Conversational Analysis of Cross Examination in Intercollegiate Debate: Using a Model of Relational Control.

A pilot study examined whether a relational control model can be used to evaluate cross examination in academic debate. Four cross examination periods in the 1994 Cross Examination Debate Association Nationals final round were videotaped, transcribed, and coded (using the Relational Communication Control Coding Scheme). Results indicated that the same types of assertions and questions that exist in interpersonal conversations also exist in cross examination and the basic premise of relational control is the same. Results also indicated that the context of cross examination seemed to be close enough to the interpersonal communication context that the model was useful. Future research should look at other contexts which the study of relational control can be applied to, in addition to further studies in cross examination. (Contains 34 references and 2 tables of data.) (RS)