COMM 1225 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Communication Theory, Convenience Store, Hypodermic Needle

• School: Northeastern University
• Department: Communication Studies
• Course: COMM 1225
• Professor: Susan L.Mello

Document Summary

Theory: a theory is a scienti cally testable idea that attempts to explain a relationship between concepts. Helps us make sense of the world: better understood using description metaphors: Nets: a tool to grasp an elusive concept. Uncle tom"s cabin (1852) is being recognized as in uential ins saying public opinion towards the abolitionist cause. Recorded discussion about its in uence among writers and orators at the time: other massively in uential publications: communist manifesto, on the origin of species, the. Jungle: war of the worlds (1938): cbs radio broadcast of h. g. Science ction thriller of martian invasion of earth. Power of the radio on full display; contributed to early theories of powerful media e ects: major bias of historical evidence" of media e ects: favors massive/powerful e ects. Most social scientists presumed media e ects were powerful ( bullet or hypodermic needle theory)