User talk:Aniuni/sandbox 2

Hyperpersonal Theory Model

Hyperpersonal Theory Model is related and understood through computer-mediated communication(CMC). This model is based on virtual communication rather than the traditional face-to-face interactions. It stems from interpersonal communication. According to Erin Schumaker (2013), "the hyperpersonal model addresses how individuals communicate interpersonally online. The theory presents predictions as to how individuals present themselves in an environment rich with unique ways to present self to others, how other individuals both inside and outside of their network evaluate that individual, as well as how these interactions may create an inflated reciprocal spiral of exchanges resulting in subsequently inflated (or exaggerated) relationships".

Background

Orignination of the hyperpersonal theory model came from Joseph Walther. He is the Director of Center for Information Technology and Society at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Walther, according to the University of California, Santa Barbara says, "his teaching and research focus on computer-mediated communication and social media in personal relationships, groups, educational settings, and inter-ethic conflict, topics on which he has contributed several original theories and numerous experiments and surveys".

Uses of Hyperpersonal Theory Model

Hyperpersoanl Theory Model describes how people use virtual communication, or computer-mediated communication, rather than face-to-face communication. There are two directions Walther makes on "the work of CMC and its interpersonal effects":

"an effort is made to integrate theories and research findings pertaining to impersonal and interpersonal interactions in CMC, not by dismissing one in favor of the other but rather by specifying some conditions that favor each type outcome, either of which may be desirable and useful in certain contexts"
"a new perspective is offered regarding the heightened levels of intimacy, solidarity, and liking via CMC, which have been observed and documented in several empirical and anecdotal accounts. Combinations of media attributes, social phenomena, and social-psychological processes may lead to CMC to become "hyperpersonal," that is, to exceed face-to face (FtF) interpersonal communication"

Computer-Mediated Communication

Computer-mediated communication, also known as CMC, relates to hyperpersonal theory model because it suggests that computer-mediated communication can turn hyperpersonal since they both lack the use of face-to-face communication. CMC "may be impersonal". However, there are now "online friendships and virtual communities". CMC was "emerged as an unintended byproduct of linking large computers to one another for security and information redundancy". In doing so, operators found that the computers were able to send messages to other people, enabling computer-mediated communication. From this, "questions arose as to whether CMC could replace travel to meetings by group members and whether CMC might provide meetings as effective as, or even more effective, than FtF meetings". This is where researchers developed online behaviors vs personal interaction behaviors. They tested this by interactions through e-mail. Researchers then found that computer-mediated communication was more "task-oriented" rather than FtF conversations/meetings.

Applications

Walther

Joseph Walther is noted to be the founder of this theory, however, he uses his finding to teach at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In his research he found "the hyperpersonal model of CMC proposes a set of concurrent theoretically based processes to explain how CMC may facilitate impressions and relationships online that exceed the desirability and intimacy that occur in parallel offline interactions". The model Walther created has four main components that illustrate how CMC relates to message structure and reception:

"effects due to receiver processes"
"effects among message senders"
"attributes of the channel"
"feedback effects"

These four components represent how CMC may effect how relationships online exceed offline relationships.

Jiang, Bazarova, and Hancock

Jiang, Bazarova, and Hancock use Joseph Walther's hyperpersonal theory model to indicate the understandings of intimacy interpersonal relationships through CMC. In their study, the three researchers established "some online relationships tend to be more intimate than FtF relationships and CMC interactions are often rated as significantly more intimate than FtF counterparts. One approach to explain this phenomenon is the hyperpersoanl model, which highlights the cognitive and behavioral processes and CMC affordances that can contribute to greater online intimacy".They depicted that people tend to "put their best foot forward" while engaging in CMC relationships. They found that CMC allows a person to self-present themselves. One thing they studied throughout this research was the idea of online dating. Online dating allows a person to post a picture of themselves that they chose and avoid a less attractive photo of them. Jiang, Bazarova and Hancock discovered that "related to the sender's behavior in CMC, people appear to be more comfortable disclosing personal information in CMC than Ftf". This may lead to a more positive hyperpersonal relationship.

Critique

Walther describes some challenges to CMC research. His area of concern lies within three areas:

"the increasing neglect of off-line comparisons in CMC studies, potentially undermining broad theoretical understanding and leading to potentially inflated views of CMC's effect"
"how and whether new technologies affect the utility of theories that were developed in the contact of somewhat older technological contexts"
"how we study interpersonal communication when many relationships are radically multimodal".

Walther's seeks to tell researchers not compare FtF communication with CMC due the fact they rely on different users and features.

Peer Review

Hi Amber! I will be reviewing your Wiki article for our COM 563 class and I have a question before I get too far along. I see that "Hyperpersonal model" already exists on Wiki, but "Hyperpersonal theory" is listed on our class page as an article that does not exist. So, I wanted to know for sure if I will be reviewing a new page by you, or if you are modifying the existing page. And, if it's a new page could you give me quick explanation as to the basic differences between the two theories? Your draft and the other article reference Joeseph Walther as developing the theory (or theories). Assuming there is a difference you may want to consider including that in your article with a link to the other theory. I look forward to working with you! Thanks.Dougok (talk) 21:08, 27 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]