COMMUNICATION

THEORIES
ACM 2023

By: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama

Kanaker
‫بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬
 Objective and Interpretive
Communication Theories

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 3 01/11/2024

 The Class of Today

Objective Theories of Communication

Interpretive Theories of Communication

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 4 01/11/2024

 Introduction

96
theories
of com
in only
one
book

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 5 01/11/2024

 Introduction
• Communication theories are plenty, and there are different
views of categorizing them due to different ways of looking
at and studying communication. One of the views
categorizes communication theories into two types:
Objective Communication Theories and Interpretive
Communication Theories. These categories represent
different approaches to understanding and studying
communication processes. Each category has distinct
characteristics.
 Introduction
• Objective theories focus on understanding the mechanics
and patterns of communication. These theories often
focus on observable and measurable aspects of
communication. They look at things we can see and
measure, like how messages are sent and received.
 Introduction
• Interpretive theories highlight the subjective elements of
communication. They concentrate on how people create
and interpret meaning in communication, considering
cultural, social, and individual factors that influence the
communication process.
 Introduction
• The different categorizations of communication theories
provide a framework for understanding the diverse range
of communication theories and their underlying
perspectives.
• Scholars often draw from both objective and interpretive
theories to gain a more comprehensive view of
communication in different contexts.
 Objective Theories
• Objective = based on real facts and not
Objective influenced by personal beliefs or feelings
Theories (Cambridge Dictionary).
• In communication, objective theories focus
on the communication process as it
happens without the interpretation of
human being.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 10 01/11/2024

 Objective Theories
Nature:
Objective • Objective theories in communication are
Theories concerned with describing, explaining, and
predicting communication phenomena as
they are observed in the real world. They
aim to provide an objective and empirical
(experienced and tested) understanding of
communication processes.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 11 01/11/2024
 Objective Theories
Focus:
Objective • These theories focus on empirical research,
Theories data collection, and scientific analysis to
uncover patterns and regularities in
communication behavior. They seek to answer
questions like "How does communication
work?" and "What are the observable effects
of communication?"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 12 01/11/2024

 Objective Theories
Assumptions:
Objective • Objective theories assume that there are
Theories objective truths and universal principles in
communication that can be discovered
through systematic research.
• They aim to uncover general laws or
regularities in communication phenomena.
For example, the information flow in an
organization, where messages move from top
management down to lower levels.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 13 01/11/2024
 Objective Theories
Example:
Objective
• The Diffusion of Innovations Theory,
Theories developed by sociologist Everett Rogers
in 1962, is a widely recognized and
influential theory that explains how new
ideas, products, technologies, or
practices spread through a social system
or a community over time.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 14 01/11/2024
 Objective Theories
• Examples:
Objective • This theory seeks to understand the process
Theories by which innovations are adopted and
diffused by individuals or groups.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 15 01/11/2024

 Interpretive Theories
• Interpret = to decide what the intended
Interpretive
meaning of something (Cambridge Dictionary).
Theories
• Incommunication, "interpret" means to
understand and explain the meaning of a
message.
• How do you interpret the message that the girt
is trying to send in this photo?
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 Interpretive Theories
Nature:
Interpretive • Interpretive communication theories are a
Theories type of communication theories that try to
understand the meanings people ascribe
(give) to communication processes, as well as
the role of culture and context in shaping
these meanings. They often explore how
individuals create and interpret messages
through communication.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 17 01/11/2024
 Interpretive Theories
Nature:
Interpretive
• Interpretive theories of communication
Theories explore how people assign significance to
messages and how communication is
influenced by factors like language,
culture, and individual experiences.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 18 01/11/2024

 Interpretive Theories
Focus:
Interpretive
• Interpretive communication theories focus on
Theories
understanding communication as a process of
creating and interpreting meaning. These
theories emphasize the subjective and context-
dependent nature of communication,
exploring how individuals construct and
interpret messages in social interactions.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 19 01/11/2024
 Interpretive Theories
Focus:
Interpretive
• Interpretive theories delve (explore or
Theories
research) into the complexities of human
interaction and the role of interpretation
in communication. They emphasize the
subjective and context-dependent nature
of communication.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 20 01/11/2024

 Interpretive Theories
Assumptions:
Interpretive
• Interpretive communication theories
Theories assume that communication is not just
about transmitting information but also
about creating meaning. They emphasize
that meaning is subjective and can vary
based on personal interpretations, cultural
backgrounds, and social contexts.
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 Interpretive Theories
Example:
Interpretive
• Symbolic Interactionism theory: it was
Theories
developed by George Herbert Mead and
later extended by Herbert Blumer. It
posits that individuals create meaning
through the use of symbols (e.g., words,
gestures) and that this meaning arises
from social interactions.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 22 01/11/2024
 Interpretive Theories
Example:
Interpretive
• Symbolic interactionism explores how
Theories
individuals' interpretations of symbols
shape their behaviors, identities, and
relationships.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 23 01/11/2024

 Conclusion
• In summary, objective theories aim to provide an objective
and empirical understanding of communication processes
through research and analysis, while interpretive theories
emphasize the importance of understanding communication
within specific social and cultural contexts. The interpretive
theories provide valuable insights into how individuals assign
meaning to their interactions, negotiate identities, and
navigate the complexities of human communication.
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 Recap the Class of Today

Objective Theories of Communication

Interpretive Theories of Communication

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 25 01/11/2024

 THE END

‫السالم عليكم ورحمة هللا وبركاته‬

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osama Kanaker 26 01/11/2024