Incorrect Definition of Non-Verbal Communication Issue

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Table of Contents

Introduction and Rationale
Identification of a general area of study
Review of previous research and thinking that are relevant to your questions
Reasoning and evidence that leads to your hypothesis or research question
Subjects: identification of participants
Results
Discussion
References

Introduction and Rationale

Communication plays a very important role in our lives. People use it every day and everywhere. It is a way on how people can understand each other since it is a mode of transferring information from one person to another. Individuals and groups of people process thoughts, ideas, and emotions through communication. The communication process involves the source of the message that encodes the information and then passes it via the communication channel. The receiver decodes the message, processes the information. Some receivers through electronic means have automatic reply systems to send a reply immediately via the same communication channel while others may do it manually through the electronic format and may take time to reply. Good and effective communication is needed, however, it is essential that we know how to communicate because “communicating in the right way is important.”

There are a lot of different various processes and methods of communication depending on the channel used that communication can take place. There are also different types and styles of communication. Communication may be classified based on the channels used for communicating. These are either verbal communication or non-verbal communication process. Verbal communication usually involves written and oral use of words and language. On the other hand, non-verbal communication usually is transmitted through body language, visual arts, facial expressions and diagrams, or even moving and non-moving pictures used for communication.

The reason for this research paper is for people to have a better understanding of what effects are being brought about by the incorrect messages that were being encoded and decoded relating to nonverbal communication.

Nonverbal communication is perceived information that is neither written nor spoken. This type of communication has primary sources such as our five senses (touch, hear, taste, see and hear), it can also be through signs and symbols, colors, body languages such as gestures, facial expressions, posture, and feeling. It is basically a silent language that was being sent from the sender to the receiver, something that is not being taught formally and which has even existed before language itself was invented.

Identification of a general area of study

There are times when words are no longer necessary. Apparently, there are a few words for shapes, aside from a very few simple ones. Particular shapes sometimes can be more effectively perceived via hand movements and gestures. The same thing applies to the out interpersonal area, where it is better to express by using nonverbal communication.

“Our awareness of nonverbal communication is vital not only for our survival but also for understanding the needs, feelings, emotions, and thoughts of others. Research has revealed that messages between individuals are conveyed 55 percent of the body, 38 percent from the voice – inflection, intonation, volume – and 7 percent from the words” (Calero 5). It is not only through verbal communication that we can understand each other, nonverbal communication is often disregarded and sometimes taken for granted not knowing that by means of this type of communication we can better understand the other person. Verbal communication can be thought of before sending it to the receiver and therefore when sending the message, it can be the exact meaning that can be sent to the receiver, but words do not always express the truth. However, nonverbal communication is the thing people do that sometimes they don’t even realize that they’re doing such things.

People might say that they’re okay but shows sadness on their faces. One can say that they are delighted to see their parents come on a camping trip with friends but shows how humiliated they are through their actions. Since it is awkward to tell directly that they do not like the idea, they just express such feelings and emotions through nonverbal communication. In most cases, non-verbal communication is more difficult to control, therefore it is more likely to be what the truth is, maybe perceived easily as the truth or genuine. “We have just seen that this second channel carries interpersonal information. In addition, the second channel carries a great deal of information which supports language, but which it would be inefficient and confusing to put into words” (Argyle 307).

On the other hand, not all nonverbal communication can be perceived correctly, there can also be miscommunication in using nonverbal techniques. “Just about any gesture you can imagine means something different in another culture and simply “being yourself” can cause serious misunderstanding” (Weaver 2004). Every culture is different and so there might be problems when people try to adapt their culture to another country. The misunderstanding may occur when a group of people adapts to this. A person from Northern America took a vacation and went to China. As part of the American culture looking at people’s eyes may seem very appropriate especially when greeting people as showing respect, interest, and attentiveness when communicating with others face-to-face, but since he is in China doing this may seem that he disrespects people since they are not used to eye contacts when speaking to other people.

Review of previous research and thinking that are relevant to your questions

A previous case study on Non-Verbal Communication and Patient Care by Industry Collaboration Effort discussed nonverbal communication and how miscommunication is perceived by using this type of communication. “Generalizations can serve as a guide to be accompanied by individualized in-person assessment. As a rule, ask the patient, rather than assume you know the patient’s needs and wants. If asked, patients will usually share their personal beliefs, practices, and preferences related to prevention, diagnosis and treatment” (ICE 2005). It showed different examples of scenarios on how nonverbal miscommunication can damage a patient-provider encounter. Different types of nonverbal communication were used and discussed such as eye contact, touch and use of space, gestures, body posture and presentation, and use of voice where the given examples to this case study and explained where the breakdown in communication occurred.

“Psychologists estimate that between 60% and 80% of all of our communication with other people is non-verbal. We communicate a wide range of information non-verbally. We also show our feelings, attitudes, moods, hopes and wishes far better with non-verbal language than with words” (DeVeto 2006). Research on Body Language merely discussed and explained how people can speak English by using body language. DeVito tackled the different gestures and meanings of some nonverbal communication techniques. Basically, it was all about advice and explanation on how nonverbal communication replaces verbal communication in sending messages to the receiver.

And lastly, research about “Learn Basic Non-verbal Messages” that talks about how important and effective nonverbal communication is. “Non-verbal communication is an effective way to gauge the reactions of people, learn what they are feeling, and for them to stress meanings. It often originates in the subconscious of the subject and expresses what he or she may not be able to put into words” (Piya 2007). This understanding is used by people who are observing and studying nonverbal communication and is very significant to those people who work and deal with other people at risk.

Reasoning and evidence that leads to your hypothesis or research question

Miscommunication can occur while using verbal communication, and so there is a possibility that miscommunication can happen even in using nonverbal communication. There have been different examples and scenarios given as to how miscommunication can be perceived in using noncommunication and the effects of this on both the sender and the receiver. It is important that the readers would know these effects so that they can be aware of some actions with their corresponding meanings and as to understand them better and probably learn how to control such actions in such a way that they can be perceived correctly by the receiver.

In all aspects of communication, there is and will always be nonverbal communication involved. May it be a simple communication face-to-face with an individual or a group discussion with a large number of people involved. It is important that we pay attention to not only what the sender says or the message they convey and transmit verbally but people should also focus on the nonverbal communication aspects. There have been reports, researches, debates, and a study that proves nonverbal communication is important. Both scientists and nonscientist considers emotions and expressions as a major part in determining the person’s true feelings and insight on a certain scenario. There are times when people cannot directly say what they really want that is why they just express it through nonverbal communication. Oftentimes, whether they do not really want to show how and what they feel, they can’t hide it and unintentionally sends the message to the receiver using nonverbal communication skills.

Communication is not only based on verbal communication as it is said that not everything people say is true. Sometimes, a little help of nonverbal communication can determine whether the person, the sender is being true. There are times when we cannot rely on just the verbal communication itself, usually, nonverbal communication is more important than verbal communication since it is where people based their opinions and reactions.

In some cases, nonverbal communication supports verbal communication. Some factors of verbal communication can be misleading but when supported by nonverbal communication the message transmitted can be the exact message that the sender wants to receiver to receive and decode.

Statement in concise terms of your hypothesis or research question.
Miscommunication can also be perceived in nonverbal communication.
People do not use language for all communication ways of verbal communication.
Nonverbal communication is also necessary for communicating.
Method

Subjects: identification of participants

There are 20 randomly selected participants, both male and female ages between 14-18 years old. Such participants were selected as it is known that teenagers are most likely to use nonverbal communication skills. Since they lack confidence in telling what they really want and instead express it with this type of communication. And since most teenagers are less experienced and most probably more unaware of the actions they do and messages they transmit by using nonverbal communication, it would be effective for this research paper to use teenagers as participants for the activities planned and conducted.

Identification of variables in operational terms

Personal Space was measured by the distance of the participants to the interviewer and to the other participants.

Eye Contact in a group discussion was tested while participants sat in a circle along with the interviewer/lecturer. It shows that participants are less likely to make eye to eye contact with the person beside them and most likely to talk to other participants who sat across them. It was also tested on how participants were interested in the topic discussed.

Sense of Touch was observed by a simple tap on the shoulder from the interviewer/lecturer and from the way the participants shook the hand of the interviewer/lecturer after the activity was made.

Identification of procedures

Activity 1

A survey was conducted inside a room with individual chairs and dividers to prevent participants from copying the answers of other participants. Survey sheets were given to them which include the different scenarios of how nonverbal communication are often being used and perceived. Participants are to point out where the breakdown of communication occurred.

Activity 2

In the same room, a different set of pictures are being shown to the participants as they distinguish and explain the different expressions, gestures, and reactions they think the model applies and wants to tell them. There were no given scenarios or any details about the picture. They would have to make their own interpretation as to how the nonverbal communication was used and transmitted to the receiver.

Activity 3

In a different room, participants were instructed to sit in a circle along with the lecturer/interviewer. It is a group discussion where participants can share and explain their answers to the previous survey sheet handed to them as well as their own interpretation of the picture that was being shown to them on the second part of the activity. The lecturer/interviewer, however, can stand and go around the room to interact with the participants to determine how they react to the sense of touch as a nonverbal communication done by the interviewer/lecturer.

Results

Report results in tabular form or in a summary

During the first activity, almost all of the participants have the same answers; basically, they were able to determine where the communication started to break down and what went wrong to the given scenarios, and how it should have been prevented.

As a result of the conducted second activity, it shows that both female and male teenagers have a different perspective on the pictures that were being shown to them. These pictures include different expressions, gestures, and reactions. It seemed that each and every participant decoded the message incorrectly directly relating to nonverbal communication when not supported by any details (background of a situation, scenario details).

And for the last part of the activity, there was a lot of different nonverbal communication that was observed during the group discussion. Some participants, mostly male seemed to be bored and inattentive, this feeling was present by the way they sit, look at the lecturer/interviewer, and the way they move as well as their gestures and body language.

State whether the results confirm the hypothesis or how they answer the research question

The results of the planned activities for the participants were very helpful as this confirms the hypothesis for this research. First, it is not only in verbal communication where miscommunication can be perceived. There are a lot of factors why receivers decode messages incorrectly relating to nonverbal communication. This means that whether verbal or nonverbal communication is used there’s a possibility to attain miscommunication and misunderstanding.

It has also been proven that language is not always used for all communication ways of verbal communication. Body language can also be used as an alternative. And it can also be as effective as verbal communication, sometimes even better.

The activity also helped in proving that nonverbal communication is also necessary for communicating. It plays a very important role in having not only good communication but an effective one as well.

Discussion

Discuss the importance of the findings

The findings for this research tell us that nonverbal communication should not be left behind or just be taken for granted. It is important that we know the different effects of such actions and how we can improve and somehow control these types of communication to achieve better communication with other people. It is also important that we know how to send the exact messages the sender encodes so that the receiver will decode the message correctly and in that way, they can have effective communication.

Implications if the hypothesis was or was not confirmed

All the hypotheses were confirmed in this research. Aside from the researches done before, it was also proven through the activities done by the participants. It was confirmed that: Miscommunication can also be perceived in nonverbal communication, People do not use language for all communication ways of verbal communication and Nonverbal communication is also necessary for communicating.

Connections to the past research or reasoning for the hypothesis or research question

This research is somehow connected to the past researches as both discussed merely miscommunication in nonverbal communication. Both types of research’ aim and goal are to determine the effects of incorrect messages decoded by the receiver and how it can be improved to have better communication with both the sender and the receiver. With every study regarding nonverbal communication, it was indicated the role played by the different types of nonverbal communication and how it can be perceived by the receiver. As long as the people are aware of these certain actions, and as long as they understand these messages, there is no need to worry about miscommunication or even sending incorrect messages to the receiver.

Evaluate the method used, how it could be improved

The method used for this research is the experimental method. It can be improved by using different methods so it can have a different attack on the research. And better to experiment with the methods used as well as increasing the number of the participants and the activities that were being conducted.

Make suggestions or recommendations for future research

For future research, it would be best to use different research methods and to have a larger number of participants. It would be better to have a wide range of participants to have a better understanding of the effects are of miscommunication in nonverbal communication and how it was perceived. Different varieties of activities are also possible to help future researchers extend and broaden their observations and studies to the given nonverbal communication skills and if attainable, it is better to plan activities that will observe other nonverbal communication skills that were not present in this research.

References

Argyle, Michael Bodily Communication. USA: Routledge, (1988)
Calero, Henry H. “The Power of Nonverbal Communication”. Taking Control Series. Washington: Silver Lake, (2005)
Deveto, Joseph. “Speaking English with Body Language“. UsingEnglish.com (2002-209) Web.
Insutry Collaboration Effort. “Non-Verbal Communication and Patient Care”. Rhode Island: The Rhode Island Health Literacy Project: 2006.
Piya, Avash. “Learning Basic Non-verbal Messages”. Non-Verbal Communication. Nepal: Spiny Babbler Museum. (1991-2007).
Weaver, Mark D. “Nonverbal Miscommunication Abroad”. Transitions Abroad. 2004, Vol. XXVIII NO. 2: 10

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