Measuring latent traits is central to quantitative listening research and has been the focus of many studies. One such prominent measurement instrument, based on the Wolvin and Coakley (1993) listening taxonomy, was developed by Ford, Wolvin, and Chung (2000). Subsequent validation research (Mickelson & Welch, 2012) called for revisiting and…

Robert Bostrom has not only left a listening legacy, but he was also a pioneer in the larger discipline of communication. Bostrom was one of the first scholars to focus on the dynamics of interpersonal contexts, thereby directly contributing to the transition of our field from "speech" to "communication." Early on he recognized the importance of…

Many people influence us throughout our lives, and sometimes we are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to reflect upon the influence. Often, this is more challenging than it sounds, as some people become a part of our DNA, inextricably linked to who we are, what we believe, and how we work. Such is the case of the influence of Robert (Bob)…

Message interpretation, the notion that individuals assign meaning to stimuli, is related to listening presage, listening process, and listening product. As a central notion of communication, meaning includes (a) denotation and connotation, and (b) content and relational meanings, which can vary in ambiguity and vagueness. Past research on message…

For more than 50 years, business professionals and some researchers have held that effective listening is a highly desirable workplace skill (Cooper, 1997; Husband, Cooper, & Monsour, 1988; Nichols & Stevens, 1957; Rogers & Rothlisberger, 1952; Sypher, 1984). However, listening as an organizational variable continues to be seen as a "soft" skill…

Extending past research, the present study provides an initial examination of the relationship between trait-like personality variables, communicator style, and individual listening preferences. A series of canonical correlations were run to ascertain to what degree certain communication preferences and trait-like personality variables are related…

Explores the effects of self-regulation strategies on 35 undergraduate students' perception of a listening situation. Selects three different metacognitive strategies for closer investigation: interest management, asking pre-questions, and elaboration techniques. Finds that results support the hypothesis that these strategies, when appropriately…

Examines the relationship between listening style preference and jurors' assignment of negligence and damages. Notes that 90 men and 84 women drawn from introductory communication courses viewed videotaped attorney presentations and the judge's instructions from an actual court case. Indicates that participants with a people-oriented listening…

Describes the polyphonic nature of the discursive field of education and the interplay between various contexts and contextual resources. Videotapes eight preservice teachers over a 6-month period as they talked with a tutor. Adopts the concept of intertextuality as a method to identify the polyphony of different voices. Finds some students have a…

Explores a new concept, listening fidelity, and a procedure for measurement. Defines listening fidelity as the degree of congruence between the cognitions of a listener and the cognitions of a source following a communication event. Finds sufficient support for the concept of listening fidelity to be considered a meaningful variable that merits…

Describes a study which examined the current matriculation preferences and developmental changes in particular listening habits of medical students during their first year of medical education. Notes that results indicated significant differences between the "people" orientation and the "content" and "time" orientations. Suggests the need for…

Confirms the multidimensionality of the listening process identified in previous research via the establishment of five listening dimensions. Notes that cognitive, affective, behavioral/verbal, behavioral/nonverbal, and behavioral/interactive dimensions provide a conceptually meaningful framework for explicating the listening process. Discusses…

Compares video and audio stimuli for listening assessment as well as multiple choice and constructed response modes, using modifications of the ACT Work Keys Listening and Writing assessment and the ACT Work Keys Listening for Understanding prototype. Confirms that examinees do less well on constructed response than on multiple choice responses.…

Investigates the knowledge about listening strategies among German university students. Shows that the scope of listening skills is rather limited even among experienced listeners and that there is considerable room for modifying listening behavior. Argues that listening represents a set of activities that control and shape the cognitive processes…

Examines differences in communication and listening predispositions and communication competence across ethnicity. Notes subjects were 275 undergraduates enrolled in an introductory communication course. Contributes to the discussion of the growing cultural diversity in the educational and work contexts of the United States. Provides further…