Understanding the Idea of Uncertainty Reduction Theory by Charles Berger

The uncertainty reduction theory, developed by Charles Berger, states how communication is utilised to obtain knowledge, develop understanding, and reduce uncertainty (Griffin, 1991, p.136). Each articles utilized in the analysis for this assignment, incorporate several views or points observed in the uncertainty reduction theory. Post #1, Interrogative Approaches and Information Exchange in Computer Mediated Communication, uses uncertainty reduction processes to relate to connection development, which naturally, is facilitated by the use of concerns. The relationships being studied are these, which take location more than the Web by way of e-mail (Pratt, Wiseman, Cody, Wendt, 199, p.46). Article #two, Uncertainty Reduction and Communication Satisfaction During Initial Interaction: An Initial Test and Replication of a New Axiom, states that communication satisfaction associates positively with uncertainty reduction in the course of initial interaction (Neuliep, Grohskopf, 2000, p.67). This article focuses on interpersonal communication, whereas report quantity a single focuses on laptop mediated communication. Either way, each articles prove particular aspects of URT to be compatible with the studies that had been performed.

Uncertainty reduction theory (URT) was initially proposed by Berger and Calabrese in 1975 as an account of the approaches employed to decrease uncertainty in order to far better realize other folks (Pratt et al., 1999, p.49). Bergers uncertainty reduction theory focuses on how human communication is utilised to obtain information and to generate understanding (Griffin, 1991, p.136). Berger believes that its natural to have doubts about our capability to predict the outcome of initial encounters. Berger also believes that beginning relationships are complete of inquiries, anxiousness and confusion. URT focuses on predictability, which is straight from Shannon and Weavers info theory. As the ability of persons to predict which alternative or options are likely to take place subsequent decreases, uncertainty increases (Griffin, 1991, p.137).

Berger says that there are two distinct types of uncertainty that a individual could face when they encounter their 1st meeting with somebody. Simply because not everyone is 100% confident on how they need to act, 1 sort of uncertainty seals with behavioral questions, which are inquiries that are utilised to ease the pressure that behavioral uncertainty can trigger. The second kind concentrates on cognitive queries, which are focused on discovering who the other particular person is as an individual (Griffin, 1991, p.137). Some assumptions of URT are as follows all social interaction is objective driven, uncertainty is central to all social interaction, interpersonal communication reduces uncertainty and it is feasible to predict peoples behavior (Garard, 2001).

The uncertainty reduction theory is one that is based on a series of axioms. Axioms are self evident truths that require no extra proof. Bergers eight truths that about initial uncertainty are primarily based on: verbal output, non-verbal warmth, information in search of, self-disclosure, reciprocity, similarity, liking, and shared networks (Griffin, 1991, p.137). As soon as the validity of the eight axioms was granted, pairs of them have been put collectively to make much more insight into relational dynamics. All together, the axiom pairs create 28 various theorems (Griffin, 19991, p.140-41). Berger mentions three techniques we can use to minimize uncertainty the passive method, which is to merely observe the other person, the active approach is when a third party is asked for info and the interactive technique, which is face-to-face self disclosure (Garard, 2001). Critique of this theory primarily consists of doubts about theorem 17, which predicts that the more you like people, the less youll seek info about them. Even although some elements of Bergers theory could be questionable, URT is praised for its originality and also for its key contribution to communication scholarship (Griffin, 1991, p.145).

Article #1, Interrogative strategies and information exchange in pc-mediated communication, reports on a content material analysis of interrogative techniques utilised in E-mail messages exchanged over six months amongst intergenerational sets of senior citizens and youngsters. A big portion of connection development is created achievable by the use of questions, which are a main portion of the uncertainty reduction process (Pratt et al., 1999, p.46).

This study incorporates aspects of URT, which deals mostly in interpersonal communication, into relationships that are designed by means of personal computer-mediated communication (CMC). The researchers state that, We naturally seek to type social and personal relationships with other folks and have shown exceptional adaptation in accomplishing this objective through differing media (Pratt et al., 1999, p.46). The chosen type of media utilised in this study is e-mail, which is said to be one of the most well-known and ever-present forms of on the internet communication according to Rafter (1997).

In this study the researchers decided to examine a specific element of organic messages exchanges between e-mail pen pals (e-pals) as they occurred more than a 5 to six

Month period. In distinct, nature and use of concerns and/or wants for data amongst e-pals is a crucial function of the investigation. Queries are observed as main means of looking for data to reduce relational uncertainty and to facilitate relational development, each of which desirable outcomes that support meet our human social demands. Just as face-to-face engagements require a fountain of shared information in order to grow, if relationships create in cyber society, they also demand a foundation of shared details to assistance relational growth (Pratt et al., 1999, p.46-47).

The main theory that this investigation centers around is the uncertainty reduction theory the researchers are trying to prove that there are aspects of the theory that match in to CMC as nicely as interpersonal communication. A lot of researchers argue that CMC need to be observed an interpersonal medium stating that, as extended s two humans are utilizing a CMC medium, even if it is limited in channel capacity to written types, they will uncover methods to make the medium interpersonal(Pratt et al., 1999, p.47-48). Not too long ago Walther argued that CMC should be regarded interpersonal when customers have time to exchange info and share values that offer a foundation for creating impressions(Pratt et al., 1999, p.48).

A content material evaluation on hard copies of email messages between e-pals was the major analytic approach. The various varieties of inquiries asked, the politeness of interrogatory expressions, and the e-pal responsiveness to queries asked of them in prior messages had been the man focuses of coding operationalizations in the content evaluation of the e-mail transcripts (Pratt et al., 1999, p.50). The participants included adult senior citizens and college aged youth all through a variety of places in the U.S. 109 pairs of junior-senior e-pals have been employed for the final analysis. A total of 2,526 messages were generated by the e-pals, despite the fact that every set of e-pals created a variable quantity of messages over the duration of the project (Pratt et al., 1999, p.51).

two out of four of the hypotheses have been supported, (1&3). H1 predicted that politeness in questions would be higher in the course of earlier stages of interaction than in later stages of interaction, which is proved true in the URT also. H3 predicted that the quantity of questions asked by e-pals will be greater during the initial interaction stage than the number of concerns asked in the course of any of the subsequent stages, this hypothesis proved to be true for the URT also (Pratt et al., 1999, p.54-55). The remaining study concerns, 1-three, sought to examine the effects of time on the flow of e-pal communication. R1 indicated that a shorter time lapse among messages is connected with a larger likelihood that an e-pal will ultimately provide a delayed response to a query asked. R2 revealed that there was no important partnership between the length of time that separates messages and the total or sort of queries asked (Pratt et al., 1999, p.55-56).

Some of the results that have been presented in the write-up offered support or portions of URT, and some other individuals did not. Greater levels of politeness occurred much more in the initial stage of interaction and then spiraled downward as the relationships matured. This statement matches up with a single of the principal assumptions of uncertainty reduction pointed out earlier, which states that individuals are motivated to minimize their uncertainty in order to make possible excellent relations with others. URT also predicts that much more queries will be asked in the initial stage of the connection, this statement was supported by proof identified in H3. Cognitive concerns about attitudes, opinions, and/or preferences have been very powerful in stage one, and they occurred more regularly than demographic concerns which goes against 1 of the fundamental assumptions of URT, concerns in initial interaction should be about matters external to the dyad (Pratt et al., 1999, p.58). The results of this study incorporated URT into the understanding of communication by way of e-mail.

Post #2, focuses on uncertainty reduction, and communication satisfaction during initial interaction. It involves an initial test and the replication of a new axiom. The two studies performed help the hypothesis that communication satisfaction associates positively with uncertainty reduction throughout the initial interaction amongst two men and women interpersonally (Neulip, Grohskopf, 2000, p.58). In the initial study, the participants engaged in the initial interaction for a quick time, then they completed measures of communication satisfaction and uncertainty. As the researchers predicted, a good and significant correlation was observed among the two concepts.

The second study replicated then extended study a single by altering the nature of the experiment and by adding measures of communication competence. In the second study, the participants had been asked to interview candidates for a teaching assistantship. The participants completed the identical measures of communication satisfaction and uncertainty reduction that had been utilised in study. The final results of study two replicated these of study 1 (Neulip, Grohskopf, 2000, p.68). The most critical discovering in this study demonstrates that in initial interaction situations, uncertainty and communication satisfaction are linearly related. Job applicants who are effective at decreasing uncertainty are perceived as communicatively competent, which leads to much more favorable hiring decisions. The general proposition that uncertainty reduction leads to positive communication outcomes is after again supported by this study (Neulip, Grohskopf, 2000, p74). The general purpose of this study was to study elements of URT associated to communication satisfaction during initial interaction, and to perform two tests to introduce the concept of a new axiom for the uncertainty reduction theory. The following axiom was proposed as an addition to Berger and Calabreses original seven axioms and Berger and Gudykunsts addition of an eighth axiom. Axiom #9: During initial interaction, as uncertainty decreases, communication satisfaction increases (Neulip, Grohskopf, 2000, p.75).

Article #1 sought to incorporate personal computer mediated communication as an interpersonal medium and to examine diverse components of connection message exchange by means of e-mail pen pals. Pen pals offer opportunities to exchange data and opinions with each and every other, and also provide social and emotional assistance in between participants (Pratt et al, 1999, p.46). This post did a excellent job of explaining URT, and it located that it was only partially effective when placed in a personal computer-mediated environment. The benefits of this study did suggest that the interrogative approaches that we engage in interpersonal relationships are often distinct than in CMC. This investigation helped to realize that the uncertainty reduction theory is consistent with largely interpersonal relationships and not computer-mediated ones.

The second write-up sought to hyperlink communication satisfaction in an initial partnership into the original uncertainty reduction theory. The research that had been carried out did help the hypothesis that communication satisfaction associates positively with uncertainty reduction throughout initial interaction. Normally, the study on URT indicates that uncertainty reduction is connected with constructive communication outcomes, while improved uncertainty is associated to negative communication outcomes. It is then stated in the investigation that, many of the communication outcomes related with uncertainty reduction are theoretically linked to communication satisfaction. Berger and Calbrese have argued that during initial interactions, lowering uncertainty is a principal objective of interactants. They also recommended that the main way folks reduce uncertainty in the course of the initial interaction is via verbal and nonverbal communication methods. In addition, if the interactants can attain the purpose of lowering uncertainty, then they a lot more than most likely to encounter communication satisfaction (Neulip, Grohdkopf, 2000, p.70).

Uncertainty is anything that exists in all aspects of human communication, regardless of whether by way of pc mediated communication or by way of face-to-face communication. Both of the articles that were used in writing this paper incorporated the uncertainty reduction theory into them. Report #2 even sought to add a ninth axiom to the original theory. It proved that communication satisfaction is achieved during the initial interaction of a partnership and in my opinion it makes a great addition to the original theory. Article #1 showed that some the final results did supply assistance for some portions of URT, and other individuals did not. CMC is a part of each day communication for several men and women, which signifies that uncertainty is something that will undoubtably exist, but that does not necessarily mean that URT is the theory to explain the phenomenon.