ABSTRACT
What are the components of competent interpersonal communication? What factors contribute to perceptions of political candidates’ credibility? What vocal characteristics are associated with confi dence? Communication scholars seek to answer or uncover clues pertaining to these and a myriad of other questions about communication. Sometimes research is conducted for the purpose of testing existing theories, or to produce data to construct new ones. At other times, research is designed to answer immediate, practical questions or to provide information critical to problem solving.
