Sidney Ribeau

An Afro‐American perspective on interethnic communication

This paper reports the results of four studies examining how Afro‐Americans perceive interethnic communication with whites. Using an interpretive, cultural perspective, Afro‐American descriptions of satisfying and dissatisfying conversations were obtained through open‐ended questionnaires and interviews. Qualitative and quantitative analyses identified 7 issues Afro‐Americans perceive as salient to their interethnic communication satisfaction: negative stereotyping, acceptance, expressiveness, authenticity, understanding, goal attainment, and powerlessness. This analysis also identified 5 conversational improvement strategies (assertiveness, open‐mindedness, avoidance, interaction management, other‐orientation) Afro‐Americans believe that they or their conversational partner can use to improve the quality of communication. These issues and improvement strategies are taken to reflect an implicit, Afro‐American theory of communication which is independent of age, sex, family income, geography, and ethnic id...

Ethnic communication: A comparative analysis of satisfying communication

Abstract Ethnic communication is a significant area for interpersonal communication research. Although previous research has shown differences in patterns of typical communication behavior, no systematic study has demonstrated distinctive patterns in satisfying interpersonal communication. In this study, the intra-ethnic communication of three ethnic groups (blacks, Hispanics and whites) was compared. Self-report measures of satisfying communication were derived from the conversational descriptions of members of each group. These measures were used to differentiate intra-ethnic social conversations (blacks talking to blacks, Hispanics talking to Hispanics, whites talking to whites). Analyses indicated significant between group differences. These differences were interpreted in terms of ethnic group membership.

Intracultural communication rules and outcomes within three domestic cultures

Abstract This paper describes a qualitative study of intracultural communication rules and outcomes among Mexican-American, blacks and whites. Utilizing a rules/systems theoretical orientation, responses to open-ended questionnaires were content analyzed, producing five rule categories (politeness, role prescriptions, expression, content, and relationship climate) and five outcome categories (self-validation, relational validation, cultural validation, being understood, and goal accomplishment). Cultural similarities and differences are discussed.

A Mexican American perspective on interethnic communication

Abstract In this study a Mexican American perspective on interethnic communication is identified. Two sources of Mexican American narratives are analyzed. Qualitative analyses of descriptions of satisfying and dissatisfying conversations are combined with a critical analysis of Mexican American poetry, resulting in five themes of interethnic communication: worldview, acceptance, negative stereotyping, relational solidarity, and expressiveness. An additional theme, behaving rationally, is identified by the qualitative method but could not be validated by the critical method. The role of these themes in interethnic communication is discussed.