Research on the Social & Psychological Effects of Information &
Communication Technologies
 | ResearchIn our lab, we examine how various forms of computer, cellphone, and digital technologies influence social processes that lead to social, emotional, and psychological outcomes. In particular, we consider how relationships with peers and close others influence the effects that social interactions over these media have on one's personal adjustment. This work lead to the development of the Social Process Model of Information and Communication Technology Socialization, which we continue to examine and develop through our research. MethodsOur work has examined effects in both adolescent and emergent adult populations utilizing questionnaire, observational, daily diary, and experimental methodologies. We have examined concurrent and longitudinal relations utilizing bivariate and multivariate analyses. |
Psychosocial Context Theory of Technology-Mediated Communication
Research concerning the effects of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has found a wide variety of social, emotional, and psychological effects. Although theories such as the Social Information Processing Theory of Computer-Mediated Communication, Social Identity Model of Deindividuation Effects (SIDE), and Hyperpersonal Theory of Computer-Mediated Communication, have been supported and present plausible explanations for many of the noted effects of these media, none of these models provides a comprehensive explanation that takes into account the social processes involved from motivation to communicate with friends, the process of selecting a medium to interact, how qualities of a medium effect the social processes, and how these processes lead to different adjustment outcomes. The Social Process Model of ICTS synthesizes previous theories and provides a comprehensive model of communication through technologically mediated means.
