Overview

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"Mediated communication" in the course title refers to communication that is not face-to-face. As such, it encompasses any communication involving some form of technology (new and old, high-tech and low-tech, mass and interpersonal). Thus, in this course we will explicitly and extensively address the role of channel in the communication process. This is a daunting challenge as the scope of this topic touches not only on every traditional area of communication but also requires re-examining basic assumptions about communication itself. However, I believe that the effort is important and worthwhile because - like it or not - we live at a time when communication technologies are becoming ubiquitous and indispensable in our personal and professional lives.

I also believe this topic is a crucial complement to traditional areas of focus in the communication field because the vast majority of communication research and theory has tended to overlook the role of the communication channel. Most of what we know about interpersonal communication assumes the interaction is face-to-face. Everyday experience suggests that significant portions of interpersonal communication are mediated by newer and older technologies, and that the channel makes a difference. Decades of mass communication studies assume a technology is required (e.g., television, radio, newspaper) but scholars rarely examine the channel itself. In an age where mass communication is becoming demassified and interactive with the emergence of digital technologies, the importance of understanding new technologies' role in reshaping mass communication processes is obvious.

My overriding goal in this course is to provide you with a foundation of knowledge and analytical approaches that will enable you to become an effective evaluator and user of mediated forms of communication. I believe that this will be invaluable in your careers and personal lives as a citizen living in the Information Age.

Course Objectives

Through your experience in this seminar, you can expect to …

… Develop your knowledge of the evolution of theory development regarding communication technologies through a historically-structured review of the literature;

… Gain an understanding of key theoretical perspectives addressing the social uses of communication technologies through a review of prominent theories;

… Deepen your critical understanding of theories of communication technologies through an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the theories;

… Strengthen your scholarly skills (literature reviews, research question development) through identifying a specific area of interest for an in-depth analysis and project proposal;

… Hone your understanding of the relationship between theory and the real world through an application of foundational concepts and principles to current challenges related to the development and application of new communication technologies in various contexts and across levels of analysis.

Major Course Phases

The course will be in three phases:

1. Conceptual overview
At the outset, we will take a broad look at the topic to lay a foundation for addressing the issue of "How can we understand mediated communication?" We will read and discuss perspectives of scholars attempting to provide a basic framework for thinking about the role of technology in communication processes.

2. Theoretical perspectives on mediated communication
Next we will examine a range of specific approaches to communication technologies that have emerged in recent years. Most of the work has been produced by organizational communication scholars focusing on computer-mediated communication. However, there is research on other mediated forms, and a literature on mediated communication from an interpersonal/relational perspective is emerging. However, "mediated communication" also encompasses mass communication, and some mass media scholars have developed ideas regarding the role of "mediation" in communication processes. We will look at where the two areas might intersect, especially in light of convergence technologies such as the Web.

3. Explorations of mediated communication issues in context
This is when you are to pursue your own interests in exploring issues related to the implications of mediated communication. You are to focus on incorporating or developing a specific perspective toward mediated communication drawing from course materials and from self-directed literature searches. You are to use that perspective as a lens for examining communication in a specific setting or regarding a specific process that is of most relevance, utility, or interest to you (subject to my approval). Possible directions will be discussed in class. This process will, of course, culminate in the term paper.