Electronically-mediated Communication Research Articles

Time(s), space(s) and communication in Castells’s ‘Network Society’*

In ‘The Rise of the Network Society’ (2010), Manuel Castells elaborates on what today is commonknowledge, namely the notion of a society that is characterised both by networks of electronicallymediated communication and by networks undergirding economic exchanges worldwide. Inthis article, I explore a dissonance issuing from a feature of the network society, namely whatCastells calls the ‘transformation of space and time in the human experience’. In this context,he distinguishes between ‘the space of places’ and ‘the space of flows’, with the former referringto the historically familiar sense of space as a material precondition of social interaction andof architectural modulation into ‘place’, and the latter to a novel form of spatiality, one that isrelated to social interaction that has been fundamentally modified by advanced communicationtechnologies and is characterised by simultaneity, regardless of physical distance. This, in turn,is related to what Castells labels ‘timeless time’, which is noticeable where customary timesequences are blurred in certain contemporary practices, such as virtually instantaneous financialtransactions, ‘instant wars’ and virtual communication. This contrasts with both ordinary, ‘human’time and also with evolutionary ‘glacial time’ – a notion operative in the ecological movementand one that increasingly clashes with the demands of ‘timeless time’ in the network society. Thearticle reconstructs Castells’s comprehensive vision and points to the relevance of the conflictbetween these respective notions of space and time for contemporary communication practices.It also engages critically with the social implications of the dominant modes of space and time.

Investigating user group behavior patterns in digital examinations

Computer Mediated Communication (CMC), as well as Electronically Mediated Communication (EMC), is becoming a staple feature of many working environments. More recently, Computer Mediated Assessment (CMA) in the form of Testing Assessment Systems (TMS) has joined the ranks of arrangements where learning, information exchange and assessment take place in digital landscapes, where on top of deploying assessment, they constitute a meeting ground for teachers, assessors, and students/learners. Any such system has the potential to offer numerous other opportunities including amongst others a training platform, a system for creating learner portfolios, a vetting system for rating scale construction or a multimedia annotated corpus of learner language. Additionally, information stored in a TMS may be used for research purposes, collaborative arrangements for professional development, vetting and training solutions. This paper presents what has emerged from developing procedures and functionalities in digital exams, and what may appear as attractive opportunities offering insights into the functioning of digital assessment and digital testing environments. While, admittedly, functionalities presented here have been gradually, and while in most cases, added ad hoc to the system, over the course of eleven years since the environment was first put into operation, have come, not only to complement one another, but also to function as a coherent system. In their current state, they offer practical solutions in quality control, training, research, and systems forensics.

Emojis and the performance of humour in everyday electronically-mediated conversation

AbstractEmojis are little pictographs commonly added to electronic messages on several social media platforms. Besides being considered as a way to express emotions in electronically-mediated communication (EMC), similarly to ASCII emoticons, emojis are strictly involved in the performance of humour in everyday digital conversation. Drawing on a corpus of casual Whats­App dyadic chats, this paper analyses the contribution of emojis to humour in conversation. Results show that these pictographs not only help to signal the opening and closing of the play frame, but also to respond to humour, graphically reproducing laughter. For these purposes, the most common emojis employed by Whats­App users are the popular yellow smiling and laughing faces. Nevertheless, other pictographs are also involved in electronic humour, as less common emojis can be used in playful ways by themselves.

Use and Interpretation of Emoji in Electronic-Mediated Communication: A Survey

Among the pictorial representations that have succeeded in electronic-mediated communication (EMC), the rise of emoji is of special interest, as they have widely spread around the world. This article reports on the results of a survey conducted among students and staff of a large Spanish university (63% women) on the use of emoticons and emoji and their interpretation. Results confirm the preference for emoji over emoticons. The responses also disclosed emerging norms on the use and functions of these pictographs in EMC: Emoji are considered more “expressive” than emoticons, and messages without these cues are judged as “rude.” Regarding the interpretation of emoji, the survey shows that it heavily relies on preexisting iconography, even if new visual conventions are developing.

Motives, frequency and attitudes toward emoji and emoticon use

Electronic Mediated Communication (EMC) has become highly prevalent in our daily lives. Many of the communication formats used in EMC are text-based (e.g., instant messaging), and users often include visual paralinguistic cues in their messages. In the current study, we examined the usage of two such cues – emoji and emoticons. Specifically, we compared self-reported frequency of use, as well as attitudes (6 bipolar items, e.g., “fun” vs. “boring”) and motives for their usage (9 motives, e.g., “express how I feel to others”). We also examined these indicators according to age and gender. Overall, participants (N = 474, 72.6% women; Mage = 30.71, SD = 12.58) reported using emoji (vs. emoticons) more often, revealed more positive attitudes toward emoji usage, and identified more with motives to use them. Moreover, all the ratings were higher among younger (vs. older) participants. Results also showed that women reported to use emoji (but not emoticons) more often and expressed more positive attitudes toward their usage than men. However, these gender differences were particularly evident for younger participants. No gender differences were found for emoticons usage. These findings add to the emerging body of literature by showing the relevance of considering age and gender, and their interplay, when examining patterns of emoji and emoticons use.

What deters nurses from participating in web-based graduate nursing programs?: A cross-sectional survey research study

A graduate degree is required of nursing faculty in America. Because of the nursing faculty shortage, web-based graduate nursing programs are being offered to encourage nurses to return to school. The identification of deterrents to participating in these programs is an important step in increasing enrollment. To identify deterrents to participation in web-based graduate nursing programs. Descriptive survey research. Louisiana Two hundred and eighty-one registered nurse members of the Louisiana Nurses' Association. The 54-item four-point Likert-type interval scale Deterrents to Participation in Web-Based Graduate Nursing Programs Survey Instrument was used. Data were collected over 8weeks using SurveyMonkey.com to administer the web survey tool to all members of the Louisiana State Nurses' Association. A factor analysis revealed a three-factor solution that explained 55.436% of the total variance in deterrents to participation in web-based graduate nursing programs. The factors were labeled "concerns about quality, cost, and time," "concerns about access to resources: technological and personal," and "concerns about electronic mediated communication." Multiple regression analysis revealed an overall model of three predictors of deterrents to participation in web-based graduate nursing programs: no computer literacy, annual household income between 20,000 and 50,000 dollars, and having the current educational status of graduating from a diploma RN program. This model accounted for 21% of the variance in the deterrents to participation scores. Since these three significant predictors of deterrents to participation in web-based graduate nursing programs were identified, web-based nursing graduate program administrators might consider an outreach to RN diploma graduates in an effort to make them aware of available technology support programs to foster participation. Scholarships for lower income nursing students are recommended, and programs to support computer literacy within the nursing community should be considered.

Community and Language in the Information Age

This article argues that the electronically mediated communication contributes to the construction of new, mediated forms of communities which are based on the interaction or operational synthesis of virtual and physical communities. The appearance of these new forms of communities leads to a new conceptualization of the relation between self and community. The aim of this essay, on the one hand, is to show that with the mediatization of communities, our conce pt of community becomes more complex. On the other hand, in this article I try to prove the assumption that the medium of the mediatization and new conceptualization of community is a specific pictorial language of electronically mediated communication.

Research in electronically-mediated communication in professional contexts – revisiting the past, preparing for the future

Cet article fait l’état des lieux des apports que l’étude du domaine de la communication véhiculée par l’électronique a eu en ce qui concerne notre compréhension de la nature et des objectifs de la communication en contexte professionnel. Il analyse les possibilités créées par les avancées technologiques récentes. L’article clôt sur un programme de recherches futures dans le domaine la communication véhiculée par l’électronique. Il met en avant la façon dont les thèmes ainsi que les activités dans ce programme peuvent être reliés aux quatre axes épistémologiques discutés lors du 33e colloque du GERAS : langue et discours, didactique, culture et technologie.

The language of electronic communication and its implications for TEFL

With the proliferation of digital media employed for content production and connection among individuals, electronically-mediated communication (EMC) is finding increasing use and recognition in teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). At the same time, the pedagogical research and practice have not sufficiently addressed the peculiarities of electronic discourse involved in on-line interaction or its implications for TEFL. Its distinctive linguistic characteristics, which deviate significantly from the normative usage, taught in formal education, present certain difficulties for EFL learners. The potential hazards of inappropriate use of electronic discourse may lead to significant communication problems, such as exclusion, flaming, and general lack of comprehensibility. Also, the penetration of texting, or SMS shorthand, into academic writing indicates a lack of code-switching skills and a growing preference towards non-standard language, hitherto unacceptable in the academic context. This paper looks into benefits of using electronic interaction in the TEFL classroom and outlines the problems which frequently occur in non-native speakers’ use of electronic discourse. Based on available research and teaching practice, recommendations are suggested for addressing the language of electronic communication in the TEFL classroom.

Mediated Communities in the Age of Electronic Communication

The electronically mediated communication has transform ed our notion of the relation between place and community. With a greater proportion of our communicative acts taking place via electronic medi a, physical co1presence, the co1located interpersonal relations are diminishing as determinants of the nature of human interactions. This paper argues that the elec tronically mediated communication contributes to the construction of ne w, mediated forms of communities which are based on the interaction or o perational synthesis of virtual and physical communities. The appearance of these n ew forms of communities leads to a new conceptualization of the relation be tween self and community. The aim of this paper is to show that the medium of the mediatization and new conceptualization of community is a specific pictor ial language of electronically mediated communication, the semantic structure of w hich offers new opportunities to grasp and understand the complex n otion of new mediated communities and to adopt the idea of a new global, community building language in local and national communities.

Social capital and business and management: Setting a research agenda

This paper adopts the template of systematic reviewing and provides an up‐to‐date synthesis of the literature on social capital and business and management. The review demonstrates that social capital research is concentrated into three core dimensions: structural, relational and cognitive. First, structural social capital includes social interaction and the frequency of contact and connectivity levels among and between actors’ network relations. Secondly, relational social capital refers to the underlying normative conditions of trust, obligation, expectation and identity that guide actors’ network relations. Thirdly, cognitive social capital refers to the meaningful contexts of communication among and between actors, and includes the shared language, codes and narratives used to create understanding. However, the rich linkages between structural, relational and cognitive social capital across equivalent/hierarchical social space and geographical boundaries are neglected. A further research focus identified is that the role of face‐to‐face and the increasingly routine tool of electronic mediated communication may produce different characteristics and levels of social capital. The paper also discusses the ways in which critical realism and mixed methodology may enhance understanding of the process‐based linkages between structural, relational and cognitive social capital.

Use and Standardisation of Mauritian Creole in Electronically Mediated Communication1

New technologies have affected language use and attitudes in many communities. Kreol, a French-lexified Creole and the nonstandardised first language of the majority of Mauritians, is now gaining ground as a written language in the specific context of electronic-mediated communication. This has led to the emergence of writing norms among users of the language. These norms are founded on etymological phonemic and mixed conventions. This study based on data gathered through questionnaires analyses the attitudes of 66 young Mauritians towards the three orthographies used in electronically mediated communication and the standardisation of the language in new technologies. It also briefly discusses some of the spelling conventions used in Internet postings. I show that the etymological system is perceived as most readable, learnable and closest to French. Users believe that Kreol can act as a unifying factor among different ethnolinguistic groups in Mauritius. Responses also highlight the potential of users and electronic-mediated communication in bringing about the standardisation of Kreol.

Team Performance in Real and Virtual Worlds: The Perceived Value of Second Life

Various studies in the team cognition literature suggest the primacy of face-to-face interaction over various forms of electronically-mediated communication. Theories supporting distributed cognition and anchored perception indicate that select forms of communication media may create impoverished shared mental models that fail to transfer understanding across team members. Of particular interest in this study is the perceived value of a new virtual communication medium, Second Life, as compared to face-to-face or auditory teleconferencing in a team task. Team members perceived the face-to-face modality to better aid the team than Second Life or the auditory teleconferencing mode, yet the results show an experience-based bias toward face-to-face interaction. Team success was rated worst for the auditory condition. Discussion of these results are developed in terms of their impact on theory, practice, and applications. Additional data analyses are suggested that will yield in-depth understanding of Jasper team performance.

ICT Infrastructure in Emerging Asia: Policy and Regulatory Roadblocks

DOI: 10.1355/ae25-2j ICT Infrastructure in Emerging Asia: Policy and Regulatory Roadblocks. Edited by Rohan Samarajiva and Ayesha Zainudeen. New Delhi: Sage Publications India; Ottawa: International Development Research Centre, 2008. Pp. 333. Drawing on research carried out by LirneASIA, an information and communication technology policy and regulation capacity organization active in Asia-Pacific, book sets out to explore principal challenges to increasing access to telecommunications in South and Southeast Asia. Containing contributions from a range of telecoms experts and industry players, it refers to data and case studies from: Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Notwithstanding technical language, questions book poses and arguments it puts forward will be of interest not just to telecoms policy-makers, regulators, and policy-makers, but also a wider readership that is interested in policy-making process, effects of technology, and role of institutions in shaping outcomes. Starting from contention that connectivity, defined as the opportunity to engage in electronically-mediated communication, information retrieval . . . and publication is positive, book then looks at what technological and regulatory barriers impede greater access to telecommunications services. Influenced by work of Mohamed Yunus and C. K. Prahalad, book is particularly interested in exploring what demands and needs consumers from poorest sections of society, termed Bottom of Pyramid (BOP), have insofar as telecoms services. In particular, book seeks to understand why access has not expanded more quickly in region given liberalization of telecoms sector, falling costs associated with economies of scale and, most importantly, huge unmet demand. The book is structured in four parts, each looking at a different aspect of telecoms sector and containing specific questions. The first section, at Bottom of Pyramid, seeks to uncover what BOP consumers want with regards to telecoms services by drawing on extensive primary data gathered in Sri Lanka and India. The first chapter by Zainudeen looks at choices made by BOP consumers between fixed, mobile, and public access modes. Zainudeen and Iqbal look at strategies BOP consumers use in accessing telecoms and cutting costs. The chapter by Samarijiva et al. looks at demand for telecoms services in conflict-afflicted areas, drawing on survey data from northern Sri Lanka. This makes for interesting reading, as it is not often that policy-makers are given this type of fresh data. Consistent with wider Making Markets Work for Poor literature, findings undercut commonly held assumptions of BOP consumers. The survey findings establish high demand for telecoms, willingness to pay given correct price structures, and quite a high level of awareness and sophistication among BOP consumers. While BOP consumers do not often use conventional cost-cutting strategies seen elsewhere, this may be more to do with constraints under which telecoms services are accessed rather than a lack of sensitivity to cost. Demand for telecoms services is even higher in conflict-afflicted areas than elsewhere, as people need to contact family members frequently and organize remittances. The second section, Access, Against All Odds, looks at expanding access to a broader range of consumers and seeks to explore question whether technological advances in themselves are sufficient to increase access, or whether an enabling policy and regulatory environment is also necessary. In particular, section looks at how non-state actors have found unexpected solutions through initiative and policy work-arounds. Knight-John looks at business model of Grameen Village Phone programme in Bangladesh, which has been able to provide access to 45 per cent of villages in that country. …

Richness, power cues and email text

The paper presents a study that assesses the level of richness in electronic-mediated communication by taking into account its text-based attributes. Though a key feature of email, only limited research has focused on the text-based attributes of email messages. The underlying assumption is that there is an organisational context that intertwines with email message texts. The study explores the extent to which these attributes differ among senders at different organisational layers. Using textual and deconstruction analysis, it analysed a series of email messages distributed within two academic departments over a period of several months, and found that email, as a communication medium, signals rather than alleviates hierarchical differences. Therefore, even though email is often presented as a lean medium, the way text-based messages are constructed may convey the social cues that are traditionally used to determine status differences in organisations. The study argues that email is a richer communication medium than is reflected in the scale of information richness theory.

Video conferencing meetings: Changing patterns of business communication

Electronic mediated communication is an increasingly popular form of communication within and across organisations. This paper presents research on the implementation, training and use of video‐conferencing systems on different sites of a multi‐national oil company. We find that error, delay but mainly social costs influence the choice and use of this communication medium.

Communication science in the context of higher/distance education: changes and challenges

This inaugural lecture focuses on Communication science and incorporates aspects related to the teaching, learning and researching thereof. I elected to situate these aspects in the context of higher and distance (or distributed) education (DE), provided by institutions, such as UNISA, because the characteristics of adult learners who study at a distance and their motivation to learn, differ from those of younger learners. The subtitle of the lecture (namely changes and challenges) refers to changes in the South African higher educational sector, as well as changes in the way in which we communicate in the new millennium - especially changes brought about by electronically-mediated communication.

Analyzing Social Interaction in Electronic Communities Using an Artificial World Approach

This article describes a novel computer simulation technique to analyze social interaction among people in electronic mediated communication groups. TRURL: the simulator we developed utilizes agent-based approach, genetics-based computational methods, and real world grounded socio-metric measures. Therefore, it will give a new gear to navigate complex information and learning organizations. This article presents basic principles and mechanisms of TRURL, and discusses the results and contributions to social interaction studies.