Polar opposites?

Week 2 Thoughts, Chapter 4

After reading about the "Seven Traditions in the Field of Communication Theory," there were two that jumped out at me as complete opposites, even conflicting. This could largely be because I can completely relate to one of them, and the other makes me break out in a cold sweat.

The first theory of interest was the "Socio-Psychological Tradition." This is the theory where scholars "believe there are communication truths that can be discovered by careful, systematic observation...that predict when a communication behavior will succeed and when it will fail" (Griffen 42).

Although I have not yet taken the "Quantitative Communication" class, I have a hunch this tradition is the foundation from where quantitative analysis is founded.

This is the theory that I have no affinity towards. While I know I use many of the statistical and quantifiable findings in my own life, my perception of the world is mostly in terms of feelings and a person's story - the things that make us human...which brings us to the contrasting tradition I spoke of:

The "Phenomenological Tradition."

In this tradition everything is in the eye of the beholder and "an individual's story is more important - and more authoritative - than any research hypothesis or communication axiom" (Griffin 49).

With these traditions being on such opposite ends of the spectrum, is it possible for them to coexist?

Absolutely. As I read further (when I turned the page), I found figure 4-3 entitled "A Survey Map of Traditions in the Field of Communication Theory." It is pictured as an intertwining spectrum of the 7 traditions, with "Socio-Psychological" on the left side and "Phenomenological" on the right.

Polar opposites? It looks that way.

But, interestingly enough, one cannot exist without the other. In fact, one depends on the other.

I would have drawn the spectrum the opposite way, with Phenomenological on the left, because I believe all theory, qualitative or quantitative, stems from this.

It was said in my Qualitative Communication class that through qualitative observations, quantitative scholars get their motivation to quantify it, duplicate the results, and predict based on those findings. I can't remember the exact language or who it was that said it (I will find out), but the thought is fundamentally the same. Basically it means that as humans we feel it first, then we ask why and seek to answer that question.

I know that I am inherently wired toward the Phenomenological, but am excited to dig other traditions on the spectrum and combine small quantifiable proof to support my qualitative hunches.

Sources: Griffin, Em "A First Look at Communication Theory, Seventh Edition."