Which of the following is not a recognized barrier to effective communication?

In the context of effective communication, personal biases can indeed influence how information is received and processed, but they are generally considered an aspect of the individuals involved rather than a barrier to communication itself. The other options, such as lack of common experience, confusion between symbols, and overuse of abstractions, represent more immediate obstacles that can disrupt the transmission and understanding of a message.

Lack of common experience refers to the situation where the speaker and listener do not share similar backgrounds or knowledge, making it difficult to understand each other fully. Confusion between symbols highlights how different interpretations of words or symbols can lead to misunderstandings. Overuse of abstractions points to communicating in vague terms rather than using concrete language, which can lead to a lack of clarity.

These factors impede the communicative process directly, while personal biases may color perceptions but do not inherently obstruct communication unless contextualized by other barriers. Thus, the recognition that personal biases are not functional barriers distinguishes the correct answer in this assessment of communication challenges.