Date
11-11-2026
Department
School of Communication and the Arts
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)
Chair
Allison Brake
Keywords
relational listening, intimate partners, marital conflict, audio diaries, qualitative content analysis, listening experiences
Disciplines
Communication
Recommended Citation
Rodriguez, Rikki Ann, "Exploring Listening as a Relational Process: A Qualitative Study of Intimate Partner Experiences of Listening Following Moments of Conflict Using Event-Contingent Audio Diaries" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 9065.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/9065
Abstract
Listening is recognized as a fundamental part of the communication process; however, there is relatively little known about how individuals experience and interpret listening during naturally occurring moments of relational conflict. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how intimate partners described listening behaviors, interpreted their listening experiences, and identified patterns of listening following moments of conflict. Guided by Bodie’s (2011) listening theory, Halone and Pecchioni’s (2001) relational listening theory, and Dance’s (1967) helical model of communication, this study employed qualitative content analysis informed by a phenomenological perspective.
Participants consisted of 18 adults which represented nine married heterosexual couples. Data were collected through an event-contingent audio diary method in which participants individually recorded reflections following naturally occurring disagreements or moments of relational tension during a 4-week data collection period. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim, de-identified, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis informed by a phenomenological perspective through open coding, focused coding, and theoretical coding. Trustworthiness was supported through reflexive memoing, an audit trail, systematic coding procedures, and review by dissertation chair and committee.
The four themes that emerged from the analysis were listening as understanding, listening as action, listening as relational support, and listening as relational meaning. Participants viewed listening as extending beyond hearing spoken words to include behavioral responsiveness, emotional validation, intentional action, and communication of relational meaning. Listening emerged as a dynamic relational process through which partners experienced understanding and constructed relational meaning following moments of conflict.
