Uncertainty Reduction Processes Research Articles

Predicted Outcome Value and Uncertainty Reduction Theories A Test of Competing Perspectives

This research tests several contrasting predictions from uncertainty reduction and predicted outcome value theories. Pairs of college classmates engaged in initial conversations with one another on the first day of classes. Research participants then reported on each pair's behavior during these conversations and their reactions to their partner and relationship. With few exceptions, predicted outcome value theory proposals were consistently supported by the results of this investigation. However, results failed to support uncertainty reduction theory's original axioms and theorems when predicted outcome value was taken into account. These findings are interpreted as strongly supporting the predicted outcome value perspective and its claim that uncertainty reduction processes are subservient to outcome maximization goals in initial interactions.

The influence of cultural, relational, and personality factors on uncertainty reduction processes

The major purpose of this study was to examine the influence of cultural variability on communication. It was predicted that cultural variability in individualism‐collectivism influences uncertainty reduction in ingroup and outgroup relationships, while cultural variability in masculinity‐femininity influences uncertainty reduction in same‐ and opposite‐sex relationships. It also was hypothesized that self‐monitoring and predicted outcome value of the relationships influence uncertainty reduction processes in these relationships. Data were collected from respondents in Japan (a collectivistic and masculine culture) and the United States (an individualistic and feminine culture). Results of the study supported the prediction regarding the influence of cultural variability on ingroup and outgroup communication, and partially supported those regarding its effect on same‐and opposite‐sex relationships. The hypotheses regarding the effect of self‐monitoring and predicted outcome value on uncertainty reduction ...

Culture and the Development of Interpersonal Relationships

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the influence of culture on communication in interpersonal relationships. Initially, research on social penetration and uncertainty reduction processes in ...

Hierarchical parallel search for markov control with enhanced selector

A new method of hierarchical parallel search is proposed for dealing with Markov planning/control processes in systems with uncertain information. It is based on a new concept of analyzing alternative with uncertain cost evaluation. Under definite conditions, instead of making an immediate choice based on expectation of cost at each step of the search, it is recommended to postpone the final decision until information is improved, and the uncertainty is reduced. In addition to elementary alternatives, their combinations are also considered for possible pursuit. ‘The best set’ of rough elementary solutions is to be determined at the upper of two adjacent planning/control levels, then all elementary alternatives of this set as well as their combinations, are being pursued at the lower level with a higher resolution of information, while evaluation of the ‘remaining cost’ for each of the alternatives, is being constantly improved due to the process of evolutionary uncertainty reduction. This bilevel process is easily extendible over the whole hierarchy of the system. The method is working in the graph-search and dynamic programming paradigms. The set of problems to be solved is formulated and some of them are addressed. Various applications are contemplated.

The Influence of Social Identity and Intimacy of Interethnic Relationships on Uncertainty Reduction Processes

This study examined the influence of social identity and the intimacy of relationships on uncertainty reduction processes in interethnic relationships. Data from two samples (Hispanics in the Midwest and Caucasians in the Southwest) were used to test hypotheses derived from social identity theory (e.g., Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and theories of relationship development (e.g., Altman & Taylor, 1973). Results for both samples revealed that social identity has a significant positive effect on uncertainty reduction processes. This effect, however, was moderated by prototypicality; that is, it occurred in relationships where the partner was viewed as “typical,” but not in relationships where the partner was viewed as “atypical.” When controlling for the partner's ethnicity in the Caucasian analysis, social identity had a significant effect on communication with black partners, but not with Mexican-American partners. This finding was explained by status characteristic theory (e.g., Berger & Zelditch, 1985). The intimacy of interethnic relationship also accounted for a significant portion of the variance. The effect for intimacy was manifested in relationships where the partner was viewed as typical, as well as when the partner was viewed as atypical. The results are consistent with social identity theory and recent work linking it with uncertainty reduction theory, as well as with theories of relationship development.

Uncertainty reduction in Japanese‐American/Caucasian relationships in Hawaii

The purpose of this study was to examine uncertainty reduction processes in interethnic relationships between Japanese and Caucasians in Hawaii. Multivariate analysis of covariance was employed to test the influence of ethnicity, sex, dyadic composition, stage of relationship, and ethnolinguistic identity (covariate) on self‐disclosure, interrogation, display of nonverbal affiliative expressiveness, shared networks, perceived similarity, and both low‐ and high‐context measures of attributional confidence. Results indicated that ethnicity, stage of relationship, and ethnolinguistic identity influenced the set of dependent variables. The findings suggest that ethnolinguistic identity helps explain those aspects of interethnic encounters that are intergroup based. The data further suggest that portions of uncertainty reduction theory are generalizable to interethnic encounters between Japanese and Caucasians in Hawaii. Based on the results, boundary conditions for selected aspects of the theory are discussed.

Cultural Dissimilarities and Uncertainty Reduction Processes

Cultural Dissimilarities and Uncertainty Reduction Processes

The influence of cultural similarity, type of relationship, and self‐monitoring on uncertainty reduction processes

This study examined the scope of Berger and Calabrese's (1975) uncertainty reduction theory of initial interactions in developed relationships. Multivariate analysis of covariance was employed to examine the influence of cultural similarity (intracultural vs. intercultural relationships), type of relationship (acquaintance vs. friend), and self‐monitoring (covariate) on self‐disclosure, interrogation, deception detection, attraction, attitude similarity, length of relationship, shared communication networks, and attributional confidence. Results indicated that each of the independent variables influenced the set of dependent variables and, as predicted, there was a significant interaction between cultural similarity and type of relationship. The findings suggest that selected aspects of the theory can be extended to culturally similar and dissimilar acquaintances and friendships. The present data identify boundary conditions (i.e., some theorems are limited in scope to the initial interaction context) for...