Understanding the Interactional Model of Communication

The interactional model of communication is an improvement over the basic linear model. While the linear model sees communication as a one-way street from sender to receiver, the interactional model adds feedback into the process. It views communication as a two-way process where participants alternate roles as sender and receiver, responding to each other's messages.

Let's analyze each statement provided regarding the main features of the interactional model of communication:

• A. It is best suited for new media. The interactional model, with its emphasis on feedback, is certainly applicable to many forms of new media (like email, instant messaging) where feedback is delayed but present. However, the model itself isn't *best suited* exclusively for new media. It can describe various forms of mediated communication (like telephone calls) and even certain face-to-face scenarios where participants take turns speaking. Therefore, saying it's *best suited* for new media might be too restrictive.
• B. The feedback is done in circles. This description sounds more like the transactional model of communication, where feedback is seen as continuous, simultaneous, and part of the ongoing interaction loop. In the interactional model, feedback is typically seen as sequential or delayed. One person sends a message, and then the other responds with feedback, but the interaction is often viewed as a series of turn-taking exchanges rather than a constant, overlapping circle of communication.
• C. It is associated with the concept of field of experience. This statement is accurate. Wilbur Schramm's model, a prominent example of an interactional model, explicitly incorporates the concept of "field of experience." This refers to the individual's accumulated life experiences, culture, and background. The model suggests that communication is more effective when the sender and receiver have overlapping fields of experience, which allows them to encode and decode messages using shared meanings.
• D. This model is also known as convergence model. The Convergence Model of communication, developed by Everett Rogers and D. Lawrence Kincaid, is closely related and often discussed alongside interactional and transactional models. It views communication as a process where participants come closer together or "converge" over time towards a mutual understanding through repeated interaction and feedback. While not always used interchangeably with the interactional model, the convergence model is fundamentally interactional (or transactional) in its approach, emphasizing the dynamic, two-way nature of communication and the achievement of shared meaning. In the context of major communication models, the convergence model is often categorized under the umbrella of interactive or transactional processes.
• E. Here the communication always happens between two familiar persons. The interactional model emphasizes how participants build shared meaning and understanding through interaction and feedback. While communication can occur between strangers, the concepts like shared field of experience (C) and the tendency towards convergence (D) imply a process of developing shared understanding and potentially familiarity over time. The model is perhaps most relevant and impactful in contexts where ongoing interaction between individuals (who may become familiar) leads to relationship development and improved mutual understanding. While it might not *always* be between already familiar persons at the very beginning, the model highlights the features that facilitate communication, especially as familiarity or shared understanding develops through interaction. Given this nuance and the other correct options, this statement aligns with the focus of the interactional model on the relationship and shared context built through exchange.

Based on the analysis, statements C, D, and E align with the features or related concepts of the interactional model of communication, especially when considering variations and extensions discussed in communication theory.

Therefore, the correct answer is C, D and E only.

Revision Table: Key Communication Models

Additional Information: Important Concepts in Communication Models

• Feedback: The response from the receiver back to the sender. It indicates understanding or provides reaction to the message. The type and timing of feedback differentiate models.
• Field of Experience: The sum of an individual's experiences, knowledge, culture, and background that influences how they encode and decode messages. Overlap in fields of experience is crucial for effective communication in models like Schramm's.
• Convergence Model: Focuses on communication as a process leading to mutual understanding between participants over time. It highlights how repeated interactions help individuals converge towards shared meaning and beliefs.
• Mediated Communication: Communication that occurs through a channel or medium, such as telephone, email, or social media, as opposed to face-to-face interaction. The interactional model is often used to explain certain forms of mediated communication.