ABSTRACT
FROM the inception of communication as a unique field of study, communication researchers have accorded such theoretical constructs as information, uncertainty, and redundancy—all of which are derived from information theory (Ritchie, 1991 ; Shannon & Weaver, 1949)—a central role in their thinking about human communication processes. The potential usefulness of these concepts in theorizing across a wide variety of communication contexts was demonstrated during a program presented at the 1991 International Communication Association convention. This several-hour session, which included a number of presenters with highly diverse interests, focused exclusively on the information construct. By the conclusion of the program, several examples of fruitful applications of these constructs were presented, as well as a number of examples of misapplication of these constructs. Given the influence of information theory constructs in the work of a number of communication researchers, it seems fitting that such constructs be invoked to explain phenomena that occur in face-to-face interactions. This is exactly what Professor Honeycutt has done in the preceding essay by highlighting the roles played by uncertainty and uncertainty reduction during both initial interactions between strangers and continuing encounters between people who have developed a relationship history.
