Information and Communication Technologies and You: Multimedia Relationship Maintenance

Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS)
AMCIS 2009 Doctoral Consortium
Proceedings of the Fifteenth Americas Conference on Information Systems, San Francisco, California August 6th-9th 2009

AUTHOR:
Kayla D. Hales
College of Information Sciences and Technology
The Pennsylvania State University

ABSTRACT:

The way we think about relationships today has evolved significantly from the way we thought about relationships many years ago. Relationships that were once maintained primarily via face-to-face interactions have become maintainable through information and communication technologies (ICTs) like instant messenger, text messaging, email, social networking sites, video conferencing and the like. As ICTs continue to develop and relational maintenance behaviors and processes shift, it becomes increasingly important that the impact of ICTs on maintaining relationships be explored. Yes, computer-mediated communication has transformed the dynamic of interpersonal relationships and the way they are maintained - but why? and to what degree? How does the way an individual uses ICTs influence the path his/her relationship travels? These are a few questions this study aims to address through interview and survey data analysis. Ultimately, this study will provide a deeper understanding of how ICTs are being utilized to achieve relational maintenance goals.

Keywords:

Attachment Style, Computer Mediated Communication (CMC), Individual Differences, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Interpersonal Communication, Interpersonal Relationships, Love Languages (LLs), Love Style, Maintenance Behaviors, Relational Maintenance, Relational Features.

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