When a receiver communicates his/her response back to the sender the process is called?

Whenever you've had a conversation, texted a friend, or given a business presentation, you have engaged in communication. Any time two or more people get together to exchange messages, they are engaging in this basic process. Although it seems simple, communication is actually quite complex and has a number of components.

Communication Process Definition

The term communication process refers to the exchange of information (a message) between two or more people. For communication to succeed, both parties must be able to exchange information and understand each other. If the flow of information is blocked for some reason or the parties cannot make themselves understood, then communication fails.

The Sender

The communication process begins with the sender, who is also called the communicator or source. The sender has some kind of information — a command, request, question, or idea — that he or she wants to present to others. For that message to be received, the sender must first encode the message in a form that can be understood, such as by the use of a common language or industry jargon, and then transmit it.

The Receiver

The person to whom a message is directed is called the receiver or the interpreter. To comprehend the information from the sender, the receiver must first be able to receive the sender's information and then decode or interpret it. 

The Message

The message or content is the information that the sender wants to relay to the receiver. Additional subtext can be conveyed through body language and tone of voice. Put all three elements together — sender, receiver, and message — and you have the communication process at its most basic.

The Medium

Also called the channel, the medium is the means by which a message is transmitted. Text messages, for example, are transmitted through the medium of cell phones.

Feedback

The communication process reaches its final point when the message has been successfully transmitted, received, and understood. The receiver, in turn, responds to the sender, indicating comprehension. Feedbackmay be direct, such as a written or verbal response, or it may take the form of an act or deed in response (indirect).

Other Factors

The communication process isn't always so simple or smooth, of course. These elements can affect how information is transmitted, received, and interpreted:

  • Noise: This can be any sort of interference that affects the message being sent, received, or understood. It can be as literal as static over a phone line or radio or as esoteric as misinterpreting a local custom.
  • Context: This is the setting and situation in which communication takes place. Like noise, context can have an impact on the successful exchange of information. It may have a physical, social, or cultural aspect to it. In a private conversation with a trusted friend, you would share more personal information or details about your weekend or vacation, for example, than in a conversation with a work colleague or in a meeting.

The Communication Process in Action

Brenda wants to remind her husband, Roberto, to stop by the store after work and buy milk for dinner. She forgot to ask him in the morning, so Brenda texts a reminder to Roberto. He texts back and then shows up at home with a gallon of milk under his arm. But something's amiss: Roberto bought chocolate milk when Brenda wanted regular milk. 

In this example, the sender is Brenda. The receiver is Roberto. The medium is a text message. The code is the English language they're using. And the message itself is "Remember the milk!" In this case, the feedback is both direct and indirect. Roberto texts a photo of milk at the store (direct) and then came home with it (indirect). However, Brenda did not see the photo of the milk because the message didn't transmit (noise) and Roberto didn't think to ask what kind of milk (context).

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The Essential Steps of the Communication Process

For those who make a living in communications, including public relations and advertising professionals, understanding the steps of communication is a priority. With detailed knowledge of the communication process, they do a better job crafting messages for their target audience. 

At its heart, communication involves a sender transmitting a message to a receiver. Doing so requires a medium – print, television, the internet, etc. – to transmit the message. The message can contain facts, opinions or ideas, but must do a good job identifying which form of communication it represents. 

Parts of the Communication Process 

Before learning the steps of communication, students typically first learn the parts of the communication process. According to job site Indeed.com, they are:  

  • Sender. The person delivering the message 
  • Receiver. The person getting the message 
  • Message: The information the sender is relaying to the receiver 
  • Communication channel: The method used to transmit a message 
  • Decoding: Interpreting the message, done by the receiver 
  • Feedback: When applicable, a response sent back to the sender 

For the sender, a detailed understanding of each of these areas is important. The identity of the receiver, for example, may determine the style of the information and the channel used. Understanding how messages get decoded is also key to creating smart messaging. 

Steps of the Communication Process 

All communication tends to follow this framework, which provides detail on every step of the process. 

Developing the Message 

The sender starts the steps of communication by creating a message they intend to send to an individual or group. They take time to craft the information they want to transmit. 

Encoding the Message 

With the information created, the sender translates it into a form that can be transmitted to someone else. This involves making the information fit a format, such as text or video. 

Selecting the Channel 

The send picks the channel communication. It should be a channel that is most appropriate for the intended audience. Examples include a social media post, video on YouTube or blog entry on a website. 

Message Transmission 

The sender then successfully transmits the message to the receiver.  

Decoding the Message 

The receiver decodes the information received. For the best messaging, the sender has attempted to place themselves in the shoes of the receiver and crafted a message that the receiver will understand as the sender intended. This is the key to effective communication, but senders do not know if they have achieved success until this step. 

Feedback 

Senders learn the effectiveness of their message when receiving feedback. However, in one-way communication, there’s no chance for the receiver to provide feedback. That’s a situation public relations and advertisers want to avoid. 

Learning Effective Communication 

The most effective communication has a simple message that is easy for the receiver to understand. Senders should also know their audience and ask questions beforehand to fill in gaps in their knowledge.  

Learning how to effectively navigate the steps of communication is something students learn in an online Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising degree program. With Point Park University’s online programs, students have the flexibility to earn a degree that will boost their career while scheduling coursework around their busy professional and personal schedules.

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What is it called when a receiver sends a message back to the sender?

The messages that are sent back from the receiver to the sender are called feedback. There is always some kind of feedback.

Is the receivers reaction that is given back to the sender?

Feedback refers to the response of the receiver on the message conveyed by the sender.

What is the process called when a receiver interprets a message from the sender?

Answer and Explanation: Decoding is when the receiver interprets a message. Decoding is the process where the receiver tries to decode the message which has been encoded by the sender in the first place.