Instructor Resource
Dainton, Applying Communication Theory for Professional Life 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Chapter 1: Introduction to Communication Theory
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. ______ theory has undergone systematic research and is the focus of this
course.
A. Applied
B. Scholarly
C. Strategic
D. Working
2. The belief that “the more competent you are in your job, the more work they’re
going to give you” is an example of ______.
A. commonsense theory
B. scholarly theory
C. strategic theory
D. working theory
3. ______ are more systematic than commonsense theories because they
represent agreed-on ways of doing things for a particular profession.
A. Scholarly theories
B. Working theories
C. Only provable theories
D. Impractical theories
4. One way of evaluating theory is to determine whether the theory makes a
complex situation clearer.
A. Accuracy
B. Acuity
C. Consistency
D. Practicality
5. When a theory has many real-world applications, we say it has ______.
A. acuity
B. external consistency
C. practicality
D. succinctness
6. ______ refers to whether a theory is presented with simplicity—the fewest
statements possible.
A. Acuity
B. Consistency
C. Practicality
D. Succinctness
7. When a theory’s concepts build logically upon each other, we say that the
theory has internal ______.
A. acuity
B. consistency
C. reliability
D. validity
8. A theory that seems to “skip” or miss steps is said to lack ______.
A. acuity
B. external reliability
C. internal consistency
D. validity
9. Research indicates that communication competence is most often understood
as achieving a successful balance between ______ and ______.
A. politeness; impersonal communication
B. effectiveness; appropriateness
C. using slang; “buzz” words
D. efficacy; understanding
10. Although they often help guide our decision making, ______ can be
problematic because they aren’t grounded in research.
A. commonsense theories
B. inductive theories
C. practical theories
D. scholarly theories
11. Definitions of communication vary based upon an indication of success or
accuracy. Which difference in definitions is the focus of this description?
Instructor Resource
Dainton, Applying Communication Theory for Professional Life 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
A. level of observation
B. intentionality
C. denotative
D. normative judgment
12. A ______ refers to an agreed-upon aspect of reality.
A. theory
B. model
C. concept
D. axiom
13. Ron and Harry have told Hermione that the theory she has told them about is
not applicable to the practice of their profession of sorcery because it provides
more thorough, accurate, and abstract explanations for communication than do
some other types of theory. About which of the following would be the type of
theory Hermione has told Ron and Harry?
A. commonsense theory
B. scholarly theory
C. strategic theory
D. working theory
14. Harry has been asked to give a presentation at Hogwarts School. During the
talk, he sees his friend Ron scratching his head, and Harry takes that to mean
Ron is sending him a nonverbal message. Even though Ron meant nothing by
the gesture, this scenario is an example of the notion that ______.
A. you cannot communicate
B. nonverbal communication complements verbal
C. it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it
Instructor Resource
Dainton, Applying Communication Theory for Professional Life 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
D. a message is a message is a message
15. The ______ context is the context in which our thoughts influence the way we
communicate.
A. interpersonal
B. intercultural
C. cognitive
D. mediated
16. The ______ context focuses on interpersonal communication when two
people are from different cultures.
A. interpersonal
B. organizational
C. cognitive
D. intercultural
17. A ______ is any systematic summary about the nature of the communication
process.
A. model
B. context
C. concept
D. theory
18. ______ theories are useful because they are often the basis for our decisions
about how to communicate.
A. Commonsense
B. Scholarly
C. Strategic
D. Working
19. A model is defined as ______.
A. a precursor to a theory
B. a physical representation of a theory
C. a specific application of a prediction
D. all of these
20. The notion of ______, whether internal or external, is concerned with the
logic of the theory.
A. acuity
B. consistency
C. reliability
D. validity
21. Adler and Proctor suggest that which one of the following might be
considered a “wow” factor in the evaluation of theory?
A. acuity
B. consistency
C. reliability
D. validity
22. When Adler and Proctor suggest that the most useful theories are those that
have a strong logical structure, they are referring to which of the following?
A. external consistency
B. internal consistency
C. succinctness
D. accuracy
True/False
1. Scholarly theory is only useful for academics and researchers.
2. Commonsense theory is also sometimes called theory-in-use.
3. A working theory is comprised of generalizations made in particular
professions about the best techniques for doing something.
4. Communication theories provide abstract understanding of the communication
process.
5. Appropriateness is more important than effectiveness when communicating.
6. A theory must have all five criteria for evaluating theory in order to be labeled
“good.”
7. Some definitions of communication suggest that only messages sent
consciously and purposely count as communication.
8. Appropriateness and effectiveness are both necessary to be a competent
communicator.
9. Accuracy suggests that the best theories correctly summarize the way
communication actually works.
10. Acuity refers to the ability of a theory to be easily understood.
Essay
1. Explain the difference(s) between internal and external consistency.
2. Define “source orientation.”
3. Provide two examples to explain why there must be a balance between
effectiveness and appropriateness in order to be a competent communicator.
4. Provide an example of non-evaluative communication and explain.
5. Explain what Lewin (1951) meant when stating that, “There is nothing so
practical as a good theory.”