COM3131
Interpersonal
Communication
Q & A w/ Rationales
2024
,1. Alice and Bob are colleagues who work on the same
project. Alice often sends Bob long and detailed emails
with instructions and feedback, while Bob prefers to
communicate verbally or through short messages. Alice
feels frustrated that Bob does not read her emails carefully
and misses important information. Bob feels overwhelmed
by Alice's emails and thinks she is micromanaging him.
What type of interpersonal communication barrier are they
facing?
a) Semantic barrier
b) Psychological barrier
c) Physical barrier
d) Cultural barrier*
Rationale: A cultural barrier occurs when people have
different norms, values, beliefs, or expectations about
communication. Alice and Bob have different
communication styles and preferences, which may be
influenced by their cultural backgrounds, personalities, or
experiences. They need to recognize and respect their
differences and find a way to communicate effectively.
2. Carol and Dave are friends who met online. They chat
regularly through text messages and video calls, but they
have never met in person. They decide to meet for the first
time at a coffee shop. When they see each other, they hug
and smile, but they also feel awkward and nervous. They
realize that their online communication was different from
their face-to-face communication. What aspect of
, interpersonal communication are they experiencing?
a) Channel richness*
b) Feedback
c) Context
d) Noise
Rationale: Channel richness refers to the amount of
information that can be transmitted through a
communication channel. Face-to-face communication is the
richest channel, as it allows for verbal and nonverbal cues,
such as tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures, eye
contact, etc. Online communication is less rich, as it may
limit or eliminate some of these cues. Carol and Dave are
adjusting to the change in channel richness and the impact
it has on their interpersonal communication.
3. Erin and Frank are siblings who have a close
relationship. They often tease each other and use sarcasm
and humor in their conversations. They understand each
other's intentions and emotions well, even when they say
something that may seem rude or mean to others. What
type of interpersonal communication code are they using?
a) Restricted code
b) Elaborated code
c) Idiolect
d) Sociolect*
Rationale: A sociolect is a variety of language used by a
specific social group. Erin and Frank have developed their
own sociolect as siblings, which reflects their shared
experiences, values, and attitudes. Their sociolect allows
them to communicate effectively with each other, but it
Interpersonal
Communication
Q & A w/ Rationales
2024
,1. Alice and Bob are colleagues who work on the same
project. Alice often sends Bob long and detailed emails
with instructions and feedback, while Bob prefers to
communicate verbally or through short messages. Alice
feels frustrated that Bob does not read her emails carefully
and misses important information. Bob feels overwhelmed
by Alice's emails and thinks she is micromanaging him.
What type of interpersonal communication barrier are they
facing?
a) Semantic barrier
b) Psychological barrier
c) Physical barrier
d) Cultural barrier*
Rationale: A cultural barrier occurs when people have
different norms, values, beliefs, or expectations about
communication. Alice and Bob have different
communication styles and preferences, which may be
influenced by their cultural backgrounds, personalities, or
experiences. They need to recognize and respect their
differences and find a way to communicate effectively.
2. Carol and Dave are friends who met online. They chat
regularly through text messages and video calls, but they
have never met in person. They decide to meet for the first
time at a coffee shop. When they see each other, they hug
and smile, but they also feel awkward and nervous. They
realize that their online communication was different from
their face-to-face communication. What aspect of
, interpersonal communication are they experiencing?
a) Channel richness*
b) Feedback
c) Context
d) Noise
Rationale: Channel richness refers to the amount of
information that can be transmitted through a
communication channel. Face-to-face communication is the
richest channel, as it allows for verbal and nonverbal cues,
such as tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures, eye
contact, etc. Online communication is less rich, as it may
limit or eliminate some of these cues. Carol and Dave are
adjusting to the change in channel richness and the impact
it has on their interpersonal communication.
3. Erin and Frank are siblings who have a close
relationship. They often tease each other and use sarcasm
and humor in their conversations. They understand each
other's intentions and emotions well, even when they say
something that may seem rude or mean to others. What
type of interpersonal communication code are they using?
a) Restricted code
b) Elaborated code
c) Idiolect
d) Sociolect*
Rationale: A sociolect is a variety of language used by a
specific social group. Erin and Frank have developed their
own sociolect as siblings, which reflects their shared
experiences, values, and attitudes. Their sociolect allows
them to communicate effectively with each other, but it
