Date of Award

12-15-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Heather Crandall

Second Advisor

Dr. John Caputo

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of administering Japanese context-specific intercultural communication training to reduce communication uncertainty in a specific situation. Gudykunst, Nishida, and Chua (1986) suggest, “Uncertainty Reduction Theory is one of the few interpersonal theories systematically extended to explain cross-cultural and intercultural communication” (p.39). The study uses the film Visas and Virtue to present a specific situation for participants to observe and comment. The study provides insight into stage three, context specific training, of the three-stage intercultural communication development process proposed by Gudykunst and Hammer (1983). The study applies a qualitative interpretive social science approach to achieve its goal to support the theory; culture may be learned and in doing so may improve intercultural communications competence.

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Okumoto_Richard_10086_AppendixA.pdf (2557 kB)
Appendix A: Japanese-Specific Intercultural Communication Training Material

Okumoto_Richard_10086_AppendixB.pdf (296 kB)
Appendix B: Japanese Intercultural Communication Training Reference Sheet

Okumoto_Richard_10086_AppendixC.pdf (161 kB)
Appendix C: Thesis Film Questionnaire

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