Is Face-to-Face Communication more useful than Computer Mediated Communication? Early Researchers Propose a theory that says yes.

The Media Deficit Theory

Created By: Hailey Marnell, Nyalat Biliew, Brianna Potter, Courtney Brown, Matthew Donovan, and Matthew Desmond

Media Deficit Theory (Defined)

The “Media Deficit Approach” is a theoretical perception that views computer-mediated communication (CMC) methods such as webcam chat, telephone, email, text messaging, etc. as less useful than plain and simple face-to-face communication.

This approach of thinking is based on two characteristics of person-to-person mediated communication. 1.) Filtered Communication which lacks the ability of carrying nonverbal cues (included in the nonverbal codes of Kinesics, Paralinguistics, Time and Space, Haptics, and Appearance & Artifacts), and 2.) Asynchronous Interaction where a delay may occur between the times the messages are sent and when they are seen/ replied to.

Sub Categories:

1. Filtered Communication

A. Filtering

B. Social Presence

*Social Presence Theory

C. Media Richness

*Emoticons

2. Asynchronous Interaction

A. Synchronous

B. Asynchronous

Filtered Technology Communication

Filtered Communication:

Filtering Definition: Removal of nonverbal cues.

Filtered Communication: Lacks the capability to carry nonverbal cues.

When we talk face to face with peers, family, and even strangers we see the other people’s facial expressions, what gestures they make, can hear their voice, etc. We encounter all the nonverbals that are important in sending messages effectively and accurately, but with new media most nonverbal cues are FILTERED out. This impacts our ability to determine the meanings of messages effectively and/or accurately.

The two deficit theories that help form understanding of the impact of this filtering in computer mediated communication mediums (Texting, Email, Chats, Facebook, etc.) are the Social Presence theory--Nonverbal cues help us feel close to one another--, and the Media Richness theory--Face-to-face communication is capable of conveying more information than any other communication medium.

We seem to have filtered so much of our communication both individually and collectively. The effects of filtering have implications for personal relationships.

“Technology makes it easy to communicate when we wish and to disengage at will.”

         –Sherry Turkle, media expert

Social Presence

What is Social Presence?

*Degree of psychological closeness or immediacy produced by various media.

Social Presence Theory: Suggests that face-to-face communication is generally high in this kind of social presence, and that media vary in the quality and amount of social presence they convey.

When talking to someone it is clear when they are engaged in the communication process with you and when they aren’t.

EXAMPLE: Engaged- Eye contact, nodding, acknowledging what your saying, interacting back, etc. Not engaged- looking around, texting, using uh-huh’s, and when it’s their turn to converse they have no idea what is going on or what to say.

Technologies can be organized along a range from low to high social presence, and users often select a specific medium that they perceive to have the highest social presence (Personal Preference rather than fact which is Face-to-Face).

This theory implies that media which includes no social presence (texting, emails, networking, etc.) is more impersonal and will not fully get your point across to the receiving of the message without your nonverbal cues playing a role in the message.

For example, face-to-face communication is the best type of communication. If you cannot physically see the person, communication over the video chat is next best because you can still hear their voice and see them, but some cues are still missing. Lastly, texting is the worst form of communication because it filters out all nonverbal cues.

Media Richness

The Media Richness Theory describes the potential information-carrying capacity of a communication medium. This suggests that individuals differentiate between communication technologies from “lean” and “rich” which is based on the technologies basic properties.

Four factors that affect the richness of the media technology: 1. Transmission of multiple cues (vocal, nonverbal, gestures, etc)

The more cues the more “rich” the technology2. Immediacy of feedback (speed messages are being sent &

received/responded to)The faster the feedback the more “rich” the technology

3. Language Variety4. The personal focus

The media richness theory claims that individuals seek to match the richness of a medium with the complexity of the task for which it is used.

The least rich media are thought to be text-based messages; however, this form of communication does not lack all nonverbal cues.

Relation conveyed through: Emoticons (smiley face :-)) and Abbreviations (LOL, BRB, H&K, XOXO, etc.)

Feeling/mood conveyed through: Punctuation (? , ! , using or not using a period , etc.), the length of sentences, as well as the number of adjectives and adverbs.

Modeled after Visual Summary 14.1 pg.385 (Created by: Hailey Marnell)

Asynchronous Interaction

Asynchronous Interaction:

Face to face and some new media forms differ in the degree to which the exchange of messages are…

Synchronous: Communication in which messages are sent and received at the same time. Examples: Face-to-Face and media like the phone and online chats.

…OR…

Asynchronous: Communication in which messages are sent and received at different time. AKA. A delay may occur between when the message is sent and when it is responded to.

Examples: Email, online discussion messages, and video recordings.

Both: Example: Text messaging can be either/or depending on how quickly the receiver responds or

acknowledges the message.

The Media deficit theory suggests: When sending a message though an asynchronous medium: it’s nearly impossible to know if the other

person has gotten the message because you don’t receive an in the moment response.

Asynchronicity may create a lack of shared reality. ex: Telling a friend something exciting, terrific, and important through asynchronous communication will not have the same effect as telling them face-to-face.

Consistent texting and lack of face to face contact may make relationships seem more distant and more complicated.

Research Findings…(1)

• Impact of motivations (strong and weak) on the use of the three technologies: Strong-tie communication did not have any significant impact on the use of the technologies. In contrast, weak-tie communication was seen to be associated with cell-phone texting.

• Students’ cooperative perceptions were higher in Face-to-Face and synchronous Computer mediated communication, while individualistic perceptions were higher in asynchronous Computer mediated communication.

• The effect of media richness on the use of the three technologies: media richness was not significantly associated with e-mail use, yet it was significantly related with both cell-phone texting and Facebook Wall use.

• The effect of perceived network on the use of the technologies was associated with e-mail use with a marginal significance, but not significantly associated with cell-phone texting and Facebook Wall use.

• Face-to-face interaction is generally preferred for confusing tasks or messages, whereas written or electronic media are generally preferred for clear-cut communications.

Research Findings…(2)

Role of social media during crisis

Communicate quicker

Inform the world

Ask for help/Donations

Earthquake in Japan

-In 2011, Japan had an earthquake that devastated the nation and people around the world. During the Earthquake, people had no cellphone service but they were able to go on social networks such as twitter to input their opinion on the situation and inform the world on what has happened.

Twitter and Facebook served as the communication tools for information on the earthquake and the areas that were severely damaged.

Nonprofit organizations also used twitter to receive donations from people to help the families affected.

Earthquake in Haiti:

When an earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, the damages were unbelievable.

The U.S military had taken over the Haiti airfield and would not clear a Doctors Without Borders plane that had a lot of needed supplies to land.

Thats when Ann Curry an NBC journalist Tweeted and tweet that got the worlds attention.

Curry tweeted “@usairforce find a way to let Doctors without Borders planes land in Haiti :http://bit.ly/8hYZOKTHE most effective at this,”

This tweeted got many peoples attention around the world and informed people about what was going on in haiti.

Sources (URL for Pictures and APA for Info)

Photo Sources:

Media Deficit:

Wired Phone (http://americanwirelessinc.net/phone.html )

Face to Face (http://www.sjsapush.com/ch4.php )

Webcam (http://www.answers.com/guides/how-to-set-up-a-video-chat )

Cell Phone (http://www.geekwire.com/2012/samsungs-ativ-tablets-phones-windows-8/ )

Email Symbol (http://siliconangle.com/blog/2013/05/23/how-to-switch-email-services-easily-keep-all-your-mails-contacts/)

Hands Texting (http://mom.me/parenting/3357-when-should-my-kid-get-a-cell /)

Filtered Technology Communication:

Couple on a date (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/vgJlvvv98kY/TtD_WEMKg2I/AAAAAAAAAKg/qPuojYj7xUI/s1600/cell- phone.jpg)

Social Media Logos (http://wplift.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/featured1.png )

Social Presence:

People Gathered (http://relationalcontextofteaching.edublogs.org/2011/06/03/social-presence-is-not-just- about-the-teacher/ )

Media Richness:

Within Model made by Hailey: Same as Media Deficit slide

Asynchronous Interaction:

Showing A & S Interaction (http://www.imedicalapps.com/2012/05/synchronous-asynchronous-communication /)

Research Findings:

Bird (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-86564056/stock-vector-vector-cartoon-illustration-of-a-shouting-bluebird-with-exclamation-point-word-bubble.html)

Information Sources

Alberts, J. K., Nakayama, T. K., & Martin, J. N. (2012). Communication and New Technology.

Human communication in society (3rd ed., pp. 383-386). Upper Saddle

River: Pearson.

Biocca, F., Harms, C., & Burgoon, J. K. (2003). Toward A More Robust Theory And Measure

            Of Social Presence: Review And Suggested Criteria. Presence: Teleoperators and

            Virtual Environments, 12(5), 456-480.

Carlson, J. R., & George, J. F. (2004). Media Appropriateness in the Conduct and Discovery of

Deceptive Communication:

The Relative Influence of Richness and Synchronicity Group

Decision and Negotiation, 13(2), 191-210.

Muralidharan, S., Rasmussen, L., Patterson, D., & Shin, J. (2011). Hope for Haiti: An analysis of

Facebook and Twitter usage

during the earthquake relief efforts. Public Relations

Review, 37(2),175-177. doi:10.1016/j.pubrev.2011.01.010

Park, N., Chung, J. E., & Lee, S. (2012). Explaining the Use of Text-Based Communication

            Media: An Examination of Three Theories of Media Use. Cyberpsychology,

Behavior,

            and Social Networking, 15(7), 357-363. Retrieved April 15, 2014, from

the EBSCOhost

            database. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2012.0121

Seong Eun, C., & Han Woo, P. (2013). SOCIAL MEDIA USE DURING JAPA N'S 2011 EARTHQUAKE:

HOW TWITTER TRANSFORMS

THE LOCUS OF CRISIS COMMUNICATION. Media International

Australia (8/1/07-Current), (149), 28-40.