Applying Communication Theory for Professional Life

Marianne Dainton (MA, PhD, The Ohio State University; BA, Villanova University) is a professor of communication at La Salle University in Philadelphia. She teaches communication theory, interpersonal communication, group communication, and organizational communication. Marianne’s research focuses on communication that facilitates relationship maintenance. She has published in Communication Monographs, the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Family Relations, and Communication Quarterly, among others. She has also published numerous book chapters and is the co-editor (with Daniel Canary) of Maintaining Relationships Through Communication. Elaine D. Zelley (MA, PhD, The Pennsylvania State University; BA, Ursinus College) is an associate professor of communication at La Salle University in Philadelphia. She teaches communication theory; communication ethics; interpersonal communication; organizational communication; group communication; and sex, gender, and communication. Elaine’s interests focus broadly on women’s roles and relationships including in the workplace and friendships. She was recently a contributing researcher for a collaborative census report on The Gender Gap in Nonprofit Boardrooms. She has also developed pedagogical expertise in curriculum assessment and in understanding by design (UbD). She has published in Communication Yearbook and has also coauthored several book chapters dealing with the topics of relationship maintenance, friendship, and competition.

"A very practical book that focuses on application. It has clear and easy to follow descriptions of a wide variety of theories. And thecase studies are useful in helping to see how many theories can be applied to one situation."

• Chapter 1: Introduction to Communication TheoryChapter 2: Theory DevelopmentChapter 3: Cognition and Intrapersonal CommunicationChapter 4: Interpersonal CommunicationChapter 5: CultureChapter 6: PersuasionChapter 7: Strategic CommunicationChapter 8: Group CommunicationChapter 9: Organizational CommunicationChapter 10: Mass CommunicationChapter 11: Mediated CommunicationChapter 12: What Should a Communicator Do?