Message control intensity: Rationale and preliminary findings

Abstract

This paper expands on the Rogers and Farace relational communication coding system by offering a definition and measure of message control intensity. The measure is based on the implicit intensity continuum which underlies the coding scheme. As a construct, message control intensity meets the face validity criterion for the “experienced” perspective on communication behavior as described by Poole and Folger. Results from exploratory correlational analyses between message intensity and (1) pronoun usage, (2) transactional structures, (3) control maneuvers, and (4) rigidity and stability measures support the measure's utility and thus provide evidence of its construct validity.