The use of fiction as a source of information about interpersonal communication: A critical view

Using Film to Illustrate Theory: A Case Study ofHigh Fidelity

“…film, paper, class discussion). Of course, as noted by VanOosing (1985) and Ulrich (1986), film offers a fictionalized version of everyday discourse and behavior. In keeping with the perspective of Proctor and Adler (1991), we wish to note that the goal of using High Fidelity is to examine how well the theoretical model is demonstrated in the film rather than to ''prove'' the theoretical model itself.…”

“…It is important to note that although the use of film as a pedagogical tool has its critics (Ulrich, 1986;VanOosting, 1985) because it offers a fictionalized version of everyday discourse and interaction, supporters such as Proctor and Adler (1991) argue that the pedagogical goal is not to ''prove'' theory in film but rather to analyze how well and how accurately theory has been demonstrated in film. Thus, film can be used to actually question the limits of theory or reveal its inconsistencies.…”

Fictive Reality

“…A lot has changed in the last thirty years regarding the collection of data, and while some have expressed tremendous fears over corruption of their schemata (Ulrich, 1986), some fabrications have been prophetic (Couzin, 2006).…”