LISTENING IN SILENCE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF COMMUNICATIVE BEHAVIORS ACROSS LISTENING CONSTRUCTS

Abstract

ABSTRACT This exploratory study quantitatively assesses the behavioral components of listening as enacted through silence and grounds that analysis in the framework of culture as shared listening cognitive constructs. We analyzed the listening practices in video-recorded focus group interactions to determine whether quantifiable listening behaviors correlate with relationship building and learning listening constructs. Results showed no significant differences, suggesting that these listening cultures grounded in shared cognitive constructs behaviorally perform listening in their amount of silence and talk in similar ways. Overall, this study contributes to knowledge of how silence is used and understood within intercultural relationships and interactions and reflects the potential of heightened cultural similarities in listening behaviors, suggesting that certain listening skills such as the use of silence may be measurable and teachable in our intercultural relationships.