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Chapter 4 – Making Sense of Our World
Test Questions
Multiple Choice
1. The first and most central principle of uncertainty reduction theory is that:
d. as relationships become more established, people become more likely to use
secret tests to reduce uncertainty.
2. Uncertainty reduction theory predicts that people reduce uncertainty by:
a. observing others.
3. If you have a low level of uncertainty about someone, this means that you:
a. trust the person.
4. In a series of studies cited in the textbook, researchers had people interact for up
to16 minutes and found that uncertainty did not decrease significantly after the
first __________ minutes of interaction.
a. 14
5. According to predicted outcome value theory, people are likely to seek more
information when they:
a. want to reduce uncertainty
6. During a party for a mutual friend, Mike spots Alex. Mike observes that Alex
does not have any people around her who seem to be romantic partners, she is a
college student like himself, and she appears to be relatively outgoing. He has the
host of the party casually ask if she’s met his friend Mike. After Mike sees Alex
smile at him, he approaches her and begins to make small talk. Mike’s uncertainty
reduction strategies are best described as:
a. passive.
7. Which of the following strategies would be classified as active according to
uncertainty reduction theory?
e. both a and b
8. Baxter and Wilmot’s (1985) research on secret tests shows that the majority of
our uncertainty reduction techniques in early stages of relationships are:
a. direct.
9. The dialectical perspective on uncertainty is best characterized by which of the
following statements?
a. Individuals will only continue to interact so long as their partner provides
positive outcome value.
10. With which of the following individuals do most people usually have high
incentive value for reducing uncertainty?
a. boss
11. Jaime recently began dating after exiting a long-term relationship. However, first
dates have been particularly difficult because Jaime perceives an overwhelming
amount of uncertainty about the other person’s hopes and expectations. How
would you best characterize Jaime’s personality in terms of uncertainty
orientation?
d. intuitive
12. According to the theory of motivated information management,
________________________ affects how people seek information to reduce
uncertainty.
a. outcome expectancies
13. The turbulence model suggests that people experience the most uncertainty:
Close Encounters: Communication In Relationships, Fourth Edition
Laura K. Guerrero, Peter A. Anderson, and Walid A. Afifi
Instructor Resource
a. in the initial stages of a relationship.
14. Paul jokingly asks his wife if she’d like to have five children. If Paul’s comment
is designed to see if his wife really might consider having five children, his
comment would be classified as the secret test called:
a. third-party test
15. Jana is engaged to her boyfriend, Matt, whom she suspects is very flirtatious. To
reduce her uncertainty about her fiancé and to see if he is the “right one” for her,
she types up an anonymous letter asking Matt to meet at a certain place and time,
and she signs it, “your secret admirer.” Jana believes that her uncertainty will be
reduced by seeing if Matt tells her about the letter and/or if he shows up at the
fictitious meeting. Jana’s uncertainty reduction strategy is best categorized as
a. third-party test
16. The goal of expectancy violations theory is to predict and explain:
a. how people reduce uncertainty about others.
17. On a normal basis you come home from school and find your housemate’s socks
on the floor. One day, however, you come home and find the floor free of socks.
Which of the following types of expectancies have been violated?
d. A & B
22. Which of the following is an uncertainty avoidance country?
d. New Zealand
23. Countries lowest in in uncertainty avoidance and most tolerant of ambiguity tend
to:
a. be stable, liberal democracies.
24. Which online uncertainty reduction strategy is most commonly in online dating
sites such as eHarmony or match.com?
a. lurking
25. In interpersonal communication which is not one of the three basic types of
uncertainty discussed in the book.
d. relationship uncertainty
True False
26. As relationships become more established, people are more likely to use secret
tests to reduce uncertainty.
Close Encounters: Communication In Relationships, Fourth Edition
35. The primary premise underlying the original uncertainty reduction theory was that
people generally dislike uncertainty, and are therefore motivated to reduce it.
36. Uncertainty management theory has rarely been used in health communication
research.
Essay
37. Discuss how online communication has change uncertainty reduction strategies in
romantic relationships. Discuss both similarities and differences in uncertainty
reduction between face to face and online communication.
Ans: Varies
38. What countries are highly uncertainty avoidant? Where are the located? Why do
these countries have poor tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity?
Ans: Varies
39. Discuss if uncertainty is generally dislike in human communication versus a
dialectical perspective on uncertainty.
Ans: Varies
40. What is the position of uncertainty management theory in health communication?
Why might uncertainty vary depended on the circumstances?
Ans: Varies
41. Discuss the role of “secret tests” in close relationships. Select five secret tests and
briefly discuss that advantage and disadvantages of each strategy.
Ans: Varies
42. How has the original uncertainty-reduction strategy been modified? Have these
modifications strengthened or weakened the original theory?
Ans: Varies
