Can I Connect with Both You and My Social Network? Get-Acquainted Interactions and Communication Technology

• In Event: 338 - Section on Communication and Information Technologies Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 03.

Abstract

The presence of mobile phones and other communication devices is increasingly common, but little is known about whether their presence may interfere with communication in immediate interaction settings. In one exception, Przybylski and Weinstein (2012) found that dyads who engaged in an initial interaction in the presence of a cell phone reported lower relationship quality and closeness than dyads who interacted in the presence of a notebook. A field study found similar results (Misra et al., 2014). The explanations of mobile communication’s negative effect focused on the detrimental effects of “divided attention.” Neither study, however, directly examined the consequences of having one’s own social network salient through a communication device. Therefore, we examined the effects of having access to one’s own devices on ratings of the interaction. Fifty-three stranger-stranger dyads engaged in a get-acquainted interaction over Skype. In experimental dyads, one member was allowed to unobtrusively check his or her cell phone and Facebook while interacting with the other. In control dyads, neither partner had access to their cell phone or Facebook. Participants who checked their cell phone and Facebook reported being less engaged in the interaction than did the control participants. No significant differences, however, were found between the two groups on other reactions. Regardless of condition, participants reported enjoying the interaction, feeling closeness and liking for the other, and an enhanced positive mood. One implication of our results is that divided attention may only be detrimental when one is reminded of one’s network members but cannot access them.

Authors

• Susan Sprecher, Illinois State University

• Diane H. Felmlee, Pennsylvania State University

• Adam Hampton, Illinois State University

• Hannah Jones, Illlinois State University