Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Theoretical Models of Communication
Course Code
KSK_127
Branch of Science
Media and communications
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Communication Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Ilva Skulte
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To provide an overview of the most important communication models and theories, as well as possibilities offered by them in interpretation and analysis of the most important problems of journalism, public relations and communication
Preliminary Knowledge
Courses “Analysis of Communication Situations”, “Media Theories”
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Students know and can name and characterise main theoretical directions and schools, as well as models for explanation of communication processes, as well as know main variables in different conceptual models of communication.
Skills
1.After a successful mastering of the study course students will be ready: • to characterise in a systemic and abstract way communication processes and main actors involved; • to critically and analytically evaluate communication practice problems within the scope of a certain theoretical paradigm; • to form the theoretical basis for Master’s thesis.
Competences
1.Students are able to chose and use the most relevant theoretical approach and model for their research and analysis of media and communication
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Individual work |
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To read scientific articles, which reveal the interpretation of communication of different authors
To understand the specific of each approach. To prepare the following questions:
-What topics are discussed in the article?
-What theoretical paradigm such a view belongs to?
-What can you learn from it?
-How may/ do the theoretical considerations help me understand the question of my Master’s thesis?
-What methods are used for data acquisition to justify theoretical considerations?
To understand the topic of my Master’s thesis theoretically and to model communication processes and problems in the selected situation.
To write an essay and to present it to study peers.
In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Examination |
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-
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To finalize the course students are asked to write an essay on the usage of theoretical model in the context of their topic of Master's thesis. Examination is planned as a presentation and discussion of this model
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2.
Examination |
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Attendance of and activity at lectures and seminars, tasks of seminars, essay, examination.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Understanding of communication and communication science. Modelling as a method of science. Development of theoretical communication thought and diversity of communication models. Communication levels and communication models. Multilevel models.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Rhetoric (Aristotle). Language psychology and philosophy (K. Bealer vs. L. Wittgenstein). Semio-structuralism (F. De Saussure, Jakobson, Grimes, Barthes). Speech act theory (Austin and Searle).
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Linguistic models of communication.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Models of communicative action and perception models.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Information theory and mathematical communication models. C. Shannon. W. Weaver, W. Meyer-Eppler. Linear basic model development (Berlo, Osgood-Schramm).
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Sociological communication models I. Society, interaction, behaviour and communicative action.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Modelling of a public communication situation.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Theoretical models of communication in the new media age.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Development and presentation of the theoretical model of Master’s thesis.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Development and presentation of the theoretical model of Master’s thesis.
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
20 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Aristotle. Rhetoric.
2.
Castells, M. The Network Theory of Power. //International Journal of Communication 5 , 2011, pp. 773–787
3.
De Saussure, F.Saussure's Third Course of Lectures on General Linghuistics (1910-1911).
4.
Evolution of Three Media Effects Models. In: Journal of Communication, 2007, nr. 57,pp.9-20.
5.
Habermas, J. Communicative Ethics. (1998)
6.
Hall, S. Encoding, decoding.
8.
Luhman, N. The reality of the mass media. – Cambridge; Polity Press, 2000.
9.
Liotārs, Ž.F. Postmodernais stāvoklis. Pārskats par zināšanām. - Rīga, LMC, 2008.
10.
Lyotard, J.F. (1979) The Postmodern Condition.A Report on Knowledge.
11.
McQuail, D. Windahl, S. Communication Models for Study of Mass Communication. - London: Longman, 1993.
12.
Michel Foucault (1969). The Archæology of Knowledge Chapter 1. The Unities of Discourse.
13.
Ostins, Dž.L. Kā darīt lietas ar vārdiem. – Rīga: Liepnieks un Rītups, 2011.
14.
Scheufele, D., Tewksbury, D. Framing, Agenda Setting, and Priming: The
15.
Scolari, C.Mapping conversations about new media: the theoretical field of digitalcommunication// New Media Society, 2009, 11, pp. 943 – 963
16.
Weaver, W. Recent Contributions to The Mathematical Theory of Communication.
17.
Bennett, W. L., & Pfetsch, B. (2018). Rethinking political communication in a time of disrupted public spheres. Journal of communication, 68(2), 243-253.
18.
Deuze, M. (2020). The role of media and mass communication theory in the global pandemic. Communication today, 11(2), 4-16.
19.
Lull, J. (2019). Evolutionary communication: An introduction. Routledge.
20.
Guzman, A. L., & Lewis, S. C. (2020). Artificial intelligence and communication: A human–machine communication research agenda. New media & society, 22(1), 70-86.
21.
Moffett, J. W., Folse, J. A. G., & Palmatier, R. W. (2021). A theory of multiformat communication: mechanisms, dynamics, and strategies. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 49, 441-461.
22.
Van Dijck, J., Nieborg, D., & Poell, T. (2019). Reframing platform power. Internet Policy Review, 8(2), 1-18.
Additional Reading
1.
Borch, C. Systemic Power : Luhmann, Foucault, and Analytics of Power // Acta Sociologica 48 / 2005, pp. 155 – 167
2.
Habermas, J. Political Communication in Media Society: Does Democracy Still Enjoy an Epistemic Dimension? The Impact of Normative Theory on Empirical Research // Communication Theory 16 (2006) 411–42
3.
Manovich, L. The Practice of Everyday Media Life.
4.
Mulligan, K. The Essence of Language: Wittgenstein’s Builders and Buhler’s Bricks. In: Revue de Métaphysique Et de Morale, 1997
5.
Williams. D. Virtual Cultivation: Online Worlds, Offline Perceptions.// Journal of Communication, 56, 2006, pp. 69–87
6.
van Dijck, J., & Lin, J. (2022). Deplatformization, platform governance and global geopolitics: Interview with José van Dijck. Communication and the Public, 7(2), 59-66.