The Gendered Dynamics of Text Messaging in the Social Networks of College Students

• In Event: 579 - Section on Communication, Information Technologies, and Media Sociology Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 06. Personal

Abstract

In this paper, we outline an ongoing project wherein we examine how the gender composition of a dyadic relationship structures the behavioral patterns exhibited through smartphone text messaging. More specifically, our larger goal is to detail the interaction patterns that predict tie stability and tie strength in same and mixed gender networks. We begin this paper by framing text message interaction as a social exchange, and focus most closely on measures that serve as a proxy for reciprocity and balance within these relationships, such a response time and turn taking. Our preliminary findings are from data collected during the NetSense Smartphone Study. The NetSense study was a social networks based project conducted at the University Of Notre Dame from the fall of 2011 through the summer of 2013. Our preliminary results suggest that the average response time it takes one nodal actor to respond to another varies by the gender composition of the tie. We close with a discussion detailing our continuing analyses which we will complete in the coming months.

Authors

• Jordan Sannito, University of Notre Dame

• Michael Penta, University of Notre Dame

• Matthew J. Chandler, University of Notre Dame

• David S. Hachen, University of Notre Dame