CAPE Communication Studies flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Primary source

Original, first-hand material such as raw data, an eyewitness account, a diary, a legal document or an original research report. It has not been filtered through another person's interpretation, so it carries high evidential authority.

Secondary source

Material that interprets, analyses or summarises primary evidence, such as a textbook, review article or documentary. It is useful for context and expert opinion but depends on the quality of the primary sources it draws on.

Tertiary source

A compilation that points to other sources, such as an index, bibliography, abstracting service or encyclopaedia. Use it to locate primary and secondary material, not as the final authority for an academic claim.

Random sampling

A probability method in which every member of the population has an equal chance of selection, usually through random number generation. Because selection is unbiased, findings can be generalised to the wider population.

Stratified sampling

A probability method that divides the population into subgroups (strata) such as age or region, then samples randomly within each. It guarantees representation of each subgroup and improves accuracy of comparisons.

Leading question

A question worded so that it suggests or pushes a preferred answer, for example 'Don't you agree the service is poor?' It contaminates data by cueing respondents rather than measuring their genuine view.

Double-barrelled question

A single item that asks about two separate issues at once, making any answer ambiguous. Example: 'Are the staff friendly and efficient?' A respondent may agree with one part and disagree with the other.

Plagiarism

Presenting another person's words, ideas, data or structure as your own without acknowledgement. It includes copying, unacknowledged paraphrase and reuse of another's organisation, and is treated as academic dishonesty.

Chronological organisation

An arrangement of ideas in the order in which events occur in time. It suits narratives, process descriptions and historical accounts, and is signalled by markers such as first, subsequently, meanwhile and finally.

Problem–solution pattern

An organisational structure that states a problem, explains its causes and consequences, then proposes and evaluates solutions. It suits persuasive and expository writing on social or community issues.

Line graph use

A graph that plots continuous change across a series, most often over time. It is chosen when the trend, rate of change or comparison of several series matters more than exact individual values.

Standard English

The prestige variety of English used in formal education, media and official documents. It is a social and institutional norm rather than a linguistically superior system; other varieties are equally rule-governed.

Dialect

A regional or social variety of a language with its own systematic vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. Dialects are complete, rule-governed systems, not deficient or incorrect versions of the standard.

Register

The variety of language selected for a particular situation, shaped by field (topic), tenor (relationship and status of participants) and mode (spoken or written, monologue or dialogue).

Pidgin

A contact language that develops between groups with no shared tongue, with reduced vocabulary and simplified grammar. It has no native speakers and is used mainly for limited practical communication.

Creole

A language that has developed from a pidgin and become the native language of a community. It expands in vocabulary and grammar and can serve all communicative functions, including literature and education.

Creole continuum

The range of varieties between a creole and the standard language, described as basilect (most creole-like), mesolect (intermediate) and acrolect (closest to standard). Speakers move along it according to context.

Code-switching

Alternating between two languages or varieties within a conversation or utterance. It can signal group identity, mark a change of topic or audience, or compensate for a gap in one code.

Overt prestige

The high social value publicly attached to a standard or dominant variety, associated with education, wealth and authority. Speakers may adopt it in formal settings to gain status or credibility.

Covert prestige

The hidden value attached to a local or non-standard variety as a marker of solidarity, authenticity and community belonging. It can outweigh overt prestige in informal, in-group settings.

Proxemics

The non-verbal use of space and distance in communication, including intimate, personal, social and public zones. Expected distances vary across cultures, so misreading them can cause discomfort or offence.

Paralanguage

Non-verbal features of speech such as pitch, volume, pace, stress and pauses. Paralanguage carries attitude and emotion and can contradict the literal meaning of the words spoken.

Communication noise

Any interference that distorts a message between sender and receiver. It may be physical (background sound), semantic (jargon, ambiguity) or psychological (prejudice, distraction), and it reduces fidelity.

Thesis statement

A single sentence that states the central claim of an essay and previews its direction. It should be specific and arguable, and every body paragraph should support it directly.

Topic sentence

The sentence, usually first in a paragraph, that states the paragraph's controlling idea. All other sentences in the paragraph should explain, illustrate or support it to maintain unity.

Deductive reasoning

Reasoning that moves from a general premise to a specific conclusion, as in a syllogism. If the premises are true and the form valid, the conclusion follows necessarily.

Inductive reasoning

Reasoning that moves from specific observations to a general conclusion. The conclusion is probable rather than certain, and its strength depends on the number and representativeness of the cases observed.

Ad hominem fallacy

An argument that attacks the person making a claim rather than the claim itself. It fails because the character, motives or circumstances of the speaker are irrelevant to the truth of the proposition.

False dilemma

A fallacy that presents only two options when others exist, forcing a choice between extremes. It oversimplifies an issue and ignores middle ground or additional alternatives that may be valid.

Extemporaneous delivery

A speech mode in which the speaker plans and rehearses but speaks from brief notes rather than a full script. It usually yields natural eye contact and flexibility while retaining structure.

Audience analysis

Examining characteristics of listeners such as age, education, occupation, culture and attitude toward the topic. The findings guide vocabulary, examples, evidence type and tone in speech or writing.

Parallel structure

Using the same grammatical form for items in a list or series, for example 'planning, drafting and revising'. It improves clarity, rhythm and readability, and its absence signals careless editing.