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Problem Solving and Communicative Action: A Situational Theory of Problem Solving
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Jeong-Nam Kim, James E. Grunig, Problem Solving and Communicative Action: A Situational Theory of Problem Solving, Journal of Communication , Volume 61, Issue 1, February 2011, Pages 120–149, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2010.01529.x
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This article introduces the situational theory of problem solving ( theory of problem solving ) as an extended and generalized version of the situational theory of publics ( theory of publics ). The theory of problem solving introduces a new concept, communicative action in problem solving, as its dependent variable. To explain communicative action, the theory of problem solving refines the independent variables of the theory of publics: problem recognition, constraint recognition, involvement recognition, and referent criterion. Finally, it introduces a new variable: situational motivation in problem solving. The new motivational variable mediates the effects of antecedent perceptual variables on communicative behavior. We report the supporting evidence for theoretical propositions of the new theory based on structural equation modeling (SEM) testing using survey data.
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Communicant Activeness, Cognitive Entrepreneurship, and A Situational Theory of Problem Solving
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This dissertation presents a situational theory of problem solving that highlights distinctive communicative and cognitive features in human problem solving. Its purpose is to provide a simple and useful, but not atheoretical, account of communication behavior and the cognitive approaches that we adopt during problematic situations. In the conceptualization, I introduce a new concept, communicant activeness in problem solving (CAPS), which has three domains in communicant activeness to explain not only when people voluntarily learn and share information but also how they choose certain information as more relevant than other information. The three domains are information selection (information forefending and information permitting), information transmission (information forwarding and information sharing), and information acquisition (information seeking and information processing). I then use the focal construct, communicant activeness in problem solving, as a dependent variable in the new situational theory of problem solving. I also propose another new concept, cognitive entrepreneurship in problem solving (CEPS). It describes cognitive strategies that we take to reason about a solution in some problematic situations. Depending on the situation, we adopt a more or less entrepreneurial mindset. This construct contains four distinct but correlated dimensions: cognitive retrogression, cognitive multilateralism, cognitive commitment, and cognitive suspension. For conceptual convenience, I named the more entrepreneurial approach the cognitive alpha strategy and the less entrepreneurial approach the cognitive omega strategy. The construct of cognitive entrepreneurship becomes another dependent variable to be accounted for by the independent variables in the situational theory. To explain the cognitive and communicative dependent variables in problem solving, I use four situational antecedent conditions from the situational theory of publics: problem recognition, constraint recognition, level of involvement, and referent criterion (J. Grunig, 1968, 1997). I refine these antecedent concepts to accommodate several conceptual issues found from the past research of the situational theory of publics (e.g., the multicollinearity issue among independent variables). I also introduce the concept of situational motivation in problem solving that explains motivational effects on subsequent cognitive approaches and communicative behaviors. These revised situational antecedent variables jointly explain 1) how and why people communicate and 2) how people use unique cognitive strategies when they approach problem resolution. I called this emerging theory the situational theory of problem solving (STOPS). This dissertation elaborates 1) a conceptual model of communicant activeness in problem solving; 2) another conceptual model of cognitive entrepreneurship in problem solving; 3) a situational and motivational account for when, why, and how people communicate and are cognitively unique in a problematic situation. It then empirically tests a set of hypotheses and propositions that pertain to new concepts and the situational theory of problem solving. This dissertation advances conceptual understanding about how communication behavior and cognitive approaches affect our problem-solving efforts (descriptive theory building). It also contributes to finding a way to improve our adaptability in dealing with life problems (normative theory building). The new concepts and theory, CAPS, CEPS, and STOPS, offer some solutions for theoretical and practical problems in communication and several communication subfields.
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The situational theory of problem solving (STOPS) was proposed by Jeong-Nam Kim and James E. Grunig in 2011 though their article "problem solving and communicative action: A situational theory of problem solving.". The theory was developed from the situational theory of publics (STP) and claimed it is "an extended and generalized version ...
Finally, it introduces a new variable: situational motivation in problem solving. The new motivational variable mediates the effects of antecedent perceptual variables on communicative behavior. We report the supporting evidence for theoretical propositions of the new theory based on structural equation modeling (SEM) testing using survey data.
The Situational Theory of Problem Solving (STOPS) is a theory of communication developed to explain . people's motivated communicative actions when they encounter problematic life situations ...
Abstract. This article introduces the situational theory of problem solving (theory of problem solving) as an extended and generalized version of the situational theory of publics (theory of publics).The theory of problem solving introduces a new concept, communicative action in problem solving, as its dependent variable.
The situational theory of problem solving (STOPS) was first published in 2011 as a generalized extension of the situational theory of publics (STP) (J.-N. Kim & Grunig, 2011).
The situational theory of problem solving (STOPS) was first published in 2011 as a generalized extension of the situational theory of publics (STP) (J.-N. Kim & Grunig, 2011). STP, which was first ...
The situational theory of problem solving (STOPS) was first published as a generalized problem-solving theory. It inherited and re-explicated key elements of the situational theory of publics (STP), which conceptualized how and why people do and do not communicate. Both theories were founded on the same assumption: Instead of focusing on how ...
Since the Situational Theory of Problem Solving (STOPS) was first developed, the theory has been applied to examine publics' behaviors in different contexts. The theory describes the nature of publics as problem solver. It helps understand when and how publics behave as communicative actors and why their ideas, interests and expectations ...
ABSTRACT. This chapter reviews the theoretical origins of the situational theory of problem solving (STOPS) by discussing how it evolved from the central concept of publics in public relations and its predecessor, the situational theory of publics (STP). Both theories were proposed to guide public relations practice in identifying and ...
The problem solving is a personal and aimed process. That means that the activities done by an individual during the problem solving process are led to his/her personal aim (Mayer and Wittrock, 2006). An individual has to identify the problem first and then seek for possible solutions (Mayer and Wittrock, 2006).
The situational theory of problem solving (STOPS) was first published as a generalized problem-solving theory. It inherited and re-explicated key elements of the situational theory of publics (STP), which conceptualized how and why people do and do not communicate. Both theories were founded on the same assumption: Instead of focusing on how ...
This article introduces the situational theory of problem solving (theory of problem solving) as an extended and generalized version of the situational theory of publics (theory of publics). The theory of problem solving introduces a new concept, communicative action in problem solving, as its dependent variable. To explain communicative action, the theory of problem solving refines the ...
Finally, it introduces a new variable: situational motivation in problem solving. The new motivational variable mediates the effects of antecedent perceptual variables on communicative behavior. We report the supporting evidence for theoretical propositions of the new theory based on structural equation modeling (SEM) testing using survey data.
The situational theory of problem solving (STOPS), an extension of the STP, is a more general theory of communication that looks at antecedents of individuals' communication and information behaviors in the process of problem solving. This chapter reviews and explicates the differences and similarities between the two theories, their ...
Abstract. Informed by the Situational Theory of Problem Solving (STOPS), this study used data from the Health Information National Trends Survey, a large and representative national sample, to examine predictors of information seeking and information accessing of health information, including cancer-related information.
This study used the situational theory of problem solving (STOPS) to investigate communication behaviors of publics formed around an intensively publicized policy issue. Results of surveying 748 participants online support the utility of STOPS to segment the hot-issue public with active communication from the general population in a Chinese ...
The situational theory of problem solving (STOPS), an extension of the STP, is a more general theory of communication that looks at antecedents of individuals' communication and information ...
This dissertation presents a situational theory of problem solving that highlights distinctive communicative and cognitive features in human problem solving. Its purpose is to provide a simple and useful, but not atheoretical, account of communication behavior and the cognitive approaches that we adopt during problematic situations. In the conceptualization, I introduce a new concept ...
The situational theory of problem solving is introduced as an extended and generalized version of the situational theoryof publics (theory of publics), which introduces a new concept, communicative action in problem solving, as its dependent variable. This article introduces the situational theory of problem solving (theory of problem solving ...
Abstract. Using a controversial issue that has drawn massive media coverage in South Korea, the government decision to resume imports of US beef, this study tested the applicability of the Situational Theory of Problem Solving (STOPS) to the rise of a hot-issue public. A survey of 300 respondents explored the perceptual, cognitive, and motivational antecedents of active information behaviors.
The situational theory of problem solving (STOPS) is an extended and generalized version of the situational theory of publics [27]. STOPS, proposed by Kim and Grunig [27], is a communication ...
Systems Theory. Ethical Segmentation of Publics and Relationship Building in the Global Context. Situational Theory of Problem Solving (STOPS) Conclusion. Case Study 1: Reckitt Benckiser's Chronic Crisis in South Korea. Case Study 2: Foxconn's employee suicide crisis in 2010. Lesson 2 Assessment. The Page Center is strengthening the role of ...