Question for Dr. Al

[James Boston]

Disclaimer: This is not about poker but Dr. Al is most frequently found in this forum so this is where I'm posting. Read on if you wish.

I've recently decided to go to grad school to study communication. I'm curious about the similarites/diferences between industrial psychology and non-mass communication. I understand that they have much in common. Many communication studies that relate to compliance gaining, gender communication, group communication etc., are done by psychologists, but published in communication journals. I recently heard it explained like this: psychologists ask why, communication experts ask how. EX. A business has a problem with employee moral. The psychologist wants to know why. A communication expert just wants to know how to correct the matter. The two fields of study overlap because often it is important to first know "why" before the best method of "how" can be determined. Thoughts? Comments?

Also, any grad school suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[Al Schoonmaker]

James,

I confess that I've never thought about this issue before. In addition, I know virtually nothing about the academic field of communications. My remarks should therefore not be taken too seriously.

I am inclined to disagree with the "why-how" dichotomy. Some psychologists (including myself) are very concerned with "how." Psychologists might be more interested in "why" than communications specialists, but virtually all applied scientists are concerned with "how." We don't just want to understand why people do this or that. We want to solve problems, which means we have to be concerned with "how" issues.

I would also doubt that communications experts would not care about "why" issues. In fact, if one tries to improve something like morale without knowing why it is bad, the solution is likely to fail. Countless "communications campaigns" have failed because they were all technique without substance. If all you know is "how to communicate," you are really BSing. I don't think real communications experts are in the BS business. I think they would study why issues before trying to say how a problem should be solved.

The issue you raised is well worth discussing with your professors. As a former prof, I must tell you that it's the sort of question we LOVE to discuss.

Sorry I could not be more helpful.

Regards,

Al