Communications and Media

Explore the relationship between communication theory and research. Your goal is to use a
research article to help you understand and suggest revisions to the theory of your choice.
Choose one of the theories listed below:
• Coordinated Management of Meaning of Pearce & Cronen
• Expectancy Violations Theory of Burgoon
• Uncertainty Reduction Theory of Berger
• Interactional View of Watzlawick
• Social Judgment Theory of Sherif
• Cognitive Dissonance Theory of Festinger
• Elaboration Likelihood Model of Petty and Cacioppo
• Uses and Gratifications of Katz
For the theory that you choose, you must locate and read a peer-reviewed, research-based
journal article that explicitly addresses the theory. The article should have been published within
the previous 5 years (since 2010). For examples of appropriate journals, see the list posted on
McGraw Hill’s website for the textbook.
In your paper, address the following questions:
Briefly describe the key components of the theory. Which of the primary concepts and
relationships of the theory does the article test? What are the study results? Based on the
results, how should the theory be revised? Be sure to include both your thoughts and those of
the article’s authors.