Considering theories in how people interact using different forms of media really intrigued me. Both Daft and Lengel’s Media Richness Theory and O’Sullivan’s Impression Management Model provide takes on what kinds of cues we take to decide a medium of communication. Though one is based on equivocality and the other is based on ambiguity-clarity, both analyze the degree of richness of media in a given situation.
I originally had questions for Media Richness Theory, which were exemplified by my first example of media selection. For the past week, my friend and I have been trying to work with each others’ busy schedules to set a time for a dinner date. We constantly bumped into each other as the week passed, but these short encounters never yielded a conclusive setting of date and time. Though Media Richness Theory suggests that in a situation as unequivocal as planning to meet with someone the use of a lean medium would be optimum, MRT lacks analysis on the importance of a message. This message was particularly important to me. Because my friend and I were constantly missing each other, I decided to call her and set an exact date and time for our dinner. Because I could get her feedback, we were able to finally set aside time for each other, instead of playing our never-ending game of “what time is good for you?” instant and text messages. So what happens to MRT when a degree of message importance is added into the mix?
A second media selection has to do with O’Sullivan’s Impression Management Model. Through experience with my personal blog over the years, I’ve come to realize how true the second hypothesis of IMM is. Though I don’t consider myself a particularly boastful person, there are instances when I am proud of something I have done or achieved. The locus in this situation would be myself, with a positive valence, for example. I have found that the best way to display this “pride” or personal boost, is through my blog. Being totally asynchronous, totally viewable to the world, and totally editable, blogs are ideal for conveying (and controlling) messages about the self. I have the maximum control over what is said/displayed about me in my own weblog. On the other hand, any confessions I would need to make could be dulled down so as not to be controversial or extremely negative in the eyes of others.
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http://comm245yellow.blogspot.com/2007/09/a3-sorry-shakespeare-its-not-just-in.html
http://comm245yellow.blogspot.com/2007/09/3-me-as-mermaid-johnson-15-year-old.html
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2 comments:
Kristie,
Your analysis about O'Sullivan's Impression Model seems right on. Blogs are an excellent way to present the self to the outside world. They can be updated and modified easily, allowing for constant change in personal identity.
Because they are editable they make it possible to alter the valence at a given time. If feeling particular boastful one day it is possible to modify it with more modesty at another time. With a few clicks of a button the person whom you appear to be can completely change.
You analyzed O'Sullivan's Model well and you made solid arguments. Perhaps in the future you can go into a bit more detail by providing more supporting evidence. What, for example, was the "particularly boastful" moment you had in your personal blog? (you don't have to answer...I was just trying to clarify my point!)
Great post Kristie! I agree with you that although Media Richness Theory addresses the content of a message in terms of equivocality, it does not address importance. I often find my chance face-to-face interactions have a lot less meaning than the interactions I have online. Although more cues are available in my f2f interactions, I do not always plan these interactions and the people I speak to have less meaning in my life than those I speak to online.
In response to your comment on O’Sullivan’s theory, I would not choose to post good news about myself in a blog as you do. This part of O’Sullivan’s theory is greatly based on individual personalities and specific circumstances. For example, if you were absolutely positive that someone would be ecstatic to hear your good news, you would probably tell them f2f to get the expected reaction.
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