Linear, Interactive and Transactional Communication Models

Start with the elements

Begin with the Communication mind map for an overview of speakers, senders, messages and receivers. It also introduces the exchange of ideas and information. As you study it, note how each element relates to the others.

The flashcards on principles of communication introduce terms such as noise, mental sets and non-verbal interaction. Use them alongside the map to check your understanding of the vocabulary.

Compare the models

Next, open Principles of Communication. Its mind map describes a linear model as one-way communication from sender to receiver. It also identifies the sender's role in choosing language and a channel.

Move on to Osgood/Schramm model, which describes communication as a two-way process involving a sender and a receiver. The map on the transactive model describes people communicating through multiple messages and potentially multiple channels, with the possibility of distortion.

Communication Model Design brings linear and transactional models together. Use it to compare the roles of sender and receiver across the models.

Use maps and the quiz together

The map on encoding and decoding includes the speaker, message, channel, listener, feedback and interference. The map on Gronbeck and colleagues' model adds elements such as situation, cultural context, purpose and credibility. Look at how these maps organize the elements of communication.

After studying the maps, take the quiz and note any questions you want to explore again. Return to a relevant map and trace the relationships between its terms.

Explore the unit

This topic is a section of The Communication Process and Models in Communication and journalism. The resources on this page offer several ways to study models within that unit, from flashcards on terminology to maps of communication processes.

Choose a resource and follow the connections that interest you.