2.1 Theories of Communication
One-to-One Communication
One-to-one communication is used within my placement in teaching disabled individuals to swim because it is the most constructive and effective way to communicate important information to the individual being taught, who requires a safe environment, which only one to one communication can provide. The theory of communication that is applied to one-to-one communication is Argyle. Argyle’s theory of communication is the Communication Cycle. Michael Argyle developed his theory in 1972. He believed that interpersonal communication skills were something that you are able to learn and develop over time –just like learning to drive a car. Argyle thought that interpersonal interaction skills was a cycle which included decoding what the other person has said.

The stages of the communication cycle:
• Ideas occur – when you think of an idea of what you want to talk about/say.
• Message coded – this is the process when you think about what you want to say and you put it into words.
• Message sent – when you say what you are thinking about or wanting to say.
• Message perceived – this is when the other person hears what you are saying.
• Message decoded – when the other person interprets what you have said to them.
• Message understood – this is when the other person understands what’s just been said to them.
I use Argyle’s communication cycle within my placement when talking to the instructor on how to approach a situation when my student is struggling with a task or if they are under achieving and there is a certain technique I have to apply to help the student gain confidence gain. I apply the communication cycle to this situation because:
• Idea occurs – I question myself asking how I can help with the students who are struggling to understand the activity.
• Message coded – I think of how to put what