Communication Channel Utilization: An Examination of one of the Superordinate-Subordinate Relationships

• Main Author: Vaughn,Ambrose
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: Authoritarianism; CORRELATION TECHNIQUES; Interpersonal communication; INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS; JOB SATISFACTION; LEADERSHIP; PE61102F; PERSONALITY; Personnel Management and Labor Relations; Psychology; ROLES(BEHAVIOR); SOCIAL COMMUNICATION; Superordinate subordinate relationships; WUAFOSR2313A3

The author studied communication channels as they related to superior subordinate roles as defined by Sweney's 'Response to Power Model'. He found permissives spent more time using informal channels of talking and listening, but more time writing to equals than the other two roles. Authoritarians spent more time speaking to superordinates and less time listening to equals; equalitarians spent more time reading and less time listening to equals. Critics spent less talking or listening to equals; rebels spent less time talking or listening to equals; and the ingratiators spent more time listening and speaking to superordinates and less time reading from either equals or subordinates. When the subordinate was a rebel, the superordinate spent more time listening. When the subordinate was a critic, the superordinate spent more time speaking and less time listening to him and more time listening to his own boss. When the subordinate was an ingratiator, the boss spent less time listening. When the boss was authoritarian, the subordinate spent more time talking to him and less time talking to equals. When the boss was permissive, the subordinate spent less time writing to equals but more time listening to them. From the correlation matrix, it was found that the individual had greater satisfaction when he was communicating with superordinates or subordinates and less satisfaction when he was communicating with peers. (Author)