Explanation of the critical elements of communication process

The idea

In communication process, the idea is the first critical element in the process. An ideal is a thought or impulse in the mind of the communicator. The idea may or may not be clearly understood by the receiver for communication to take place or not.

The sender

The sender in a communication process is the person who initiates the communication. In an organization like that of agricultural research institute, or other agricultural development agencies, the sender is the person who has the desires, ideas, intentions and a purpose for communicating an information.

Encoding

Encoding means translating the ideas into a set of symbols systematically so that the receiver can clearly understand the message that is being communicated to the receiver. The main form of encoding in communication is by language.

The message

Message is the end product of the communication process of encoding. It is the physical way in which the sender expresses the information. This is done either in speech, written or gestures forms.

The medium

The medium in communication is the channel that carries the message. In agricultural extension organization, it takes the form of face-to-face communication through visits, posters, meetings, electronic media, written records, facial expressions, gestures and voice tone.

The receiver

This is referring to the person or group of persons that receives the communicated message. It is the person for whom the message is meant to reach.

Decoding

Decoding is the thought processes of the receiver in interpreting what he has heard or sensed. Interpretation of message by the receiver is influenced by their past experiences. There are three type of feedback in communication which is identified. They are informal feedback, corrective feedback reinforcing feedback.

Noise

Noise in communication is regarded as anything that disrupts, interferes, filters or distorts the intended message. It has been observed practically that noise occurs mostly at the encoding and decoding processes.

Response

Response in communication process is depending on the understanding or decoding of the receiver, the receiver responds. He may respond by carrying out an order, storing the information, or not doing anything as regard the information.