Communication MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Communication - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is (a) - (i), (b) - (ii), (c) - (iii), (d) - (iv)

Key Points

• Shannon and Weaver Model-
  • ​Shannon and Weaver (1949) provided a visual mode of a communication system in relation to electronic media popularly referred to as Shannon and Weaver's model of communication or the ‘Mathematical model of communication’.
  • The communication model was initially published in the 1948 paper A Mathematical Theory of Communication and explains communication in terms of five basic components:
    • A source -  It produces a desired message out of a set of possible messages.
    • A transmitter - It changes the message into signals suitable for transmission.
    • A channel - It carries signals from the transmitter which transfer to the receiver
    • A receiver - It transfers the transmitted signals back into a message
    • A destination - It is the final consumer of the message.

• Berlo's model:
  • Berlo's model, developed by David Berlo in 1960, is a linear transmission model of communication.
  • Influenced by earlier models like the Shannon–Weaver model and Schramm's model, it is commonly known as the Source-Message-Channel-Receiver (SMCR) model, emphasizing its four key components: source, message, channel, and receiver.
  • Each of the main components comprises several key attributes.
  • Both the source and receiver share common attributes, including communication skills, attitudes, knowledge, and their social-cultural background.
    • Communication skills influence the encoding and decoding proficiency of the communicators, while attitudes affect their preferences toward the topic and each other.
  • The attributes of the message involve the code, content, treatment, elements, and structure.
    • The code is a sign system, such as language, used to transmit the message. 
  • The final key component is the channel, which signifies the medium and process of message transmission.
    • Berlo primarily addresses the channel with regard to the five senses employed in message decoding: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. 

• Davis Foulger`s Model:
  • Davis Foulger (2004) introduced his Ecological model in 2002 and refined it in 2004, serving as an elaboration of Lasswell's classic communication outline.
  • The model establishes key relationships between people, messages, language, media, and the communication they facilitate.
  • Communication between individuals, both creators and consumers, is mediated by three constructs.
  • Language is employed to construct messages within media.
  • The model visually represents these propositions, illustrating people communicating through the mediation of messages that are created and consumed using language within media.
  • Additionally, languages and media are portrayed as both learned and created.
  • The figure summarizes ten relationships, emphasizing that communication occurs at the intersection of four fundamental constructs.

• Helical model of Communication
  • ​Helical Model of communication, proposed by Frank Dance in 1967.
  • Frank Dance explains the communication process based on this Helix structure.

The Correct answer is (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) are correct.

Key Points

• According to Berlo, several source attributes affect how a message is conveyed:
  • Communication Skills: The sender’s ability to encode and express the message clearly using effective language determines how well the message is understood.
  • Attitudes: The sender’s feelings toward the receiver, topic, and communication influence the message’s tone and emotional impact.
  • Knowledge: A sender’s depth of understanding on the subject enhances the accuracy, credibility, and authority of the message.
  • Social System and Culture: The sender’s cultural and social background shapes the message’s framing, affecting its relevance and acceptance by different audiences.

Additional Information

• SMCR stands for Source-Message-Channel-Receiver model.
• It is a linear transmission model of communication.
• It is also referred to as the SMCR model, the Sender-Message-Channel-Receiver model, and Berlo's model.
• It was first published by David Berlo in 1960.
• It was published in the book The Process of Communication.
• It contains a detailed discussion of the four main components of communication (source, message, channel, and receiver) in the form of an analysis of the different features of each component.

The Correct answer is I and II only.

Key Points 

• Linear transmission models:
  • ​Linear transmission models are characterized by their depiction of communication as a one-way process, where a sender consciously transmits a message to a receiver, and the receipt of the message marks the conclusion of the process.
  • Owing to the absence of a feedback loop, the sender might remain unaware of whether the message effectively reached its intended destination.
  • They tend to prioritize the sender's perspective, neglecting the crucial role of the audience in the communication process.
  • Some scholars emphasize the limitations of these models by categorizing them as "action models" that primarily emphasize the actions of the sender.
  • Linear transmission models include well-known frameworks such as Aristotle's, Lasswell's, Shannon-Weaver's, and Berlo's model.

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• Interaction models:
  • ​In interaction models, communication participants engage in a reciprocal exchange of roles as senders and receivers.
  • Consequently, upon receiving a message, they generate a new message in response, which is then sent back to the original sender as feedback.
  • This interactive process transforms communication into a dynamic two-way interaction, increasing the intricacy of the model as participants continuously shift between the roles of sender and receiver.
  • In the context of interaction models, the sequence of events follows a clear pattern: the initial transmission of a message is succeeded by the reception of feedback, and this cycle continues iteratively.
  • An example of an early interaction model is Schramm's model, The Westley and Maclean model of communication, The Osgood-Schramm model of communication 

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• Transaction models:
  • ​Transaction models of communication distinguish themselves from interaction models in two fundamental ways.​​
    • Firstly, they conceptualize sending and responding as concurrent processes.
    • Secondly, transactional models underscore the dynamic nature of meaning creation within the communication process, highlighting that meaning does not exist independently before communication but is a product of it.
  • Transaction models of communication place a significant emphasis on the role of contextual factors and their influence on the exchange of information.
  • These contexts are typically categorized into social, relational, and cultural contexts.

• Constitutive models:
  • ​Constitutive models of communication propose that meaning is not a fixed entity but rather emerges through the very act of communicating.
  • This perspective implies that communication is not solely the transmission of predetermined packets of information but rather a creative process, diverging from the perspective commonly found in many transmission models.
  • According to Robert Craig, this view suggests that communication serves as a fundamental social phenomenon that cannot be adequately explained through psychological, cultural, economic, or other isolated factors. Instead, communication is understood as the cause of other social processes rather than merely a consequence of them.

The Correct answer is A, B, C, D and E.

Key Points

• Scholarly communication involves the sharing and publishing of research findings within the academic community, expanding beyond traditional formats (e.g., print) to include e-journals, pre-print servers, email, e-books, and more.
• It plays a crucial role in advancing research and knowledge.
• ACRL Definition: Scholarly communication is the system through which research and scholarly writings are created, evaluated, disseminated, and preserved. It includes formal publication in peer-reviewed journals and informal channels like email listservs.
• ACRL works with other higher education organizations to reform scholarly communication, emphasizing:
  • Broader access to published research.
  • Increased control by scholars over publishing systems.
  • Fair prices, competitive markets, and diversified publishing.
  • Open access (OA) and innovations that enhance accessibility and reduce costs.
  • Preservation and the right to privacy in scholarly use.
• Key Strategies:
  • Developing low-cost, OA journals and promoting editorial board control over journal business practices.
  • Supporting peer-reviewed open access journals and funding for OA publishing.
  • Encouraging institutional and disciplinary repositories for research outputs.
  • Self-archiving by scholars and retention of copyright for self-archiving.
  • Advocating for fair use policies and enhanced library access to electronic content.
  • Promoting national and campus advocacy to raise awareness about these issues.

Key Points

• Asynchronous reference transactions/services:​
  • It is a method of virtual reference where users, patrons, or clients submit questions, and librarians provide responses with a time gap between the question and the librarian's answer.
  • Interaction is without real-time conversation, and replies can be delayed.
  • Examples Include  E-mail, Webforms, and Ask A Service.
• ​Synchronous reference transactions/services:
  • ​It involves real-time information exchange, where questions receive immediate responses in a live interaction between users and reference librarians, earning it the label of real-time digital reference service.
  • Examples Include Vedio Conference. Instant Messaging Digital Reference Robots etc.

Additional Information

• Digital or virtual reference
  • It is an online library service where reference transactions occur through computer-mediated communication.
  • It involves remotely delivering reference information to users who prefer not to or cannot have in-person interactions. 
• Isochronous Communication:
  • Isochronous Communication is a data transmission method that combines asynchronous and synchronous approaches.
  • Like asynchronous communication, each character includes start and stop bits, but the idle time between characters is a fixed multiple of one character's time interval (t, 2t, 3t,... nt).
  • This ensures a predictable transmission rate within defined delay bounds (Tmin to Tmax).
  • Isochronous transmission offers low overhead, high-speed, and almost deterministic performance.
  • However, it requires fault-tolerant clocking devices for reliable operation.

The correct answer is Conrad & Poole:

Key PointsFew definitions of communication are:

• Conrad & Poole: “Communication is the process by which people interactively create, sustain and manage meaning” 
• US ARMY: “Communication is the exchange and flow of information and ideas from one person to another; it involves a sender transmitting an idea, information, or feeling to a receiver.”
• William Rice-Johnson: "A communication takes place when one individual, a sender, displays, transmits or otherwise directs a set of symbols to another individual, a receiver, with the aim of changing something, either something the receiver is doing (or not doing) or changing his or her world view. This set of symbols is typically described as a message." 
• Pranav Mistry: “Effective communication occurs only if the receiver
  understands the exact information or idea that the sender intended to transmit. Many of the problems that occur in an organization are either the direct result of people failing to communicate and/or processes, which leads to confusion and can cause good plans to fail."
• Peter Drucker: "The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said."

Additional Information

• Components of Communication:
  • Source,
  • Sender.
  • Channel,
  • Receiver,
  • Destination,
  • Message ,
  • Feedback.
  • Context.

The correct answer is "Semiotics".

Key Points

• Semiotics-
  • Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and their use of interpretation.
  • It is used to inform the receiver of what interpretation he/she should make in regard to the sign tree.

Additional Information

• Bionic-
  • The word bionic, coined by Jack E. Steele in August 1958, is a portmanteau from biology and electronics.
  • Bionics is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology.
  • It is also referred to as 'biologically inspired engineering'.
• Cybernetics-
  • The term cybernetics comes from the ancient Greek word kybernetikos (“good at steering”), referring to the art of the helmsman.
  • Norbert Wiener characterized cybernetics as concerned with "control and communication in the animal and the machine" which is considered the best definition of cybernetics.
  • The word 'cybernetics' was coined by a research group involving Norbert Wiener and Arturo Rosenblueth in the summer of 1947.
• Almetrics-
  • The term altmetrics was proposed in 2010, which is a generalization of article-level metrics.
  • Altmetrics uses public APIs across platforms to gather data with open scripts and algorithms. 

The Correct answer is ​Theodore M Newcomb.

Key Points

• Theodore M Newcomb’s Model of Communication (1953):
  • ​In 1953, Theodore Newcomb from the University of Michigan published a work titled "An Approach to the Study of Communicative Acts," which later became renowned as Newcomb's model. 
  • It is sometimes referred to as the "ABX" model due to its triangular or A-B-X system format.
  • The ABX model of communication is so named because it conceptualizes communication through three components:
    • ​two interacting parties (A and B) engaging in communication about a specific topic or object (X). 
  • Newcomb's perspective views communication as a "learned response to strain," arising from disparities between orientations.
  • The primary social function of communication, according to Newcomb, is to preserve equilibrium within the social system by managing these differing orientations.

Additional Information

• Dean C. Barnlund:
  • ​Dean Barnlund proposed the Transaction Model of Communication, which conceptualizes communication as a dynamic process where individuals construct social realities within various social, relational, and cultural settings. In this model, communication goes beyond the simple exchange of messages; instead, it serves multiple purposes for nurses:
    • Create relationships.
    • Form intercultural alliances.
    • Shape self-concept.
    • Engage with others in dialogue to create communities.
• Westley & MacLean:
  • ​The Westley and MacLean communication model, developed in 1957 by Bruce Westley and Malcolm S. MacLean Jr., applies to both interpersonal and mass communication.
  • The primary differentiation between the two lies in feedback: interpersonal communication involves direct and prompt feedback, whereas mass communication relies on indirect and slower feedback.
  • Westley and MacLean recognized that the communication process initiates when an individual receives a message from their surroundings.
•  Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication (1949):
  • ​In 1949, Claude Elwood Shannon and Warren Weaver introduced the first significant communication model for Bell Laboratories, laying the groundwork for various communication models and significantly improving the communication process across different fields.
  • The key features of this model include its linear nature, technical simplicity, clear identification of content or message (though challenging to interpret semantically), the dominant role of the information source as a decision-maker, and the impact/effectiveness of noise as a disruptive factor.

The correct answer is E, B, C, D, A.

Key Points

• Oral Communication:
  • Oral communication, which involves spoken words and gestures, is the oldest and most primitive form of human communication.
  • It predates recorded history and has been the primary means of communication for early human societies.
• Written Communication:
  • Written communication emerged as civilizations developed writing systems.
  • The earliest known writing systems date back to around 3200 BCE (such as cuneiform in Mesopotamia and hieroglyphs in Egypt).
  • This form of communication allowed information to be recorded and transmitted over time and space.
• Telecommunication:
  • Telecommunication, which involves the transmission of information over long distances, began with inventions like the telegraph (1837) and later the telephone (1876).
  • These innovations revolutionized long-distance communication by enabling real-time voice and text transmission over wires.
• Mass Communication:
  • ​ Mass communication evolved as print media, such as newspapers and magazines, became widely available in the 17th and 18th centuries.
  • Mass printing allowed information to be disseminated to a broad audience.
  • Later developments, like radio (early 20th century) and television (mid-20th century), further expanded mass communication by reaching even larger audiences.
• Internet-Based Communication:
  • ​Internet-based communication is the most recent form on this list.
  • The internet became a widespread communication platform in the late 20th century, starting in the 1960s with the development of ARPANET.
  • It has since evolved to include email, social media, video conferencing, and various other digital communication tools.
  • Internet-based communication has transformed how people connect and share information on a global scale.

The correct answer is E. Katz, M. Gurevitch, and H. Haas.

Key Points

• Katz, Gurevitch, and Haas said, "A number of basic human needs can be identified from the social and psychological functions of the mass media"
• Katz, Gurevitch, and Haas (1973) categorized 35 needs derived from the social and psychological roles of mass media into five groups:
  • Cognitive needs, such as acquiring information, knowledge, and understanding.
  • Affective needs, encompass emotions, pleasure, and feelings.
  • Personal integrative needs, include factors like credibility, stability, and status.
  • Social integrative needs, involve interaction with family and friends.
  • Tension release needs, catering to activities like escape and diversion.

Additional Information

• The Hypodermic Syringe model posits that mass media exerts a direct, immediate, and influential impact on audiences by delivering information directly into the collective consciousness of the masses (Watson & Hill, 1997)
• In a 1974 study by Katz, Blumler, and Gurevitch, five key assumptions were outlined to establish a framework for understanding the relationship between media and audiences:
  • Active Audience:
  • Audience Initiative:
  • Competition with Other Sources
  • Self-Reported Goals
  • Cultural Neutrality
• McGuire (1974) proposed a more detailed breakdown of audience motivations, drawing from a general theory of human needs. He introduced two fundamental types of needs: cognitive and affective.

The Correct answer is Semantics:

Key Points

• Semantics:
  • ​it is the study of reference, meaning, or truth.
  • The term can be used to refer to subfields of several distinct disciplines, including philosophy, linguistics, and computer science.
  • In linguistics, semantics is the subfield that studies meaning.
  • In present-day philosophy, the term "semantics" is often used to refer to linguistic formal semantics, which bridges both linguistics and philosophy.
  • In computer science, the term semantics refers to the meaning of language constructs, as opposed to their form (syntax). 

Additional Information

• Plagiarism involves using someone else's work or ideas without giving them credit, which is a form of intellectual theft and violates ethical standards in research.
• Epidemiology is the study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people and why. Epidemiological information is used to plan and evaluate strategies to prevent illness and as a guide to the management of patients in whom the disease has already developed.
• Epistemology is defined as the 'Theory of Knowledge'. It is a branch of philosophy that investigates the origin, nature, methods, and processes of acquiring knowledge.

The Correct answer is A ‐ I, B ‐ III, C ‐ II, D ‐ IV.

Key Points

• Strategic sharing:
  • ​Strategic sharing refers to the deliberate and planned sharing of resources, information, or strategies to achieve specific goals or outcomes.
  • This type of sharing is often used to optimize processes and make the best use of available resources, ultimately leading to increased efficiency.
  • Strategic Sharing is a deliberate way to share personal stories with a specific objective in mind.
  • The concept of Strategic Sharing was born within the National Foster Care Movement in the United States during the 1990s.
• Paradigmatic sharing:
  • ​Paradigmatic sharing typically involves sharing new and innovative research approaches or paradigms.
  • It refers to the dissemination of groundbreaking methods, ideas, or concepts that challenge or distinguish themselves from existing norms or practices.
• Directive sharing:
  • ​Directive sharing typically occurs in educational settings, where teachers share information, guidance, or instructions with students.
  • It involves a one-way flow of information from the instructor to the learner, often used for educational purposes.
•  Social sharing:
  • ​Social sharing involves sharing experiences, knowledge, or resources within a social or community context.
  • It emphasizes the building of relationships, collaboration, and community-based activities where individuals contribute to a shared goal or purpose.

The Correct answer is To convert the message into signals.

Key Points

• Shannon-Weaver Model of Communication (1948):
  • ​In 1948, Claude Shannon (mathematician & engineer) and Warren Weaver (scientist) introduced the Shannon-Weaver Model of Communication in the Bell System Technical Journal.
  • Originally designed to enhance technical communication, it later became a foundational model in communication studies.
• Key Components of the Model:
  • Sender (Information Source): Originates the message.
  • Encoder (Transmitter): Converts the message into signals (e.g., voice into sound waves or binary data for transmission).
  • Channel: The medium through which the message travels (e.g., cables, satellites).
  • Noise: External disturbances affecting transmission (e.g., network issues, environmental sounds).
  • Decoder: Converts signals back into a comprehensible message.
  • Receiver: The final destination of the message.
• Key Features:
  • Focuses on external noise that disrupts communication.
  • Highlights encoding & decoding processes in message transmission.
  • Originally developed for technical applications, later applied broadly in communication theory.

The Correct answer is A, D, C, B.

Key Points

• ​Harold Lasswell’s Model of Communication (1948):
  • ​Harold Lasswell, author of Structure and Function of Communication in Society developed a model of communication in 1948.
  • His model includes:
    • Who
    • Says What
    • In Which Channel
    • To Whom
    • With what effect
  • Lasswell’s 5 Ws model considers message flow in a multicultural society with multiple audiences.

• Wilbur Schramm & Osgood Model of Communication (1954):
  • ​Wilbur Schramm and Charles Osgood developed a Circular Model to show how communication works between two or a few persons in 1954.
  • The circular model is devoted to two actors who reciprocate in identical functions throughout encoding, decoding, and interpreting.

• ​​​​

• The SMCR Model:

  • ​SMCR stands for Source-Message-Channel-Receiver model.

  • It is a linear transmission model of communication.
  • It is also referred to as the SMCR model, Sender-Message-Channel-Receiver model, and Berlo's model.
  • It was first published by David Berlo in 1960.

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• Circular Model of Lee Thayer:
  • ​In 1968, Lee Thayer introduced a circular model of communication, highlighting the dynamic and evolving nature of the communication process over focusing on specific components or directions of influence.
  • Additionally, Thayer advocated for a translation model of communication, which specifically centers on the translation of messages from one language to another.

The Correct answer is a Linear model.

Key Points

• Linear communication models encompass theories that propose communication occurring in a singular direction.
• These theories often delineate the roles of senders and receivers, depicting communication as a unidirectional process.
• Examples include:
  • Aristotle's model of communication
  • Shannon-Weaver model of communication
  • Berlo's SMCR model of communication

Additional Information

• The interaction model:
  • ​The interaction model of communication presents communication as a dynamic process where participants interchange roles as senders and receivers.
  • They create meaning by sending messages and receiving feedback, all within the framework of physical and psychological contexts.
  • Unlike the transmission model which emphasizes the transmission and reception of messages, the interaction model prioritizes the communication process itself.
• Transactional Model:
  • ​The transaction model of communication views communication as a dynamic process where communicators construct social realities within various contexts, such as social, relational, and cultural settings.
  • Unlike merely exchanging messages, communication in this model serves broader purposes, including building relationships, forming intercultural alliances, shaping self-concepts, and participating in dialogues to establish communities.
  • Communication is not just a means to convey existing realities; it actively contributes to shaping and constructing our realities.
• Helical Model of Communication
  • ​Helical Model of communication, proposed by Frank Dance in 1967.
  • Frank Dance explains the communication process based on this Helix structure.

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Important Points

• Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication:
  • ​The first major model for communication came in 1949 by Claude Elwood Shannon and Warren Weaver for Bell Laboratories.