COMM 320: Nonverbal Communication
Observation Paper
#1:
Rating Nonverbal Communication
Competence
- You are to have two conversations and then
rate each
conversational partner using Spitzberg's scale in G&H chapter 2. Read and follow
the instructions below very carefully in executing this assignment.
- This paper should be 4-5 pages long and formatted like a
scholarly journal article that is reporting an original study.
- This paper is due on
Wednesday, September 3
and is worth 100
points.
Assignment description
After reading K&H chapter 3 and G&H chapter 2, select two friends or
acquaintances with whom you could have a face-to-face conversation for this
assignment.
First, prior to the conversations, determine which of the two people you would
consider to be more nonverbally competent and why. This will be your hypothesis,
and you will test it to see whether your observational research supports it.
Second, set up a time to have a face-to-face conversation with each
(separately). If you wish, you can tell the person that this conversation is to
fulfill a class assignment, but do not reveal the scale or anything specific
regarding what you will be observing, as that could skew the results; you may
share a blank version of the scale with them after you have made your evaluation
if you wish. Going into the conversation, be familiar with the Conversational
Skills Rating Scale, but do not complete the scale during the conversation. Try
to make each conversation similar but also as natural as possible; be sure each
conversation is long enough for you to be able to evaluate the skills listed in
the scale.
Next, as soon as possible following each conversation, complete the CSRS for
each person (not yourself, but for your partner in each conversation). Make your
evaluations based on your observations from this most recent conversation,
without allowing your hypothesis to affect your ratings.
Now calculate each person’s score and determine if your hypothesis is supported
or not. Separate out each dimension (as explained on p.22) and determine how
each person did on each dimension.
Your 4-5 page Observation Paper should consist of a brief introduction, a brief
explanation of your hypothesis, some details about your conversations, a brief
overview of the scale, the results from your observations, and your
conclusion. This paper should essentially be in the format of a journal article
in which original research is presented.
This paper must adhere to APA format guidelines. Be sure to use the
APA Style Manual for Communication Majors to ensure
proper adherence to APA format.
Come to class prepared to discuss the results of your study.
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