UGC NET Paper 1 – Communication: Complete Notes

UGC NET Communication – Complete Notes

(Combined: Short + Detailed)
Aligned with NTA UGC NET Paper 1 – Unit on Communication

Table of Contents
• Part A: Quick Revision Notes
• Part B: Detailed Notes
• 1. Nature, Purpose & Elements of Communication
• 2. Types & Levels of Communication
• 3. Models of Communication (Linear, Interactive, Transactional)
• 4. Barriers to Communication & Remedies
• 5. Non-verbal Communication (Types & Functions)
• 6. Classroom Communication & ICT in Education
• 7. Mass Communication, Media, and Theories
• 8. Ethics, Netiquette, and Media Literacy
• 9. Tables: Key Differences & Comparison
• 10. Practice Questions (2/3/5 marks) & MCQs
• Glossary of Key Terms

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UGC NET Paper 1 – Communication: Complete Notes

Part A: Quick Revision Notes

• Communication = Process of sharing meaning through symbols (verbal/non-verbal). Elements:
Sender, Message, Channel, Receiver, Feedback, Noise, Context.
• Functions: Informing, Persuading, Educating, Entertaining, Integrating, Socialising, Control.
• 7Cs: Clarity, Conciseness, Correctness, Completeness, Consideration, Courtesy, Concreteness.
• Levels: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Group, Organizational, Mass, Intercultural.
• Types: Verbal (Oral/Written), Non-verbal (Kinesics, Proxemics, Paralanguage, Haptics, Chronemics,
Oculesics, Appearance).
• Formal vs Informal; Upward, Downward, Horizontal, Diagonal flows.
• Models: Aristotle, Lasswell, Shannon–Weaver (Linear); Osgood–Schramm (Interactive); Dance
Helical, Barnlund (Transactional).
• Barriers: Semantic, Psychological, Organizational, Cultural, Physical/Mechanical; Remedies: 7Cs,
Active listening, Feedback, Redundancy, Simplified language.
• Classroom communication: Learner-centred, Feedback-rich, Multiple modalities (text, audio, visual,
activity).
• ICT: Email, LMS, MOOC, OER, Video-conferencing, Social media—use netiquette and media literacy.
• Mass media functions: Surveillance, Correlation, Cultural transmission, Entertainment, Mobilization;
Theories: Agenda-setting, U&G;, Two-step flow, Diffusion.

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UGC NET Paper 1 – Communication: Complete Notes

Part B: Detailed Notes

1) Nature, Purpose & Elements of Communication
Communication is a continuous, goal■oriented, social process of creating and sharing meaning by
sending and receiving messages through verbal and non■verbal symbols within a particular context. It
enables coordination, learning, culture sharing, and decision■making. Core elements include:
Sender/Source (originator), Encoding (turning ideas into symbols), Message (content), Channel
(medium), Noise (any interference), Receiver (target), Decoding (interpreting symbols), Feedback
(response), and Context (situational environment).
• Purposes: to inform, instruct, influence, integrate, entertain, and build relationships.
• Context types: physical, social, cultural, psychological, temporal.
• Channel richness: Face■to■face > Video > Phone > Email > Memo; choose based on ambiguity and
urgency.

2) Types & Levels of Communication

• Verbal: Oral (meetings, lectures, discussions), Written (letters, reports, email).
• Non■verbal: Body movements (kinesics), eye contact (oculesics), touch (haptics), space
(proxemics), voice features (paralanguage), time use (chronemics), artefacts/appearance (objectics).
• Flows in organizations: Upward (reports), Downward (instructions), Horizontal (coordination),
Diagonal (cross■level).
• Levels: Intrapersonal → Interpersonal → Group → Organizational → Mass → Intercultural.
• Formal vs Informal: Official channels vs grapevine; both are necessary when managed ethically.

3) Models of Communication
3.1 Linear Models
• Aristotle: Speaker → Speech → Audience → Effect (public speaking).
• Lasswell: Who says What in Which Channel to Whom with What Effect.
• Shannon–Weaver: Source → Transmitter → Channel (Noise) → Receiver → Destination; concepts
of redundancy & entropy.
• SMCR (Berlo): Source, Message, Channel, Receiver with emphasis on skills, attitudes, knowledge,
social system, culture.

3.2 Interactive Models

• Osgood–Schramm: Circular process—each acts as encoder/decoder/interpreter; emphasizes
feedback.
• Schramm’s Field of Experience: Effective communication occurs when sender/receiver fields
overlap.
• Westley–MacLean: Adds environment (events/objects) and gatekeepers in mass communication.

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UGC NET Paper 1 – Communication: Complete Notes

3.3 Transactional Models

• Dance’s Helical Model: Communication expands over time, integrating past experiences.
• Barnlund: Simultaneous, multi■channel exchange with cues from physical, physiological, semantic
contexts.

4) Barriers to Communication & Remedies

• Semantic: jargon, ambiguous words → Use plain language, define terms.
• Psychological: anxiety, bias, stereotyping → Empathy, counselling, supportive climate.
• Physical/Mechanical: noise, distance, poor devices → Improve infrastructure, redundancy.
• Cultural: different norms/values → Cross■cultural training, inclusive language.
• Organizational: hierarchy, information overload → Open channels, summaries, feedback loops.
• Perceptual: selective attention, halo effect → Active listening, paraphrasing.
Active Listening Steps: Attend → Reflect → Clarify → Summarize → Respond.

5) Non■verbal Communication (NVC)

• Functions: complementing, substituting, contradicting, regulating, accenting verbal messages.

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UGC NET Paper 1 – Communication: Complete Notes

• Kinesics: posture, gestures, facial expressions (Ekman’s basic affects).

• Proxemics (Hall): intimate (0–18 in), personal (1.5–4 ft), social (4–12 ft), public (12+ ft).
• Paralanguage: pitch, tone, rate, volume, pauses; avoids monotony, indicates emphasis.
• Chronemics: punctuality and time allocation convey respect and priority.
• Haptics: appropriateness of touch varies by culture and context.
• Appearance/Objectics: clothing, artefacts, workspace cues influence impressions.

6) Classroom Communication & ICT in Education

• Teacher roles: facilitator, motivator, moderator; build psychological safety.
• Techniques: questioning (open vs closed), wait■time, scaffolding, think■pair■share, concept maps.
• Materials: slides with visual hierarchy; avoid text■heavy; use examples and stories.
• Feedback: diagnostic (pre), formative (during), summative (post); rubrics for transparency.
• Inclusive strategies: multilingual support, UDL (multiple means of representation, action,
engagement).
• ICT tools: LMS (Moodle), MOOCs, OERs, video■conferencing, polling apps, forums; ensure
netiquette.

7) Mass Communication, Media, and Theories

• Functions: surveillance (news), correlation (analysis), cultural transmission (socialization),
entertainment, mobilization.
• Media types: print, radio, television, cinema, internet & social platforms; convergence and
participatory culture.
• Gatekeeping: selection and shaping of content by editors/algorithms.
• Two■step flow: opinion leaders mediate media effects.
• Uses & Gratifications: audiences actively seek gratification (information, identity, integration,
entertainment).
• Agenda■setting: media tell us what to think about (issue salience).
• Cultivation: long■term exposure shapes perceptions of reality (mean world syndrome).
• Diffusion of Innovations (Rogers): innovators → early adopters → early majority → late majority →
laggards; stages: knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, confirmation.

8) Ethics, Netiquette, and Media Literacy

• Ethical principles: accuracy, fairness, transparency, respect for privacy, avoidance of harm.
• Misinformation vs Disinformation vs Malinformation; verification habits and source triangulation.
• Academic integrity: plagiarism avoidance, citation basics; paraphrasing ethically.
• Netiquette: concise subject lines, respectful tone, no ALL CAPS, mindful of time zones, consent for
recording.
• Digital wellbeing: manage screen time and information overload; be mindful of echo chambers.

9) Key Differences & Comparison Tables

9.1 Oral vs Written Communication
Aspect Oral Communication Written Communication
Speed Fast, immediate Slower, time to compose
Feedback Instant Delayed
Record Poor record unless recorded Good permanent record
Suitability Informal, urgent, persuasion Formal, policy, complex details

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UGC NET Paper 1 – Communication: Complete Notes

9.2 Organizational Flows of Communication

Flow Purpose Examples
Downward Directives, goals Notices, manuals, briefings
Upward Feedback, reporting Surveys, reporting, grievances
Horizontal Coordination among peers Meetings, chats, emails

10) Practice Questions

Very Short (2 marks)
• Define ‘noise’ in communication with an example.
• List any four non■verbal channels.
• Write Lasswell’s communication formula.
• Differentiate ‘data’ and ‘information’ in one line each.

Short (3 marks)
• Explain the 7Cs of effective communication with any two examples.
• Illustrate the role of feedback in classroom teaching.
• What is ‘agenda■setting’? Provide a contemporary example.

Long (5 marks)
• Compare Shannon–Weaver, Osgood–Schramm, and Barnlund models with neat diagrams.
• Discuss barriers to communication in higher education and suggest remedies.
• Explain Uses & Gratifications theory and its implications for digital media campaigns.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Encoding: Converting ideas into symbols (words, images, gestures).
• Decoding: Interpreting received symbols to derive meaning.
• Noise: Any interference that distorts the message (semantic, physical, psychological).
• Redundancy: Repetition/backup information to counter noise.
• Gatekeeping: Control of information flow by editors/algorithms.
• Feedback: Response of the receiver that closes the loop.
• Proxemics: Use of space in communication.
• Paralanguage: Vocal qualities accompanying speech.
• Diffusion: Spread of innovations through social systems over time.

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