Studies in Applied Interpersonal Communication offers solutions for communication problems that erupt in our daily lives. By focusing on socially meaningful applied research in communication, this book offers a new direction for interpersonal communication studies. Featuring original studies that are practical and relevant, chapters provide readers with a balanced combination of rigorous research with pragmatic application. This book will generate enthusiasm among students and scholars and inspire future research that moves beyond the theoretical and toward the practical.

It is an important time for scholars of communication to develop rich theory addressing critical applied interpersonal issues. Stress, substance abuse, violence, health problems, divorce, safety, and aging are but a few of the problems individuals address in their day-to-day interpersonal communication. That communication is critical to coping successfully with these challenges. Stressing the timeliness of such applied contributions, the International Communication Association instituted a regular feature in its newsletter on communication matters, and focused its most recent conference on applied issues in communication. This edited volume, containing individual chapters by original researchers, explores socially meaningful contributions to the study of interpersonal problems involving language and social action.

Smith and Steven R.

Interpersonal Communication, Fourth Edition empowers you to become a more confident communicator by providing you with both the knowledge and the practical skills you need to make effective communication choices in today's rapidly changing and technologically advanced society. Rather than "telling" you how to communicate, authors Richard L. West and Lynn H. Turner offer a toolbox of key skills so you can actively choose and experiment with strategies appropriate for a given situation. Filled with realistic examples and scenarios that reflect the diversity and interactions of today's students, this practical text makes clear connections among theory, skills, and the life situations we all encounter on a daily basis. New to the Fourth Edition: New personal reflection questions for the IPC Careers and IPC Around Us features help you discover the relevance of interpersonal communication in your everyday life. A new applied theory feature, IPC Praxis, shows you how to apply the theories outlined in the chapter narrative to your life experiences. New chapter wrap-ups, key questions for application, and communication application tests provide you with opportunities to assess what you have learned in the chapter. SAGE edge provides you with helpful tools, including eFlashcards, practice quizzes, and more, in one easy-to-use online environment.

The many narrative cases in this book offer dramatic, real-life snapshots of interpersonal theory in action. Written by established communication scholars and reflecting carefully conducted research, each case helps you apply abstract principles to specific situations, people, and relationships. As you read these cases, you'll also learn to appreciate how multiple communication dynamics work together to shape what happens in human interactions - for example, how a case focusing on self-disclosure also gives you insights into such issues as timing, context, and style of communication. And as you identify patterns revealed in the cases, you'll develop the ability to detect these patterns in your own interactions and ultimately make more informed choices about which patterns to foster and avoid in your interpersonal relationships.

In Reflections on Interpersonal Communication Research, interpersonal scholars share the stories of their research programs, providing readers with a captivating exploration of the latest developments in the field. Through this unique lens, readers learn how scholars are addressing real-world issues, as well as the complex role interpersonal communication plays in our world today. This innovative collection brings together cutting-edge research from a variety of scholars in the discipline, illustrating the expansive reach and infinite applications of this exciting field of study. Readers discover groundbreaking applications of interpersonal communication theories and concepts to family, health, intercultural, organizational, political, and mediated communication. Specific studies explore the effects of language brokering with immigrant children, the impact of verbal and nonverbal behavior on family identity, how cultural ideologies can shape reactions to long-distance relationships, how interpersonal theories are helping prepare Doctor of Pharmacy students for the communication work of patient care, and much more. Reflections on Interpersonal Communication Research is an intriguing and highly practical examination of the theory and research being developed in the discipline today. The book is ideal for graduate and upper-level undergraduate courses in interpersonal communication, relational communication, communication theory, and for scholars in the field.