The Effects of Computer Mediated Communication on the Processes of Communication and Collaboration

Newlands, Alison J. S (1998) The Effects of Computer Mediated Communication on the Processes of Communication and Collaboration. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis investigates the effects of computer-mediated communication upon collaborative problem solving. The results of three studies are presented, which explore the range of channels of communication afforded by two dissimilar forms of computer-mediated communication. The first study explores the effects of an interactive text-based form of computer-mediated communication, which provides users with a very restricted range of channels. Studies two and three examine the effects of collaborating in a video-mediated context, a technologically sophisticated communication system that affords an array of channels of communication more similar to face-to-face interactions. The effects of these communicative contexts are assessed using a multi-faceted approach. This method of evaluation is based upon analysis of task performance, the structure of the interactions, and measures of the process and content of communication. The findings show that the novice users of these computer-mediated contexts can achieve effective communication and collaboration, but the ease and pace with which this is accomplished varies with communicative context. Users of the highly constrained text-based system initially performed less well on the collaborative tasks, but with experience adapted to the context in appropriate ways. Participants in the video-mediated conditions appeared to adjust quickly to this context. Subtle differences in the structure, process and content of their interactions show that they also had to make allowances for the restraints imposed by the technologically mediated context. These results are discussed within the frame-work of a collaborative model of communication.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: Anne Anderson
• Keywords: Cognitive psychology, Communication
• Date of Award: 1998
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1998-75865
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2019 09:15
• Last Modified: 19 Dec 2019 09:15
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/75865