Strategic Communication Technology Use in Personal Relationships: The Role of Relational Uncertainty

• In Event: The Role of Relational Uncertainty in Interpersonal Relationships

Abstract

This study used a survey to examine associations between relational uncertainty, interaction goal, communication technology use, and perceived interaction effectiveness in an interaction in which participants attempted to increase or decrease uncertainty in their romantic relationship or opposite-sex friendship relationship. Participants who attempted to increase uncertainty were almost 3 times more likely than those who attempted to decrease uncertainty to have interacted via a communication technology. Implications for communication technology and relational research are discussed.

Authors

• Erin Ruppel, University of Arizona

• Stephen Rains, University of Arizona