Finally, theories are value laden, never neutral,

Different definitions serve different functions and enable theorists to do different things.

Second, according to Penman and the practical-action tradition, knowledge iscreated socially. That means that communication theories themselves are createdby the process of communication or interaction—the very process they aredesigned to explain.

level of observation, orabstractness.

cultural methods.

What counts in many Asianphilosophies is intuitive insight gained from direct experience. Such insight can beacquired by observing rather than participating (not intervening), which explainswhy silence is so important in Eastern communication.

Science often is associated with objectivity, standardization, and generalizability.

A definition should be evaluated on the basis of how well it helps a scholaranswer the question he or she is investigating.

The third stage of inquiry is constructing answers.