Does the Internet Make You Dumber? Research Paper Example

Importance of Basic Communication Skills

Communication is vital to one’s business surviving. Human beings, by nature, are very sociable and enjoy interacting and communicating with each other. The workplace is no different than any other.  Being unable to properly communicate is the root cause of most broken relationships-both business and personal. In order for one to be able to properly communicate, he/she must be aware that communication is multi-faceted. True communication involves sharing information, feelings and ideas with others. Emmanuel says, “Dozens of studies support the fact the communication skills are essential for success in a number of areas. Students at most colleges and universities are required to take only one communication course – either a hybrid basic course in the fundamentals of oral communication or public speaking”( pg. 153 ).  In today’s tech savvy world, communication is all around us. As a result, sometimes one may not even be aware that he/she is communicating, specifically when it is in the nonverbal form. Human beings use various verbal and nonverbal cues to communicate with each other. There are several important factors of communication; some factors are verbal and others are nonverbal. Being able to effectively communicate is a powerful to have. For example, Morreale, Osborn, & Pearson say,

Competence in oral communication – in speaking and listening – is prerequisite to students’ academic, personal, and professional success in life. Indeed, teachers deliver most instruction for classroom procedures orally to students. Students with ineffective listening skills fail to absorb much of the material to which they are exposed ( pg, 8).

Effective communication connects people to one another. Body language, facial expressions, posture, gestures, eye contact, and even voice tone can both positively and negatively affect interpersonal relationships. A great deal can be said without a person even opening his or her mouth to utter one word. Likewise, even when a person speaks he/she may still be misunderstood due to faulty body language or cues.  Nonverbal cues can be described as behaviors; they can consist of posture, facial expressions, body and hand motions, and eye contact. Verbal communication can be described primarily by words spoken.  Both verbal and nonverbal communication can play an important role in the workplace; consequently, they are equally important.

Importance of the Class

Adequate person to person contact requires critical thinking skills. These skills are acquired through contact with other people.  In a survey conducted on a college campus in California, it was discovered that nearly 83 percent of the students surveyed admitted that they preferred text messaging, emailing, or other forms of communicating over face to face conversation (Olsen, 2015).  Consequently, it is very important that students take a public speaking class in order to reinforce skills they have loss due to technology use. Morreale, Osborn, & Pearson add:

“Beyond the confines of school, oral communication competence can contribute to individuals’ social adjustment and participation in satisfying interpersonal relationships. Youngsters with poor communication skills are sometimes viewed as less attractive by their peers and enjoy fewer friendships” (pg, 13).

Lack of face to face communication depletes social skills.  The use of computers creates a sense of anonymity allowing users to create multiple personas (Turkle, 102). People are able tweet Twitter messages via social media and other forms of technology daily. Tweeting has a number limit on words that confines the writer to lingo. Often one will see them in a social setting, but instead of having a conversation with the people around them, they are messaging.  The constant lack of communicating with others will lead to isolation and the lack of ability to use the skill. Morreale, Hugenbert, & Worley found that “basic course instruction is important because it is closely related to the demands from on and off campus to assess student learning outcomes across all sections of this one course” ( pg. 416  ). Those who spend the majority of their time communicating via technology will drift away from family and friends.  They spend so much time on media sites because they can become who they want to be. For example, “they can play many selves and none of these characters are any less real than what they think is their true self “(Turkle, 99). Turkle conveys that this can adversely affect the way in which a person’s personality develops (Turkle, 103).  Initially, the person may feel this is not a problem, but eventually they suffer from depression and anxiety about person to person contact (Carr, 5). In the future, these young people will have difficulty with job interviewers. Being able to hold a conversation with a live person may prove impossible.  Depending upon the type of job they choose, it may be difficult to perform job duties such as making eye contact and paying attention to details. People who lack these essential communication skills will not be able to perform in a professional setting. For example, “College graduates also need to refine their listening skills; they need to identify important issues or problems, draw conclusions, and understand others to better manage conflict and empathize with their colleagues”( Rubin& Morreale, 59   ). Being able to adequately communicate requires much more than speaking ability. Body language is just as important. When young people have not been exposed to body language and gestures, they may miss many unspoken cues.  Another common complaint about people is the fact they are unaware of what personal space is. They often stand too close or cross personal boundaries when they are in social settings. All of these equate to poor judgment due to the lack of person to person contact. Rubin and Morreale added, “Advanced skills are more than just knowing, doing, or feeling. They are blends of knowledge, skill, and attitude; they require greater levels of behavioral flexibility/adaptability”( pg.59. Nonetheless, they are some professions for those who are more suited for the reclusive life.

Communication in the Workplace

Researchers have deduced that both forms of communication affect work relationships in similar ways. Often women and men are stereotyped as to their role in communication. Women tend to feel proper communication is more important than most men do.  Consequently, women find verbal communication more significant than men. This is so because women often have difficulty with nonverbal communication such as body language and facial expression Van Buren, A. (25).    Buren also found that couples who were romantically involved were happier when they have good verbal and nonverbal communication. McGinty, K., Knox, D., Zusman, M.E. (68) also supports Buren’s findings. Their findings support the fact that relationships that have effective verbal and nonverbal communication have an increase in trust. Consequently, these facts can affect the workplace. According to Rubin & Morreale, “Basic skills are minimal competencies and represent abilities, core knowledge, and attitudes necessary for effective functioning in society and in the workplace” (153). Communication is the heart of any business. Likewise, any communication barriers can cause great detriment. In order to effectively communicate in the workplace, employers and employees must be aware of these differences in the way males and females may communicate. In fact, “When the Harvard Medical School recently surveyed more than 2,000 patients about their office visits, poor communication emerged as the most important factor affecting patients’ trust in their doctors and as the most likely reason for dissatisfaction and cause for switching physicians”( Emanuel, pg. 154)

Facial Expressions

Facial expressions play a great role in the way a person is perceived when communicating. A person’s facial expression can send a signal that he or she is interested or uninterested in a conversation he/she is taking part in. Frowning facial expressions my send a signal that a person is uninterested. Researchers have studied how facial expressions affect both verbal and nonverbal communication for sometime. One researcher focused on how the face looks when one is telling the truth. The findings supported that when a person was telling the truth their facial features often became more comical. Facial expressions can also affect nonverbal communication. According to McGinty, K., Knox, D., Zusman, M.E. (68), facial expressions actually assist in the understanding of nonverbal communication. They believe that people often underestimate the power of facial expression. They go on to convey that most people do not realize that both their facial and verbal communication must match. According to McGinty, K., Knox, D., Zusman, M.E. (68), every person has two faces- one negative and one positive. The positive face displays the persons idea if his/her own self-image. While the negative, is used to restrict one’s actions when he/she encounters something he/she is not pleased with. For these reasons, many employees like to conduct face to face interviews and prefer speaking with employees, rather than emailing them. Likewise, employees pay close attention to the facial expressions of their bosses.

Tone

Tone is present in both verbal and nonverbal communication. Often, if a person is saying something negative, the harshness can be masked by the tone the speaker uses when saying it. In other words, a positive tone of voice can make negative conversation less harsh Bryant, G.A., Fox Tree, J.E. (207).  According Fox Tree, J.E, women are more aware of politeness and proper tone than men are. Women tend to analyze what a person is saying, as well as the tone of voice they say it in. With that being said, it is possible for a speaker to communicate two messages without being aware of it. The words carry one message, while the tone may carry another. This concept is evident in animals. A test conducted showed that animals listen to the tones of words rather than the words itself. In the study, pet owner of dogs and cats used harsh tones to say loving words. For example, the owner may have yelled to the dog to it time to eat, but the dog coward and tucked its tail between its legs because it felt it was being scolded. Then the owner may have used a more pleasant tone to call the dog to eat. The dog came happily wagging its tail and jumping up onto its owner. According to Tree, humans behave much the same way when it comes to the tone of our voices. However, nonverbal communication has a tone as well. Text messages and emails carry tones as well. Nonetheless, people tend to compare the words being written to the spoken words of the person they are receiving the message from. As a result, it is imperative that tone is closely monitored in the workplace.

Body Language

There are several important factors of body language. According to Deborah Bull as quoted by Van Buren, A. (22), “Body Language is a very powerful tool. We had body language before we had speech, and apparently, 80 percent of what you understand in a conversation is read through the body, not words.” As a result, body language plays an important role in interpersonal relationships. Body language can be utilized to reinforce both positive and negative messages. For example, making eye contact, smiling, and nodding signals to a person that one is in agreement with him/her. While folded arms or hand-on-hips may communicate a threatening intention. This may send a signal that creates a barrier in communication. Others actions like fidgeting, nail biting, or watching a clock or watch may send the signal that one really doesn’t have the time or doesn’t want to be bothered. However, some gestures may actually increase the chances that one will be paid attention to. For example, hand motions send the signal that attention is needed. When speaking in face to face conversation, it is imperative that the speakers make eye contact. This allows each speaker to know that the other is paying attention to what is being said. It also shows respect and dispels the old tradition of submission when one looks to the floor (Van Buren, 36)

Conclusion

Communication takes place on a daily basis in the lives of all human beings. Verbal communication is probably the most used form of communication in the business world, but in our tech savvy word other forms of communications are quickly catching up. Verbal communication is composed of many components. Whatever technique one chooses still involves practice in order to become efficient in the process. Successful communication skills are imperative in order to be successful in today’s business world. Good communication skills usually go hand and hand with good comprehension skills. It is very unlikely that a person will have good comprehension skills and not have the ability to communicate well with others. When a person is communicating verbally, it is important for him/her to remember that the way one says the message is just as important as the words being said.  As a result, miscommunication is common place when both verbal and nonverbal communication is not done sufficiently. This can be a difficult task because often verbal and nonverbal communication can contradict each other. As a result, determining exactly what someone is saying or wants to say can be difficult to discern. Facial expression, tone, and body language, can affect interpersonal relationships greatly. All of these factors play a major role in how a person conveys his/her message to the intended. Being unable to properly communicate can hinder a person from forming interpersonal relationships or hinder him from forming meaningful and lasting relationships. The ability to communicate effectively only comes from adequate practice.

References

Bryant, G.A., Fox Tree, J.E. (2005).  Is there an ironic tone of voice (Electronic Version). Language and Speech, 48(3), 257-277.

Carr, Nicholas. “Does the Internet Make You Dumber?” The Wall Street Journal. Business News & Financial News, 05 June 2010. Web. 26 Jan. 2015

Emanuel, R. (2005). A Rationale for the Basic Course: Fundamentals of Oral Communication vs. Public Speaking. Community College Journal of Research and Practice 29(1), 153-162

Lapakko, D. (1997).  Three cheers for language: A closer examination of a widely cited study of nonverbal communication [Electronic Version]. Communication Education, 46, 63-67.

McGinty, K., Knox, D., Zusman, M.E. (2003). Nonverbal and verbal communication in ‘involved’ and ‘casual’ relationships among college students [Electronic Version].  College Student Journal, 37(1), 68.

Morreale , Hugenberg & Worley (2006) The Basic Communication Course at U.S. Colleges and Universities in the 21st Century: Study VII, Communication Education, 55:4, 415-437,

Morreale, Osborn, & Pearson (2000). What College Students Should Know and Be Able to Do. Journal of the Association of Communication Administration (29), 1-25.

Rubin, R. & Morreale, S. (2000). What College Students Should Know and Be Able to Do. Journal of the Association of Communication Administration (29), 53-65.

Ruggieri, S. (2009). Leadership in Virtual Teams. Society for Personal Research. 37(8), 1017-1022.

Van Buren, A. (2002).  The relationship of verbal-nonverbal incongruence to communication mismatches in married couples [Electronic Version].  North American Journal of Psychology, 4(1), 21-36.

Wilkins, B. M., & Anderson, P. A. (1991). Gender differences and similarities in management communication: A meta-analysis. Management Communication Quarterly, 5, 6-35.