All 8 Models Of Communication, Explained!

By Chris Drew (PhD) / December 21, 2022

Since 300BC, theorists have developed communication models in attempts to explain and
understand how to improve communication and rhetoric. As time has passed, we have developed
increasingly more complex models to explain how we communicate.

Today, the main models of communication are can be split into three categories:

Linear models – only looks at one-way communication.

Interactive models – looks at two-way communication.

Transactional models – looks at two-way communication where the message gets more complex as

the communication event (e.g. conversation) progresses.

This article will outline all 8 major models of communication currently studied in communications courses at

college. Here’s a quick summary to get started:

# Model of Type of Brief Description

Communication Model

1. Aristotle’s Model Linear Aristotle argues that we should look at five elements of a
communication event to analyze how best to communicate:

speaker, speech, occasion, target audience and effect.

2. Lasswell’s Model Linear Lasswell’s model is a basic framework for analyzing one-way

communication by asking five questions: Who, said what,

through which channel, to whom, with what effects?
 # Model of Type of Brief Description

Communication Model

3. Shannon-Weaver Linear The Shannon-Weaver model is the first to highlight the role of

Model ‘noise’ in communication, which can disrupt or alter a

message between sender and receiver.

4. Berlo’s S-M-C-R Linear Berlo’s S-M-C-R model explains communication in four steps:
Model Source, Message, Channel, and Receiver.

5. Osgood-Schramm Interactive The Osgood-Schramm model looks at reciprocal

Model communication, showing how we have to encode, decode,

and interpret information in real-time during a conversation.

6. Westley and Interactive The Westley and Maclean model shows that our
Maclean Model communication is influenced by environmental, cultural and

personal factors.

7. Barnlund’s Transactional Barnlund’s Transactional Model of Communication highlights

Transactional the role of private and public cues that impact our messages.
Model

8. Dance’s Helical Transactional Dance’s Helical Model sees communication as a circular

Model process that gets more and more complex as communication

occurs, which can be represented by a helical spiral.

Contents [ show ]

Related: A to Z List of Mass Communication Theories

The Linear Models

Quick Summary: Linear models explain one directional communication processes.

1. Aristotle’s Model

One Sentence Overview: A framework for thinking about how to improve your communication abilities,
by looking at key aspects underpinning a situation.

Aristotle’s model of communication is the oldest communication model, dating back to 300BC. The model
was designed to examine how to become a better and more convincing communicator.
Aristotle argues we should look at five elements of a communication event to analyze how best to
communicate: speaker, speech, occasion, target audience and effect. He also identified three elements that

will improve communication: ethos (credibility), pathos (ability to connect) and logos (logical argument).
Aristotle’s model does not pay attention to the role of feedback in communication.

2. Lasswell’s Model

One Sentence Overview: A basic framework for analyzing one-way communication by asking five
questions: Who, said what, through which channel, to whom, with what effects?

Lasswell’s model of communication tries to understand a communication event by asking five important
questions. It looks at who created the message (and what their bias may be), what they said, the channel
they said it through (e.g. TV, radio, blog), who they said it two, and what effect it had on the receiver. This

model is effective as it provides a very simple and practical way of critiquing a message and exploring five
important elements that can help explain the event under analysis in more detail.

Question Component How to Analyze Example of

Component

Who? Communicator Control Analysis Vacuum cleaner

salesman

Says What? Message Content Analysis Promotes his brand of

vacuum as the best

brand

In Which Channel? Medium Media Analysis On television

To Whom? Audience Audience Analysis To evening TV viewers

in the United States

With What Effect? Effect Effects Analysis Achieving brand

awareness, promoting

the belief that this is the

best vacuum, leading to

increased sales revenue

3. Shannon-Weaver Model

One Sentence Overview: The Shannon-Weaver model is the first to highlight the role of ‘noise’ in
communication, which can disrupt or alter a message between sender and receiver.
The Shannon-Weaver model sees communication occurring in five key parts: sender, encoder, channel,
decoder, receiver. It emphasizes the importance of encoding and decoding messages for them to be sent

(e.g. turning them into written words, morse code, etc.). During the process of encoding, sending and
decoding, ‘noise’ occurs that can disrupt or cloud a message. In the most traditional sense, this may be

static on a radio broadcast, or even extend to mishearing a conversation or misspelling an email. This model
was the first to introduce the role of noise in the communication process.

The idea of feedback was retroactively introduced to this model.

4. Berlo’s S-M-C-R Model

One Sentence Overview: Berlo’s S-M-C-R model explains communication in four steps:
Source, Message, Channel, and Receiver.

Berlo’s model of communication explains it in four steps: Source, Message, Channel, and Receiver. The

unique aspect of Berlo’s model is that it gives a detailed account of the key elements in each step that will

affect how well the message is communicated:

Source: Elements of the source include communication skills of the sender, their attitude and their

culture.
Message: Elements of the message include its content, structure and code.

Channel: Elements of the channel include the senses of hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, etc.
Receiver: Elements of the receiver include their attitude, knowledge and culture.

See a summary of all elements in the image below:

The Interactive Models

Quick Summary: Interactive models are best for explaining impersonal two-way communication
processes.

5. Osgood-Schramm Model

One Sentence Overview: The Osgood-Schramm model looks at reciprocal communication, showing
how we have to encode, decode, and interpret information in real-time during a conversation.

The Osgood-Schramm model explores communication that is equal and reciprocal.

It does not differentiate between the sender and receiver, but sees each as being in an equal position as
message encoders and decoders.

This model is best for explaining and examining personal synchronous communication where feedback is

immediate (such as face-to-face discussions). As feedback is immediate, noise can be reduced through
ongoing clarification of messages during the conversation.

6. The Westley And Maclean Model

One Sentence Overview: The Westley and Maclean model shows that our communication is influenced
by environmental, cultural and personal factors.

The Westley and Maclean model embraces the importance of feedback in communication. However, it also
emphasizes the important role of environmental and cultural factors in influencing communication. It shows

that the things we say and communicate are influenced by who we are, what our background is, and what
perspective we are approaching issues from. The model takes into account the object of orientation

(background, culture and beliefs) of the sender and receiver of messages. It also considers the message to
have been received and sent within a broader social context that needs to be considered to know and

understand the message.

The Transactional Models

Quick Summary: Transactional models explain direct personal communication processes where

two-way feedback is immediate.

7. Barnlund’s Transactional Model

One Sentence Overview: Barnlund’s Transactional Model of Communication highlights the role of
private and public cues that impact our messages.

Barnlund’s Transactional Model of Communication is a model that explores interpersonal, immediate-

feedback communication. Central to this approach is the idea that feedback for the sender is the reply for

the receiver.

This model also highlights the role of ‘cues’ in impacting our messages. Barnlund highlights the role of

public cues ​which are environmental cues, and private cues which are a person’s personal thoughts and
background. With this emphasis on cues, Barnlund’s model highlights the factors that influence what we
think and say.

8. Dance’s Helical Model

One Sentence Overview: Dance’s Helical Model sees communication as a circular process that gets
more and more complex as communication occurs, which can be represented by a helical spiral.

Dance’s Helical Model builds on circular models by explaining how we improve our messages over time by
using feedback. When we communicate with others, their feedback will influence our next statement.

We become more knowledgeable with each cycle of communication, enabling up to ‘expand our circle’, as
represented by the increasingly wider and wider circles. The movement up the spiral indicates that each

communication practice is new and different from the previous, as communication does not ever perfectly
repeat itself.

Final Thoughts

There are many mass communication theories (see for example: media richness theory, relational dialectics
theory, muted group theory, communication accommodation theory, and agenda setting theory).

However, the 8 communication models listed in this article are central models of communication that

highlight how communication occurs. They are theories that are necessary to know for communication
studies students as they help you understand the key components that make up communication in the 21st
Century.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Website | + posts

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over
20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher

Education.
1 Thought On “All 8 Models Of Communication, Explained!”

HUBERT
JANUARY 26, 2023 AT 6:43 PM

Wow. It was that I looking for for my assignment.

Seems that armies are working the same way since 300 BC 😉

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This Article was Last Expert Reviewed on December 21, 2022 by Chris Drew, PhD
 We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. All articles are edited by a PhD level
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Cite this Article in your Essay (APA Style)

Drew, C. (February 23, 2020). All 8 Models of Communication, Explained!. Helpful Professor.
https://helpfulprofessor.com/communication-models/

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