In communication, what is the act of interpreting received information called?

The act of interpreting received information is referred to as decoding. In the context of communication, decoding is the process where the receiver takes in the encoded message, whether it be verbal or non-verbal, and makes sense of it according to their personal understanding and perspective. This process is crucial because it determines how effectively the intended message is understood.

When individuals communicate, one person encodes their thoughts into a message, which is then transmitted to another person. The receiver's ability to decode this message accurately is influenced by their prior experiences, knowledge, and contextual factors. This makes decoding an essential part of effective communication.

In contrast, encoding is the initial step where the sender formulates their thoughts into a message. Sending and receiving are the actions of transmitting and accepting the message, respectively, but they do not involve interpretation. Thus, decoding is the key term that embodies the interpretation of the information that has been communicated.