Understand Michael Argyle's Communication Cycle

We communicate every day, but have you ever thought about why sometimes our communications don't get understood? Whether in lectures, group projects, or our conversations with peers, communication is important. For UK university students, knowing how communication works can help you with your studies and collegial relationships. Argyle's Communication Cycle can help you understand the structured process of communication, a useful theory for understanding communication contexts. 

Have you ever felt annoyed when people did not understand your ideas in a seminar or when you were trying to email your tutor? If yes, then this blog will detail Argyle's theory of communication briefly and comprehensively and help you connect with your peers, teachers, and experts better.

Many students come across Argyle’s Communication Cycle while working on assignments, and having guidance from an assignment helper can make it easier to understand the theory and explain ideas clearly.

What is Argyle’s Communication Cycle?

Argyle's Communication Cycle is a theory used to describe how individuals send and receive messages. It reveals that communication is more than just speech, as it involves thinking, expressing oneself, making an interpretation of what has been said and giving a reply. It was developed by Michael Argyle, a psychologist who examined how interpersonal communication happens in everyday life settings.

The theory states that communication flows in both directions. What you say isn't as important as how the other individual receives and returns it. Students use this during personal discussions, discussions with the class, and in employment. If you've ever been curious about how someone didn't understand the text message you sent or why the message didn't end up like your conversation, Argyle's theory of communication will help explain things to you.

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The Six Stages of Argyle’s Communication Cycle

Before we get too far into the details, keep in mind that there are repeating steps in this cycle; that’s why it is a cycle and not a one-time process. Let’s break this down step by step. 

Ideation – Forming the idea: The first step begins in your mind when you are forming an idea you wish to convey. For example, you may wish to ask your lecturer a question about an assignment. This stage is about identifying the idea you wish to communicate clearly. This is an important stage, as if your idea is not fully formed, the rest of the cycle will be weak. 

Encoding – Turning the idea into words or symbols: Once you've developed the idea, you start encoding. Encoding involves the choice of words, signs or gestures, or even digital tools (like email or WhatsApp) with which you are going to convey your idea. For a student, encoding comes as part of their day-to-day operations, finalising an essay or making a PowerPoint slide. Good encoding makes a difference because unclear language could perplex the target receiver.

Transmission – Communicating the message: This is the stage where you convey your message. It could be spoken aloud in class, written in an email, shared in a group chat, or shared in a seminar. You must always be mindful of the communication medium when it comes to transmission. For example, a formal email is very different from a quick text to a friend. The communication medium will have an effect on your message being received effectively.

Decoding – Interpreting the message: At this stage, the receiver interprets your message. For example, your friend is decoding the meaning of your words, or your lecturer is decoding the meaning of your essay. This can be where miscommunication occurs if the encoding was ineffective or if distractions impact the decoding process.

Feedback – Communication from the receiver: Communication does not end after the decoding process. The receiver typically responds either verbally, non-verbally, or in writing. A lecturer responding to you in writing with comments on your assignment is feedback. Feedback is communication to let you know if the meaning you wanted to communicate was accurate or if you need to be clearer.

Noise/Barriers – Interruptions in communication: At any stage, barriers can disrupt the communication message. Noise, for example. Or a poor internet connection. Or even emotional, interpersonal stress between communicators. One of the biggest barriers for students could be writing assignments while distracted. Understanding barriers is useful so we know how to reduce these barriers for smooth communication.

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Importance of Argyle’s Communication Cycle

So why should students pay attention to Argyle’s communication cycle? The answer is easy: it helps avoid confusion and makes your conversations clearer and more effective.

1. Teams create clarity for team members about expectations of their roles.  

2. With presentations, it keeps your audience engaged by creating clarity and helping your audience better interpret your points.  

3. Classroom discussions support your ability to be confident in stating your ideas and knowing that you understand others.  

The skills are of great benefit at work and at university. If an individual is familiar with the Argyle's theory of communication, they feel they have a better understanding and therefore excel within university and find it easier to socialise with others. When you find it difficult, when wanting to apply the theory, to simply express it while writing essays or reports, this is the time to purchase an essay, and an assignment writer will help you have a clearer understanding of the concepts.

Common Barriers in Communication

Although the cycle is easy to understand, it is often the case that obstacles to communication exist. Some examples of common obstacles are:

Language Difference: Occasionally, the words or expressions will be too difficult to understand or can be misunderstood. Confusion may cause the communication to proceed slowly or completely halt. Pupils should use clear and concise language at all times and particularly when they are group-working.

Misinterpretation of Tone or Meaning: A sentence from an email may come out as impolite, while that wasn't intended. Cautious use of tone and context can aid much in preventing that.

External Distractions: Physical noise, multitasking, or digital notifications can all interfere with whether the message is heard or understood. To effectively communicate, distractions must be turned off while studying.

Conclusion

In short, Argyle’s communication cycle is not just a theory; it is a helpful guide for improving communication skills. By knowing each step, from thinking of ideas to getting feedback, students can have better conversations, whether in class, on assignments, or in their personal lives. There will always be barriers, but if we are aware of them, we can reduce them a lot.

The next time you compose an email, get into a study group, or submit an assignment, consider Argyle's theory of communication and how it ensures everything goes smoothly. In case you are stuck with assignments involving communication models, you can get online assignment help from Locus Assignments and achieve higher grades with well-structured, clear, and plagiarism-free solutions tailored to your university requirements.