Lasswell Model of Communication

Harold Dwight Lasswell (1902-1978) is the proponent of famous question formula, which is otherwise called Lasswell formula of communication. We can’t call his definition of communication which is presented in an array of question as a communication model in its strict sense.
This American political scientist stated that the most convenient an comprehensive way to describe an act of communication was to answer the following questions: Who (says) What (to) Whom (in) What Channel (with) What Effect?
Lasswell Model of Communication
This model is self speaking of the process of communication which consists of five elements namely
·         Communicator    (who),
·         Message     (says what),
·         Medium    (in which channel),
·         Receiver    (to whom)
·         Effect     (with what effect).
Lasswell conceived communication as a linear process which starts from communicator and ends at receiver with some effect. The major missing elements of this basic model are feedback and context of communication. However, this model is said to be highly helpful for organizing communication research as audience analysis, content analysis, control analysis, reception analysis and effect studies which are respectively represented by communicator, message, medium, receiver and effect.

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