VARIOUS MODELS OF COMMUNICATION

“Communication is a skill that you can learn. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly
improve the quality of every part of your life.” -Brian Tracy-

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

At the end of this module you are expected to:

1. identify the three standard communication models;

2. differentiate the various models of communication; and
3. distinguish the unique feature(s) of one communication
process from the other.

WHAT I KNOW
Before the discussion of the models of Communication, let
us see your background knowledge on this topic by taking the
PRETEST first.

Read the statement carefully and answer the question that

follows. Write your answers on your Communication Activity
Notebook.

1. Which proponent of the communication model says that Communication

is linear?
a) Schramm Model c) Shannon-Weaver
b) b) Charles Osgood's Model d) Dance

2. This theorist refers transmission model of Communication as

that involves signal.
a) Shannon-Weaver c) Schramm
b) Charles Osgood's d) Dance

3. It is the medium that transmits the signal from the transmitter to

the receiver.
a) The channel c) receiver

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 b) messenger d) television

4. The is to whom the message is intended to be sent.

a) the channel c) sender
b) The receiver d) barrier

5. He showed Communication as a dynamic or two-way process in which

there is interactive relationship between the source and the receiver of
the message.
a) Osgood c) Shannon
b) Schramm d) Weaver

6. The following elements are added to the Transactional Model, EXCEPT:

a) nonverbal communication c) context
b) feedback d) meaning

7. Transactional Model says people can be both sender and receiver, is

proposed by:
c) Osgood c) Shannon
d) Schramm d) Weaver

8. Communication is
a) verbal only
b) from ONLY one to many only
c) transmission of information with passive recipients
d) a process

9. Which of the following is NOT true of the Shannon Weaver Model

of Communication?
a) message does not consist of written and spoken words
b) the model does not introduce the concept of noise.
c) It is a two-way process
d) all of the above

10. The following are the main elements of Wilbur Schramm's simplified
communication model (1954), except;
a) barrier c) channel
b) speaker / Source d) receiver

Here’s another thumbs up for you! You did a great job and I guess, you are just as excited
as I am to discover new things related to communication.
 WHAT’S IN?
In our previous lessons, you have been acquainted with the
elements of communication. These elements are the sender,
receiver, message, encoding, decoding, channel, feedback,
barrier and context which are all essential in the communication
process.
The next lesson will shade light on how some language and
communication experts developed the models in communication and how significant
these models are to the world. Among the models, we will only tackle 3 standard
models of communication.

WHAT’S NEW?
Activity 1: My X and Y
Instruction: On your Communication Activity Notebook, Think
of a possession (thing) you consider very important to you that
you acquired or that your parents bought you 5 - 10 years ago. It
could be a cell phone, bag, shoes, laptop, car, etc.

Follow the example in the matrix and fill it in with the needed details. Note: The
activity is named “My X and Y” referring to past important items (Ex) and the reason
for liking it (Why)
Name of the
object
Ex. Cellphone My X and Y
ITEM
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH
ACQUISITION
Year 2001 2004 2008 2010
Model / brand Nokia 3310 Nokia 7280 Sony Ericsson Motorola A955
Special It has torchlight
feature
Why chose It was affordable
and durable
the product
Answer the following questions after doing the matrix.
1. Why did you like that object?
2. Why did you choose that brand/model?
3. Why do you think brands/models keep changing?
4. Do you agree with the modifications of these brands? Why or why not?
5. What do you think is the relevance of this activity to our new lesson?

Very good! You just did a great job. Now, let us find out first what does "MODEL"
mean?

A model is a graphic representation designed to explain the way a variable works. It

is a pattern, a plan, representation or description to sh 5ow the structure or workings
of an object, system and concept.
 WHAT IS IT?
Communication models describe the process of
communication, visually show the relationship among variables
and help find and correct communication problems.

What are the three standard models of communication?

1. Linear Model of Communication (Transmission Model)

The linear model was the first kind of model that experts have made to
understand the process of communication. It has improved and has been updated
over the years. The following are the remarkable characteristics of the linear model:

1) Unidirectional - Linear model is one-way communication where the speaker

sends messages to the receiver with or without effect. Senders can only transmit
messages while receivers can only receive the messages. This model of
communication applies to mass communication.

2) Simple - This model presents a simple communication acts because the

transmission of message shows only the beginning and the end and that there is no
interchanging of roles between the sender and receiver.

3) Persuasion not Mutual understanding

This model shows the one-way direction of communication which promotes
advice and influence rather than mutual understanding between receiver and sender.

The first three characteristics emphasize the lack of feedback in this model which has
been criticized as a missing element in the communication process

4) Values psychological over social effects:

This model focuses more on the psychological effects (such as understanding the
messages) rather than the social effects (like building the relationship among
communicators).

The Shannon-Weaver model (1949), also known as the transmission model and
the mother of all communication models is one best example of a one-way or linear
process of communication consisting of five elements (see diagram below) which
have been criticized for missing one element in the communication process,
feedback.

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 In module 1, all the elements were discussed and will be elaborated further in the
next module. But the Shannon-Weaver Model acknowledges only 5 elements in the
linear process and noise is a kind of disturbance coming from people, the
environment, internal knowledge, beliefs, etc. which hinders the receiver from getting
and understanding the message.

The Shannon-Weaver Model illustration above shows the characteristics of the

Linear Model of Communication. First, as shown in the direction of the arrow, it is a
unidirectional or one-way direction where the speaker sends messages to the
receiver with or without effect. Second, it is simple as it only shows beginning and
end of communication, but there is no interchanging of communication roles between
communicators. The first two characteristics emphasize persuasion and
understanding the message rather than mutual understanding and social
relationship.

Example of the elements of the Shannon-Weaver Model

Elements Example:
Sender You
Receiver Your friend
channel Your mobile network
encoder Your mobile’s network company
Decoder The receiver’s Smartphone
Noise your friend receives only parts of the SMS message you tried
to send due to disruption of mobile signal
Have you learned something about the Shannon-Weaver Model of Communication?
What do you think is the most striking “YOU CANNOT COMMUNICATE?”
Let’s try the next activity and see your stand based on the lesson, are you ready?
Activity 2: Agree / Disagree

Write A if you agree to the statement and D if you disagree. Please write
your answer in BIG LETTERS in the column provided. Write your answers on
your Communication Activity Notebook.

Statements Agree /
Disagree
1. In the Shannon - Weaver Model of Communication, the
receiver can only receive the message.
2. If the role of the receiver in this model is to only receive the
message, then it means that there is no way the sender will know
whether the sent message was understood or not.
3. The linear model is a one-way direction of communication
which promotes advice and influence rather than mutual
understanding
between receiver and sender.
4. Feedback from the receiver happens in the Shannon -
Weaver Model.
5. The decoder changes the message into a signal then sends it
over the communication channel.
6. The Shannon-weaver model is considered as the mother of all
communication models.
7. This model is said to have effects more on building
relationship with the communicators rather than understanding
the messages.
8. The channel is the medium the sender uses to transmit the
message/s.
9. Shannon-Weaver model is different from transmission
model.
10. In a linear model, the element of feedback is present.
Activity 3: Seen Scenario

Fill out the empty boxes with a simple scenario reflecting a linear model of
communication. Write this on your Communication Activity Notebook.

Right! the Shannon - Weaver model is considered as the

mother of all models and is also known as the
transmission model. It was being criticized because the
model does not include feedback among its elements.

Now let us take a look at the second model of

communication. You may watch video here. (insert video)
Transactional Communication Model
The Transactional Model of Communication illustrates how the sender and
receiver take turns in conveying and receiving messages and are called as
“communicators.”
The sender and receiver’s roles are reversed each time sending and receiving
messages occur at the same time. Since both sender and receiver are necessary to
keep the communication alive in Transactional Model, the communicators are also
interdependent to each other. Thus, if the receiver is not listening to the sender,
Transactional Communication is not possible.

Frank Dance (1967) introduced the Helix model that best illustrates the
Transactional Model by showing how the development of communication is based on
previous experiences or behaviors as well as how the knowledge-base of a person
deepens and expands throughout life. He emphasized, “that communication while
moving forward is at the same time coming back to itself and being affected by its
past behavior…” Dance’s model also shows how the external and internal factors that
are learned throughout life influence the person’s understanding of a message.
The characteristics of Transactional Model

1. Communication evolves from the very first day (origin) until the existing moment.
2. Communication is largely dependent on its past.
3. Concept of time.
4. Communication process is the product of what we learned.
.
So to put it in simple terms, Transactional Model of Communication involves three
principles:
1. people send messages continuously and simultaneously
2. communication events that have a past, present, and future, and;
3. participants play certain roles in the conversation.

How does the second model of communication look to you? Do you think
the second model is better than the first model? Why or why not?

Activity4. Key Ideas

This is to check your grasp of the topics discussed earlier. Write down on your
Communication Activity Notebook the essential ideas needed.

The 3 basic characteristics of Transactional Model

1.
2.
3.
The 4 characteristics of linear model
4.
5.
6.
7.
The two other names of linear model
8.
9.
The other name of transactional model
10.
Activity 5: Compare and Contrast

Similarities

Transmission Model Transactional Model

Create Venn diagram on your Communication Activity Notebook, then

There you go! How was your experience so far with the first two models of
communication? Ready to venture to the third one? Watch this video first. Insert

compare and contrast the first 2 models of communication discussed in this

module and afterwards, discuss your diagram and the most striking
characteristics/differences between the two model
Activity 11: Reflect and Answer. Write your reflection on your Communication Activity
Notebook.

Wonderful! You had great things to reflect on! Have you also reflected on
this, that there is no such thing as wrong models? There may be better or
best models though! Experts made improvements on the models of
communication based on their observation and analysis and over the years,
new theories sprang out as they (theorists/ experts) keep on digging deeper
into communication structure.
Okay, so shall we do the wrapping up of our lesson now?
 POST TEST
I. True or False. Write T if the statement is True and if the
statement is False, change the underlined word with the correct
word/phrase to make the statement correct. Take note, please
do not answer give a straight T answer as there are 5 True and 5
False statements here.

1. Communication models describe how the process of

communication, show the relationship among variables and
help find and repair problems in communication.
2. Frank Dance introduced the Linear Model of
Communication.
3.Convergence Model of Communication is concerned more
on persuasion rather than mutual understanding.
4. The term unidirectional feature of communication means
communication is a two-way process.
5. Transactional model shows the important roles of the
sender and receivers as communicators as they reverse
roles.
6. Helical Model of communication is an example of
Transactional Model of communication.
7. Wilbur Schramm believes on the commonality of experience
between sender and receiver.
8. Field of Experience is found in Interactive Model of
Communication.
9. When the sender and receiver share the background or field
of experience, Linear Model of communication is depicted.
10. Interactive model supports the idea that there is a
never-ending process of communication and feedback when
communicators exchange messages in role-switching
manner.