Wired : the survival of interpersonal relationships in a pervasively mediated digital culture, 2001

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Ben

Identifier: b2195830

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate Communication program. The holdings are bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Arts degree.

Dates

Creation: 2001

Creator

Bennett, Stephanie Anne (1956- ) (Author, Person)
Novek, Eleanor (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (723-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Patrons must complete a Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to gain access to the collection holdings. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Extent

1 Items (print book) : 53 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the quality and credibility of personal relationships in a CMC environment, as well as examine the emergence of information overload as a byproduct of interpersonal communication that takes place in a virtual atmosphere, namely through the pervasive use of e-mail. Through its use and acceptance, communication behavior in the 21st Century looks completely different than it did 50 years ago. Basic to the research is an understanding of the differences between communicating on a virtual plane as opposed to relating in a traditional, face-to-face context. Key to the research was a sample of heavy e-mail users, and their self-reports describing relational closeness. Initially, 200 e-mail users were queried in regard to the nature, quantity, and quality of their online communications. Of that number, 24 heavy e-mail users returned the survey. Because of the known pervasiveness of wireless technology use in Finland, an additional sample was sought among Finnish graduate students. Forty-seven Finns participated in answering the same questionnaire that was used in querying the general sample. The primary goal was to discover and discuss the participants own perception of relationships developed via CMC, and to assess whether or not these relationships could be considered anything more than virtual. Additional individual texts were solicited and analyzed to discover if the descriptors of online relationship were consistent between the two groups.