The relationship between communicator style and preference for conflict management

<p>This study investigated the relationship between an individual's communicator style and conflict management style (CMS). Six hypotheses and one research question were addressed. Specifically, hypothesis one predicted a positive correlation between Norton's contentious communicator style and scores for ROCI-ll's competitive management style. Hypothesis two predicted a positive correlation between Norton's dominant communicator style and scores for ROCI-II's competitive management style. Hypothesis three predicted a positive correlation between Norton's friendly communicator style and scores for ROCI-II's collaborative management style. Hypothesis four predicted a positive correlation between Norton's friendly communicator style and scores for ROCIII's compromise management style. Hypothesis five predicted a positive correlation between Norton's open communicator style and scores for ROCI-ll's collaborative management style. Hypothesis six predicted a positive correlation between Norton's open communicator style and scores for ROCI-II's compromise management style. The research question evaluated whether there were relationships between communicator style and conflict management style other than those tested in the six hypotheses. The total sample size was 272 undergraduate students enrolled in communication courses at a small private university and a moderate-sized state university. Two instruments, the Rahim Organizational Conflict Indicator- II (ROCI-ll) and Norton's Communicator Style Measure (CSM), were used to measure the variables. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the six hypotheses and the research question. Results indicated a positive correlation between Norton's contentious communicator style and the CMS competitive, a positive correlation between Norton's dominant communicator style and the CMS competitive, a positive correlation between Norton's friendly communicator style and the CMS collaborative, a positive correlation between Norton's friendly communicator style and the CMS compromise, and a positive correlation between Norton's open communicator style and the CMS collaborative. No correlation was found between Norton's open communicator style and the CMS compromise. The results for the research question provided positive correlations between Norton's relaxed, attentive, precise, and animated communicator styles and the CMS collaborative. The impression leaving, precise, animated, and dramatic communicator styles had a positive correlation with the CMS competing. The open communicator style had a positive correlation with the CMS accommodating and the attentive communicator style had a positive correlation with the CMS compromise. It is suggested that future research explore the relationship between communicator styles and personality traits.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication

Year dc:date.available

1999

Author dc:creator

• Clauson, Timothy Alwyn

Contributors dc:contributor

• Linda L. Williams

• Communication in management
• Communication
• Conflict management

Licence

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/518

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-1517