Dissertation
When silence speaks louder than words: Computer-mediated communications and percieved ostracism
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
08/2008
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005821
Abstract
This dissertation addresses a need for theoretical insight into virtual teams and individual reactions to online silence. Integrating psychology's social ostracism theory and IS Media Synchronicity Theory, it offers a new theoretical framework for understanding what happens when members of virtual teams encounter silence in an online environment. This dissertation consists of three essays. The first essay develops a framework called the Cyberostracism Effects Theory (CET), which identifies four dimensions of technology-mediated interactions that affect perceptions of ostracism in virtual teams; message characteristics, interpersonal characteristics, individual characteristics, and media characteristics. The second essay provides a psychometric analysis of the Williams Need-Threat model instrumentation used in a virtual ball toss simulation and a chat room. The third essay utilizes a laboratory experiment to manipulate ostracism and evaluative tone to understand their impact on ostracism perceptions and important downstream organizational outcomes. This research provides implications for information systems practice and theory in the area of interface design and virtual team leadership. Key Words: Cyberostracism Effects Theory, Virtual Teams, Computer-Mediated Communication, Ostracism, Silence, Group HCI, Cyberball, Media Synchronicity Theory (MST), Perceived rejection
Metrics
Details
- Title
- When silence speaks louder than words
- Creators
- Gregory Michael Schechtman
- Contributors
- Joseph S. Valacich (Co-Chair)Mark A. Fuller (Co-Chair)Craig David Parks (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Office of the Provost
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Carson College of Business
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 164
- Identifiers
- 99901055034401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation