Nonverbal Communication, Research Proposal Example

Introduction

Research indicates that it takes about four minutes for an individual to make a first impression. UCLA professor Albert Mehrabia concluded that body language accounts for 55% of a first impression, tone of voice accounts for 38% while actual words only account for 7%. The implication of the numbers is that nonverbal communication is not only as important as verbal communication, but may have a significantly more profound role to play in complementing verbal communication than does verbal communication. In most cases, people resolve incongruity between verbal and nonverbalcommunication by giving precedence to nonverbal cues (Manusov, 2005). Numerous researches highlight the important roles played by both verbal and nonverbal communication. However, derivative research areas (such as public speaking and methods of communication) have focused more on the role of verbal communication. Hence, there is a gap in research about the role of nonverbal communication and whether it is as important as verbal communication. In order to understand this, it is essential to understand how nonverbal communication manifests.

This paper seeks to present the discourse of whether non verbal communication is as important as verbal communication using a research perspective. Evidence about the importance of verbal and nonverbal communication will be highlighted and analyzed for the validity of their conclusions. This study will highlight the importance of nonverbal elements, which will contribute to a deeper understanding of how these nonverbal cues can be best used in communication.

Review of literature

According to Merhrabia (1967), understanding the role of nonverbal communication should begin by first underlining how they should be analyzed. Body language is generated by clusters of postures and signals. Recognizing the manifestation of the whole cluster is a more reliable avenue of research than attempting to interpret the individual element. It is similar to what can be understood by reviewing verbal communication (Hall, 2012). While single words may have meanings of their own, a group of words gives reliable context to the communication which in turn aids in understanding verbal communication. Body language is culturally dependent. While people may use the same words to communicate verbally, nonverbal communication is deeply influenced by culture (Hall, 2012). Gestures, that may be acceptable in one culture may present as offensive in other cultures. These can help distinguish real intentions of the words.

With verbal communication, meaning can be understood through semantics and syntax while nonverbal communication makes known the attitude of what one is saying. It is not always just what someone says that is relevant, but also how they say it (Knapp & Hall, 2005). The possession of effective communication skills means that an individual is expected to have effective nonverbal and verbal skills (Hall, 2012). Distinguishing whether one is as important as another may be a challenge for the two complement each other. Perhaps a more traditional way of determining which one is more important than the other would be to look at examples of how one form of communication would function without the other. Without nonverbal communication, verbal communication would be limited to listening to one’s words alone. This takesplace when people communicate over the phone or online (Manusov, 2005). It is impossible to gain insight into the clues that an individual would get from nonverbal cues (Ekman & Friesen, 1972). Communication without words may be a challenge owing to the cultural expectation that people only communicate using words. However, it is not impossible for people to communicate using the sign (Knapp & Hall, 2005). Since it is impossible to quantify the effectiveness of verbal communication effectively alone or nonverbal communication alone, most researchers have not delved into this subject area.

Drawing inferences from nonverbal cues often happen subconsciously. In addition, encoders of these messages may be unaware of the cues they are sending to others (Manusov, 2005). Listening to a computer generated voice that pronounces words perfectly. But without variety of inflection would present a voice that is devoid of the richness of nonverbal communication which includes accepting, pitch, volume and other qualities characterizing voices (Hall, 2012). It is impossible to imagine a world that would be completely verbal, conversely, it would be impossible to imagine a world that is a constituent of only nonverbal communication (Knapp & Hall, 2005). It is evident with people who visit foreign countries and are unable to speak the language, they often try to communicate using nonverbal cues which is a profound challenge. Interaction without using both verbal and nonverbal cues would be cumbersome and counterproductive. These examples show illustrate the importance of both verbal and nonverbal communication indicating that both forms are critical in communication (Manusov, 2005). Essentially, this also indicates that nonverbal communication is as important as verbal communication. Wallace Friesen and Paul Erkman were among the first scholars to examine verbal and nonverbal codes (Ekman & Friesen, 1972). They identified several relationships between verbal and nonverbalcommunication which include emphasis, repetition, contradiction, substitution and complementation (Hall, 2012). Repetition happens when nonverbal and verbal messages, communicate the same thing. For instance, when an individual says no and also shaking the head from side to side or saying stop while also putting one’s hand out. Substitution occurs when someone uses non verbal cues as a replacement of words (Manusov, 2005) such as waving instead of saying hello (Knapp & Hall, 2005). Complementation occurs when verbal and nonverbal communication and to one another such as saying thank you and hugging someone adds to the feeling of thank you. Contradiction happens when messages are at odds with each other, such as when an individual says they are not mad, but they look away. Emphasis works to underscore what is being said, such as raising one’s voice and saying watch out.

Rationale

Exploring the importance of nonverbal communication is critical to research because it will contribute to existing research about effective communication. In addition, it highlights the issues that need to be considered when communicating with others. Communication skills can make or break individuals. When people go for interviews, they need to be aware of the most effective ways that they can communicate to others as well as identify what communication skills are needed for different situations (Hall, 2012). Non-verbal communication is also important when making international, and business deals since it show whether an individual is serious about what they are saying or not. Ninety percent of communication includes non-verbal elements. Mastering these elements is important to the success of business deals, as well as successful interpersonal communication deals.

Words may not truly express what people feel, but the body does, and it is critical in ensuring that people communicate without misunderstanding each other. Even though there has been a significant effort made by prior research to identify the important elements of nonverbal research, it has not been explored within the framework of verbal communication. Essentially, prior research is yet to show how important nonverbal communication is to conveying meanings (Knapp & Hall, 2005). In addition, there is need to have better examples that highlight the importance of non verbal communication compared to verbal communication. It is also important to look at historical examples of where nonverbal communication was used and how this influenced the turn of events in the world (Hall, 2012). Essentially, research needs to create a context for understanding how nonverbal communication manifests in communicative settings. Since gestures can both complement and contradict messages, one should be mindful of how they are used and when they are used.

Findings

The results will reflect that nonverbal communication is as important as verbal communication. In addition, the findings will also indicate that there are situations when nonverbal communication is more critical to successful communication than verbal communication. The study will also have findings that indicate that there are cultural issues that affect nonverbal communication which should also be considered when analyzing the effectiveness of nonverbalcommunication. For instance, gender attributes will influence the manifestation of nonverbal communication. Attributes that are assigned to women and men in different societies sand cultures will influence how they use them to communicate with others. While women in some cultures will be taught to be polite and submissive, others will be expected to be forceful. Nonverbal communication is also influenced by the dressing that one adorns in different situations. A leader is expected to dress differently from a follower. It is also expected that the study will highlight the impact that technology is having on nonverbal communication, given that most people around the world now communicate over the internet and rarely meet. This impacts on people understanding the important of nonverbal communication and also highlights the importance of nonverbal communication. The findings will also indicate how context influences the importance of nonverbal communication. For instance, when communicating online, the relevance of nonverbal communication is null. When communicating in a period of sadness or tragedy, the relevance is greater.

Conclusion

Nonverbal communication may manifest in different ways, and it is not only critical in communication, but also important in helping the interpreter understand what has been said. Because it can manifest in different ways, it also includes different elements than what one may expect. Nonverbal communication should be used along with verbal communication in order to ensure effective communication of ideas and other elements. In order to work effectively, interpreters need be able to make sense of nonverbal cues as they manifest in different situations. This is important, especially since the part of the brain that deal with emotional messages subconsciously seeks out nonverbal cues. It is not enough for an individual to be intelligent, but also to be emotionally intelligent in their interpersonal communication. The benefits of effective nonverbal communication are immeasurable, especially in business contexts (Manusov, 2005). Hopefully, research into the important of nonverbal communication may prompt further research and discoveries into the most effective way of interpreting nonverbal cues.

References

Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1972). Hand movements. Journal of Communication. 22, 353–374.

Hall, J. A. (2012) Nonverbal Cues and Communication. Encyclopedia of Social Psychology. Ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2007.626-28. SAGE Reference Online.

Knapp, M. L., & Hall, J. A. (2005). Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Manusov, V. (Ed.). (2005). The Sourcebook of Nonverbal Measures. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Mehrabian, A., & Wiener, M. (1967). Decoding of Inconsistent Communications. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 6 (1), 109–114.

Mehrabian, A., & Ferris, S. R. (1967). Inference of Attitudes from Nonverbal Communication in Two Channels.  Journal of Consulting Psychology, 31 (3), 248–252.