Grounding CSCW in Social Psychology

2006 ◽  
pp. 257-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umer Farooq ◽  
Peter G. Fairweather ◽  
Mark K. Singley
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Organization Theory ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Panel Discussion ◽  
Group Processes ◽  
Group Decision Support Systems ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated

Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) is largely an applied discipline, technologically supporting multiple individuals, their group processes, their dynamics, and so on. CSCW is a research endeavor that studies the use of, designs, and evaluates computer technologies to support groups, organizations, communities, and societies. It is interdisciplinary, marshalling research from different disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, organizational psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, and information and computer sciences. Some examples of CSCW systems are group decision support systems (e.g., Nunamaker, Dennis, Valacich, Vogel, & George, 1991), group authoring systems (e.g., Guzdial, Rick, & Kerimbaev, 2000), and computer-mediated communication systems (e.g., Sproull & Kiesler, 1991). Behavioral and social sciences provide a rich body of research and theory about principles of human behavior. However, researchers and developers have rarely taken advantage of this trove of empirical phenomena and theory (Kraut, 2003). Recently, at the 2004 Conference on CSCW, there was a panel discussion chaired by Sara Kiesler (Barley, Kiesler, Kraut, Dutton, Resnick, & Yates, 2004) on the topic of incorporating group and organization theory in CSCW. Broadly speaking, the panel discussed some theories applicable to CSCW and debated their usefulness. In this article, we use the theory of small groups as complex systems from social psychology in a brief example to allude to how it can be used to inform CSCW methodologically and conceptually.

scholarly journals Catch 22: The Paradox of Social Media Affordances and Stigmatized Online Support Groups

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 205630512098447
Author(s):  
Daphna Yeshua-Katz ◽  
Ylva Hård af Segerstad
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Discussion Board ◽  
Online Support Groups ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
The Public ◽  
Computer Mediated

This study highlights the challenges of computer-mediated communication for vulnerable individuals and groups, by studying boundary work in stigmatized communities online. Five stigmatized online communities with different affordances were studied: (1) “pro-ana” blogs; (2) an infertility discussion board; (3) a Facebook group for bereaved parents; and (4) two WhatsApp groups for Israeli veterans of war with post-traumatic stress disorder. In-depth interviews with members and administrators ( n = 66) revealed that social media affordances such as low anonymity and high visibility may marginalize those living with stigma. While research literature applauds social media for allowing the formation and maintenance of social capital, our study highlights the paradox caused by these very same affordances. To offer safe and functioning environments of support, the communities must guard against impostors whose presence threatens their safe havens. Simultaneously, this may make these groups inaccessible to those who truly need support and remove such groups from the public eye.

Leadership Competencies for Managing Global Virtual Teams

2008 ◽  
pp. 1303-1310
Author(s):  
Diana J. Wong-MingJi
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Teams ◽  
Strategic Alliances ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Leadership Competencies ◽  
Stock Exchanges ◽  
Global Virtual Teams ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Organizational Hierarchies

The demand for leadership competencies to leverage performance from global virtual teams (GVTs) is growing as organizations continue to search for talent, regardless of location. This means that the work of virtual leaders is embedded in the global shifting of work (Tyran, Tyran & Shepherd, 2003). The phenomenon began with the financial industry as trading took place 24/7 with stock exchanges in different time zones. It is expanding into other industries such as software programming, law, engineering, and call centers. GVTs support the globalization of work by providing organizations with innovative, flexible, and rapid access to human capital. Several forces of competition contribute to the increasing adoption of GVTs, including globalizing of competition, growing service industries, flattening of organizational hierarchies, increasing number of strategic alliances, outsourcing, and growing use of teams (Pawar & Sharifi, 1997; Townsend, DeMarie & Hendrickson, 1998). The backbone of GVTs is innovation with computer-mediated communication systems (CMCSs). Advances with CMCSs facilitate and support virtual team environments.

Training Techniques for Developing Trust in Virtual Teams

2011 ◽  
pp. 1659-1666
Author(s):  
Peggy M. Beranek ◽  
Ben Martz ◽  
Monique French
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Virtual Teams ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Comparison Of The Results

Trust among team members is a major factor influencing the cohesiveness of the group, trust also has a direct impact on team performance, problem solving, organizational performance, and organizational communication. Virtual teams are teams in which members are distributed and communicate via computer-mediated communication systems (CMCS). Past research has indicated that the development of trust among team members requires face-to-face communication, thereby making it difficult for virtual teams to develop trust. Recent research has shown that it is possible to train virtual teams to exhibit higher levels of trust. This paper describes and discusses different methods of trust training for virtual teams. We offer a comprehensive comparison of the results and analysis of the training programs of these studies and offer advice on developing and conducting such programs.

Using a Computer Bulletin Board in a Social Psychology Course

1991 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 245-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold S. Kahn ◽  
Robert G. Brookshire
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Full Advantage ◽  
Computer Literacy ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Bulletin Board ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Class Time ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Psychology Course

In this article, we first explore the nature of a computer bulletin board within the context of computer mediated communication, and then we describe and evaluate its use during three semesters of an undergraduate course in social psychology. Results suggest that a computer bulletin board can boost student computer literacy, increase class time available for lecture/discussion, save time and money on reproducing and distributing materials, permit more materials to be distributed to students, and allow students easier access to their instructor. However, most students failed to take full advantage of the bulletin board. Reasons for this are discussed.

scholarly journals Computer-Mediated Communication

Communication ◽  
2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun-Ju Lee ◽  
Soo Youn Oh
Keyword(s):  
Contextual Information ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Group Processes ◽  
Dyadic Interaction ◽  
Human Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Computer Mediated

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) is an umbrella term that encompasses various forms of human communication through networked computers, which can be synchronous or asynchronous and involve one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many exchanges of text, audio, and/or video messages. Early research has focused largely on how mediation by technology alters the processes and outcomes of social interaction and group processes, addressing issues such as how people express and construe self-identity, form and manage impressions, develop and maintain relationships, build communities, collaborate at a distance and make collective decisions, mostly in contrast to non-mediated, face-to-face communication. As such, core theories that guided earlier studies highlight the dearth of socio-contextual information as the defining characteristic of CMC working to its disadvantage. However, they were soon challenged by alternative models underscoring individual users’ active accommodation to the limited channel capacity and even more strategic appropriation of the constraints of the medium. In a similar vein, the dichotomous view that differentiates the “real” from the “virtual” gradually was replaced by the perspective that underscores the blurring boundary and the fluid interaction between the two. At the same time, researchers have also investigated who turns to online communication as opposed to offline, face-to-face interaction, and with what consequences. Going beyond dyadic interaction between unacquainted individuals, social and psychological implications of CMC have also been examined in various contexts, such as distributed workgroups (computer-supported cooperative work: CSCW), social network sites (SNSs), and online games.

Effectively Communicating With Group Decision Support Systems Using Information Theory

2019 ◽  
pp. 655-667
Author(s):  
Jamie S. Switzer ◽  
Ralph V. Switzer
Keyword(s):  
Information Theory ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Group Decision ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Group Decision Support ◽  
Group Decision Support Systems ◽  
Group Decision Support System ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Level Information

This chapter describes the results from a case study using information theory to examine the effectiveness of communicating using group decision support system (GDSS) technology. At its most basic level, information theory provides the means to measure the efficiency of communication systems. Using information theory as the theoretical foundation, this chapter examines how the use of GDSS facilitated computer-mediated communication (CMC) for one particular business with respect to entropy, redundancy, and noise, which are key components in information theory.

Understanding Organizational Philosophies of Inquiry Through Hermeneutic Analysis of Organizational Texts

2011 ◽  
pp. 291-315
Author(s):  
Michael H. Dickey ◽  
David B. Paradice
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Work Groups ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Distributed Work ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
Written Texts ◽  
Computer Mediated

This chapter introduces cultural hermeneutics as a lens for understanding philosophies of inquiry in distributed work groups. The authors suggest that philosophies of inquiry can be ascertained through hermeneutic analysis of written texts created by distributed workers using computer-mediated communication systems. Using this approach, elements of context in written artifacts that should be evident for each of Churchman’s inquiring models (Leibnizian, Lockean, Kantian, Hegelian, and Singerian) are delineated, which should help identify the underlying philosophies of inquiry being used by a particular group. Sample texts for each inquiring model are also presented. Understanding philosophies of inquiry can both guide the design and implementation of computer-mediated communication systems used to create knowledge and illuminate best practices for their use.

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