The Impact of E-world Usage on Sociability - Essay Example

THE IMPACT OF E-WORLD USAGE ON SOCIABILITY: IMPLICATIONS ON THE UNCERTAINTY REDUCTION THEORY The current research investigates the complexways in which the use of the e-world influences sociability among users. It is hypothesized that heavy e-world use impacts face-to-face interaction, specifically with family and friends, and significantly lessens the time spent for family and social activities. The study aims to investigate the impact of e-world usage on sociability of users, and explain results in light of the Uncertainty Reduction Theory. Chapter 1 Introduction and Review of Related Literature Introduction The e-world, the Internet, and other information technologies have been depicted as “revolutionary”. Castells (1996) has indicated, for instance, has stated that “the IT revolution is as major historical event as was the eighteenth century Industrial Revolution.” The popularity of the technology has risen rapidly, and now, more than half of American residences have a home computer. Moreover, more than half of the American public use the e-world and related technologies (Castells, 1996). One area of interest in this new revolution is its potential impact on the sociability of its users. In particular, the current study intends to assess whether there are significant differences in the sociability patterns of e-world users and non-users. Review of Related Literature A significant body of research has thoroughly presented the impact of the use of the Internet in general. Such research has concentrated mostly on its influence on social life and interpersonal communication. Two of the more popular studies have effectively documented results which support such hypothesis of decreasing trends with certain social life facets. For instance, Kraut, Patterson, Lundmark, Kiesler, Mukophadhay, & Scherlis (1998) state the following: Greater use of the Internet was associated with small but statistically significant declines in social involvement as measured by communication within the family and the size of the people’s local social networks, and with increases in loneliness, a psychological state associated with social involvement. Greater use of the Internet was also associated with increases in depression. Other effects on the size of the distant social circle, social support and stress did not reach standard significance levels but were consistently negative (p. 1017). Similar results have been yielded by Nie and Erbring (2000) in their national study which has involved more than 4,000 residences. Despite these, numerous studies have yielded contradictory results. For instance, the Pew Center for Public Opinion Research has administered surveys on the use of IT since 1995. In investigating the most recent Pew Data in 1998, Robinson & Kestnbaum (2000) presented slightly higher contact among heavier users of the Internet. The Uncertainty Reduction Theory URT purports that individuals’ primary objective within interaction is to achieve interpersonal understanding (Berger & Bradac, 1982; Berger & Calabrese, 1975). Uncertainty is composed of a lack of confidence about how an interpersonal encounter will proceed; it thus deals with an inability to describe, explain, and predict behavior within interaction (Berger & Bradac, 1982; Berger & Calabrese, 1975; Berger & Gudykunst, 1991). Uncertainty exists as a function of both the quantity of alternatives for behavior and their probability of occurrence within a given situation (Berger & Gudykunst, 1991). According to URT, uncertainty may be focused on three different sources within interpersonal relationships: the self, the partner, and the relationship. Self uncertainty occurs when people are not able to describe, predict, or explain their own attitudes or behavior (Berger & Bradac, 1982; Berger & Calabrese, 1975). In these situations, "we might ask the question `Why did I do that? or `Why did I say that? " (Berger & Bradac, 1982, p. 9). Because people are able to think and behave in a number of different ways within a given interaction, they may experience uncertainty in taking on attitudes and/or choosing behaviors that are appropriate for accomplishing their own goals (Berger, 1975; Berger & Bradac, 1982). This emphasis of uncertainty, then, reflects a lack of knowledge about the self (Berger & Bradac, 1982). Uncertainty may also be concentrated on the partner within interactions. Based on the URT, partner uncertainty stems from an inability to predict the other persons attitudes and behaviors within interaction (Berger & Bradac, 1982; Berger & Calabrese, 1975). More particularly, partner uncertainty involves a lack of knowledge about the partner as an individual (Berger, 1979; see also Berger & Calabrese, 1975). In effect, partner uncertainty on the whole arises in situations of insufficient information about the partners peculiar attitudes, values, and preferences (Berger, 1979; Berger & Gudykunst, 1991). Significance of the Study For the e-world users, the results of the study may give them information and awareness on the impact of e-world use on their sociability patterns. With these they may be helped in effectively striking out a balance between their desire to use technology as a tool, and the various facets of their social lives. For the academe, the research may yield solid empirical evidence on the impact of e-world use on the sociability of these users; this may provide impetus for further research. Finally, the researcher may garner several benefits, specifically the opportunity to undertake and master the research process, and its requisite competencies. Hypotheses It is hypothesized that heavy e-world users will have significantly lower sociability scores than moderate to light users. Conceptual Framework Uncertainty reduction theory (URT) was originally drafted as a series of axioms (universal truths which do not need proof and theorems; propositions assumed to be true). These depict the relationships uncertainty and several communication factors. URT was proposed to lend meaning to the interrelationships among seven important factors in any dyadic exchange: verbal communication, nonverbal expressiveness, information-seeking behavior, intimacy, reciprocity, similarity, and liking. This theoretical approach traces its roots from C.R. Berger and Calabrese in 1975, drawing from the work of Heider (1952). Among the theories core assumptions is the idea that uncertainty is unpleasant and therefore serves as a motivating factor; that is, people communicate to decrease such uncertainty. Uncertainty reduction complies with a trend of developmental phases, beginning from entry to personal to exit. In the entry phase, data about another individual’s sex, age, economic or social status and other demographic data are obtained (Health & Bryant, 2000). A substantial portion of the interface is rules or norms-based. The second stage of development, the personal stage, is marked by an active sharing of attitudes, beliefs, values and more personal information (Health & Bryant, 2000). The limitations set by rules and norms of the first phase are reduced, and the parties feel more free to communicate. Finally, the exit phase is when the communicating parties decide about future interaction plans. They may present and bargain about means to permit the growth and continuance of the relationship. It must be noted though that any one specific conversation may be ended at the end of the entry stage; a situation that is most probable with first-time interactions, when people meet as acquaintances (Health and Bryant, 2000). Berger & Bradac (1982) distinguishes among the primary means by which people seek information about other individuals. The first among these are passive strategies where a person is observed, either in situations where the other person more probably will exercise self-monitoring as in a classroom setting. Or in a more natural context such as during a football game (Berger & Bradac, 1982). The second set of strategies is active strategies where the person of interest is set up in situations that allow for observation. For example, being in the same class, sitting near his table during dinner). During these situations, observation or talking with the person may be employed, as passive or active strategies, respectively. Lastly, interactive strategies involve communicating directly with the individual (Berger & Bradac, 1982). Everyone seeks to improve their ability to predict the other’s and their own behavior in these situations. Another noted factor which decreases the uncertainty between communicators is the extent of similarity with which individuals perceive each other in terms of upbringing and background, attitudes, and even physical appearance (Berger & Bradac, 1982; Berger & Calabrese, 1975; Health & Bryant, 2000). Statement of the Problem The present study seeks to answer the following research problems: 1) What is the level of sociability of e-world users with the following usage rates? a) heavy b) moderate c) light 2) Are there significant differences among the sociability scores of these three groups of e-world users in terms of the following: a) family b) friends c) colleagues at work Scope and Delimitations The current study aims to limit itself to an investigation of the impact of e-world use on the sociability of users. It present a thorough study of the effects of various IT tools (e.g. the Internet, gaming, chatting) on this dependent variable. Moreover, the impact of e-world usage shall be measured only on the sociability construct; other influences or effects will not be tackled in this investigation. Chapter 2 Methodology Research Design The study is a descriptive-comparative research, which aims to establish the levels of e-world usage, and cross compare these in terms of impact on sociability. Means and percentage distributions of e-world usage and sociability shall be constructed. These will then be analyzed using one-way analysis of variance to determine whether there are significant differences among the three groups of e-world users (i.e. heavy, moderate, light). Selection of Participants Participants shall be randomly selected. Survey questionnaires shall be randomly distributed within the ________ area, for a total of _____ respondents. They will be asked to accomplish two tools, one measuring e-world usage, and the other sociability. These are the measures for assessing the independent and dependent variables, respectively. Instruments Two self-constructed questionnaires shall be drafted to measure the two variables in the study: e-world usage and sociability. The drafts of these tools shall be made to undergo content and face validation by communication and test/ instrumentation experts. Moreover, it shall be pilot tested with an initial group of 20 respondents to ensure clarity of items and thoroughness of flow. Procedure Secondary data shall be gathered to form a good picture of the review of related literature, providing a comprehensive background for the study. Consequently, the tools for primary data gathering shall be constructed, validated and pilot tested. The tool shall be administered to ___ randomly selected participants in the ___ area. The accomplished questionnaires shall then be collated; responses will be encoded and statistically analyzed. Results shall be substantively interpreted in light of the Uncertainty Reduction Theory. Method of Data Analysis Means and percentage distributions shall be constructed for analyzing e-world usage and sociability data. One –way analysis of variance shall then be accomplished to determine whether there are significant differences among light, moderate and heavy e-world users in terms of the different subscales of sociability. If this test is significant, Scheffe’s post hoc test shall be computed to determine which pairwise comparisons are significant. References Berger, C. R., & Calabrese, R. J. (1975). Some explorations in initial interaction and beyond: Toward a developmental theory of interpersonal communication. Human Communication Theory, 1, 99-112. Berger, C.R., & Bradac, J.J. (1982). Language and social knowledge: Uncertainty in interpersonal relations. London: Arnold. Berger, C. R., & Gudykunst, W. B. (1991). Uncertainty and communication. In B. Dervin & Mj Voight (eds.), Progress in communication sciences (pp. 21-66). Norwood, NJ: Ablex. Castells, M. (1996). The rise of the network society. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers. Heath, R.L. & Bryant, J. (2000). Human Communication Theory and Research. Concept, Context and Challenges. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. Robinson, J.P., Kestnbaum, M., Neustadtl, A., Alvarez, A. (2000). Mass media and social life among internet users. Social Science Computer Review, 18(4), 490-501. Read More