In Chapter 6, we learned about communication research. When researchers are doing research they have an intended outcome which is when the person conducting the investigation has a specific result they desire to obtain. In communication, researchers are constantly making theories about how and why people communicate. This semester I am also taking experimental psychology in which we have to run different experiments and do a bunch of research papers. Since the beginning when we state our hypothesis, we have a goal that we want to accomplish and that is our intended outcome. 

The editorial cartoon shows the null hypothesis, in experimental psychology they teach us that we are supposed to always try to prove our null hypothesis right even though our original desire would be to prove the alternative hypothesis right. In other words, even though our originally intended outcome is to provide evidence supporting the alternative hypothesis, in order to be objective or not be biased we need to always try to support the null hypothesis. From personal experience, when we are running a research project we tend to be really biased and do whatever is easier for us to accomplish our own goals so we tend to search for the evidence that best fits our biased minds which is very unethical too because we have to be professional as well. 

In chapter 5, we learned about how law and theories are related to communication. Theories help us predict and control our communication. Causation means that there is a cause and effect. Prediction suggests that once someone determines a particular law is at work, they will use it to predict outcomes of communication situations. For example; if you say “How are you” to someone then, that person responds “I’m fine.” The part that you think their response was a result of your question, that’s causation. However, when you asked “How are you” and you expected their response to be “I’m fine,” that’s a prediction. 

This editorial cartoon portrays how the way and attitude we use to communicate affects or causes other people to react differently. We can predict how the other person will react to us by the tone we use to communicate as well. One example from my personal life is that I have a cousin who is 5 years old, I noticed that every time I demand him to eat or do his homework with an attitude he doesn’t like, he won’t do anything or do but against his will, however, if I ask him to do those things with a lovely attitude he will do anything I asking him to do. The way you approach people can cause them to react differently. You can also predict how someone will react to the type of attitudes that they receive.