication theories are : Theories of

interpersonal communications; Theories of mass communication (message
flow models) and; Theories of communication distortion.

2) Psycholinguistic theory deals with the psychological basis of using the

language by any individual in other words the coding behavior. Whereas,
Sociolinguistic theory is concerned with the relationship between variations
in using language according to personal as well as contextual situations.

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