The first part of this four-part dissertation reviews conceptual and operational approaches to human communication systems. A new conceptual model for studying communication, General Algorithm for Studying Structuring in Complex Systems (GASSICS), is developed in the second part, and an operational method for applying GASSICS is presented in part three. Part four includes an example of the GASSICS method of analysis, and an examination of the potential of this method in aiding the advancement of theory and the guidance of research in the general area of human communication systems. (Author/CMV)