| Model |
Examples |
Strength |
Weakness |
| Linear |
Text and instant-messaging, e-mail, wall posts, scripted public speeches |
Simple and straightforward |
Doesn’t adequately describe most face-to-face or phone conversations |
| Interactive |
Classroom instruction, group presentations, team/coworker meetings |
Captures a broad variety of communication forms |
Neglects the active role that receivers often play in constructing meanings |
| Transactions |
Any encounter (most commonly face-to-face) in which you and others jointly create communication meaning |
Intuitively captures what most people think of as interpersonal communication |
Doesn’t apply to many forms of online communication, such as e-mail, Facebook posts, and text-messaging |