Which is the first step in the four-step communication process?

Which is the first step in the four-step communication process?

• A. Receiver hears or sees message
• B. Receiver provides feedback
• C. Sender formulates message
• D. Receiver decodes or interprets message

Answer: (C)

The first step is the sender formulating the message, because communication starts when someone has an idea and encodes it into words or symbols that can be sent. This encoding turns thoughts into a transmit-ready message. Only after that can it be conveyed to the receiver, who would then decode and interpret it, and finally provide feedback. Hearing or seeing the message is part of receiving, which happens after encoding and transmission, not at the outset, and decoding happens after the message has arrived. So encoding the message upfront is why this is the best answer.

The first step is the sender formulating the message, because communication starts when someone has an idea and encodes it into words or symbols that can be sent. This encoding turns thoughts into a transmit-ready message. Only after that can it be conveyed to the receiver, who would then decode and interpret it, and finally provide feedback. Hearing or seeing the message is part of receiving, which happens after encoding and transmission, not at the outset, and decoding happens after the message has arrived. So encoding the message upfront is why this is the best answer.