Information

Within the field of Communications, human behavior such as facial expression, speech, symbols, hand signals, and body language are all considered information. In Communications, information is characterized by communicative behavior that constructs messages and also by communication is being used. This information is conveyed most through written scholarly compositions covering observed human behavior and methods of observing human behavior. When studying communication the scope through which behavior is deemed communicative, is broad and all encompassing. Any message, verbal or physical, exchanged between two or more individuals is considered communicative information. In Communications, information is most often obtained through the observation of human-to-human interaction and/or human behavior in real-time or through the assessment of previously recorded communicative encounters.

“Communication constitutes reality” (p.8 Littlejohn and Foss), and thus reality sustains the circulation of studied information in the field. Given that, “communication is the primary process by which human life is experienced” (p.8 Littlejohn and Foss), valueless information on this discipline cannot truly exist. Communication within and across cultures is conceptually ever expanding. There is always more to be learned as society works towards a genuine grasp on communicating; as such, mediums through which it is formatted for study, are constantly evolving. Though there are negative facets to communication, all observable information is beneficial to garnering a comprehensive mastery of the field. Moreover, all information within Communications is rooted in theory. “Communication theory can refer to a single theory, or it can be used to designate the collective wisdom found in the entire body of theories related to communication” (p.19 Littlejohn and Foss). When evaluating communication, there are four major dimensions of theory through which information is presented for analysis. The dimensions used are, “philosophical assumptions, concepts, explanations, and principles” (p.20 Littlejohn and Foss).