Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) Practice Exam

What are the three steps in the Listening Process?

1. Receiving, attending, assigning meaning

2. Listening, analyzing, responding

3. Receiving, interpreting, responding

4. Filtering, understanding, recalling

The correct answer is: Receiving, attending, assigning meaning

The listening process is a critical component of effective communication and understanding how it works can greatly enhance interpersonal interactions. The correct choice identifies the three essential steps: receiving, attending, and assigning meaning. In the first step, receiving, the listener perceives the sound and is aware of the speaker's message. This initial stage involves acknowledging the auditory signals without yet processing their significance. The second step, attending, involves focusing attention on the message. It requires mental concentration, as the listener must filter out distractions and hone in on what the speaker is saying. This active engagement is crucial for meaningful listening. Lastly, assigning meaning refers to the interpretation of the message. This step is where the listener assimilates the information, relates it to previous knowledge, and derives value or significance from it. Effective meaning-making leads to deeper understanding and informed responses. Through understanding these steps—receiving, attending, and assigning meaning—individuals can enhance their listening skills, making them more effective communicators overall. The other choices present different processes that are not as widely recognized as the fundamental components of the listening process.