ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the central role listening plays in the communication process. The widespread use of videoconferencing, voicemail, Skype, instant messaging, and other electronic communication technologies extend the opportunities for and challenges to effective listening. While the relational perspective can be applied to all communication situations, its greatest practical application is to interpersonal, face-to-face situations. Relational models emphasize what goes on between people communicating rather than on the process of creating and sending messages. The first listening test was developed nearly a century ago. Early measurement instruments focused almost exclusively on listening in presentational speaking situations. Assessment instruments continue to be refined and their validity improved, a number of important concerns remain. Speech communication can be approached in one of two ways. Students can view communication in terms of the specific situation or context—intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, public speaking, or mediated communication. A second fruitful approach has been to identify their listening goals: discriminative, comprehensive, therapeutic, critical, and appreciative.
