CMS 341 Final Exam with Complete
Solutions
Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) - ANSWER-communication within a
technological medium through which individuals construct meaning
What are the six characteristics of CMC? - ANSWER-digital, richness, persistence,
visibility/openness, replicability, and edibility
How is time shaped through CMC? - ANSWER-Synchronicity (real time communication;
Face-to-face interactions), Asynchronicity (communication that does not occur in real
time)
Temporal Compression (trying to fit as much as possible into a unit of time), Temporal
Expansion (lack of temporal boundaries)
Cues Filtered-Out Perspective - ANSWER-reflect the idea that a lack of non-verbal cues
leads to either impersonal communications or lack of warmth/coldness
Social Presence Theory - ANSWER-suggests that CMC deprives users of the sense
that another actual person is involved in the interaction; CMC is inferior to other forms of
communication because it does not provide warmth and involvement with others
Lack of Social Context Hypothesis Theory - ANSWER-CMC does not allow for the
establishment of social context; focuses on interpersonal and group communication
Media Richness Theory - ANSWER-used to evaluate the efficiency of different
communication media to reduce equivocality; face-to-face is the "richest" media
Adaptation Theories - ANSWER-the adaptation of communication with technology
advancements
Social Information Processing Theory (SIP) - ANSWER-communication mediums aren't
at all hindering to relationships, it just takes more messages and more time; CMC is
equally, if not better, than face-to-face
Opposite of social presence theory
Hyperpersonal Model - ANSWER-people that communicate through CMC can facilitate
expectations that exceed connections that happen offline; we capitalize on tech
features; when you communicate with someone online without non-verbals, you adapt
and "fill in the blank" with positive ideas; idealization of the other person
, Affordance Perspective - ANSWER-goes against the idea that CMC is a constraint and
that we are simply adapting; participants of CMC are creating communication by
capitalizing on the opportunities and overcoming the constraints of CMC
Social Identification Model of Deindividuation Effects (SIDE) - ANSWER-explains the
effects of anonymity and identifiability on group behavior; people often identify on the
basis of common group membership, or in-group and out-group identifications, and that
certain contextual factors encourage or discourage these forms of identification
begin to lose sight of who you are while taking on the characteristics of the group
Avatars - ANSWER-two-dimensional representations on a computer screen that chat
users can select and move around the screen during online interaction (used frequently
in various multiplayer computer games)
Anthropomorphic icons - ANSWER-a less manipulable form of avatars is
anthropomorphic graphics, or icons, accompanying CMC messages or appearing fixed
on a screen during chat
Ex. Participants paid more attention when the icon appeared to be female
Videoconferencing - ANSWER-by focusing videos on the objects discussed rather than
on facial displays, is better than face-oriented videoconferencing in many cases
Chronemics - ANSWER-the study of the role of time in communication
Ex. One of the unknowns of emailing is the time it will take the receiver to form and post
a reply. Response times vary considerably, and the chronemics of email are an
important non-verbal cue which can convey meaning
What are the four elements that shape our experience when communicating via CMC? -
ANSWER-anonymity, presence, mobility, and asynchronicity
Anonymity - ANSWER-Being anonymous allows users to feel more free to possibly say
and do things they wouldn't normal do
Runs along a continuum
What is the continuum of anonymity? - ANSWER-Identifiability (knowing one's name or
location, having a photo of them)
Pseudonymity (having a photo, but not knowing one's name)
Full Anonymity (lack of name, location, and photo; only have communication method)
Presence - ANSWER-a feeling one has that they are immersed in the communication
medium
Mobility - ANSWER-having mobile devices used to communicate influences our
communication
Solutions
Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) - ANSWER-communication within a
technological medium through which individuals construct meaning
What are the six characteristics of CMC? - ANSWER-digital, richness, persistence,
visibility/openness, replicability, and edibility
How is time shaped through CMC? - ANSWER-Synchronicity (real time communication;
Face-to-face interactions), Asynchronicity (communication that does not occur in real
time)
Temporal Compression (trying to fit as much as possible into a unit of time), Temporal
Expansion (lack of temporal boundaries)
Cues Filtered-Out Perspective - ANSWER-reflect the idea that a lack of non-verbal cues
leads to either impersonal communications or lack of warmth/coldness
Social Presence Theory - ANSWER-suggests that CMC deprives users of the sense
that another actual person is involved in the interaction; CMC is inferior to other forms of
communication because it does not provide warmth and involvement with others
Lack of Social Context Hypothesis Theory - ANSWER-CMC does not allow for the
establishment of social context; focuses on interpersonal and group communication
Media Richness Theory - ANSWER-used to evaluate the efficiency of different
communication media to reduce equivocality; face-to-face is the "richest" media
Adaptation Theories - ANSWER-the adaptation of communication with technology
advancements
Social Information Processing Theory (SIP) - ANSWER-communication mediums aren't
at all hindering to relationships, it just takes more messages and more time; CMC is
equally, if not better, than face-to-face
Opposite of social presence theory
Hyperpersonal Model - ANSWER-people that communicate through CMC can facilitate
expectations that exceed connections that happen offline; we capitalize on tech
features; when you communicate with someone online without non-verbals, you adapt
and "fill in the blank" with positive ideas; idealization of the other person
, Affordance Perspective - ANSWER-goes against the idea that CMC is a constraint and
that we are simply adapting; participants of CMC are creating communication by
capitalizing on the opportunities and overcoming the constraints of CMC
Social Identification Model of Deindividuation Effects (SIDE) - ANSWER-explains the
effects of anonymity and identifiability on group behavior; people often identify on the
basis of common group membership, or in-group and out-group identifications, and that
certain contextual factors encourage or discourage these forms of identification
begin to lose sight of who you are while taking on the characteristics of the group
Avatars - ANSWER-two-dimensional representations on a computer screen that chat
users can select and move around the screen during online interaction (used frequently
in various multiplayer computer games)
Anthropomorphic icons - ANSWER-a less manipulable form of avatars is
anthropomorphic graphics, or icons, accompanying CMC messages or appearing fixed
on a screen during chat
Ex. Participants paid more attention when the icon appeared to be female
Videoconferencing - ANSWER-by focusing videos on the objects discussed rather than
on facial displays, is better than face-oriented videoconferencing in many cases
Chronemics - ANSWER-the study of the role of time in communication
Ex. One of the unknowns of emailing is the time it will take the receiver to form and post
a reply. Response times vary considerably, and the chronemics of email are an
important non-verbal cue which can convey meaning
What are the four elements that shape our experience when communicating via CMC? -
ANSWER-anonymity, presence, mobility, and asynchronicity
Anonymity - ANSWER-Being anonymous allows users to feel more free to possibly say
and do things they wouldn't normal do
Runs along a continuum
What is the continuum of anonymity? - ANSWER-Identifiability (knowing one's name or
location, having a photo of them)
Pseudonymity (having a photo, but not knowing one's name)
Full Anonymity (lack of name, location, and photo; only have communication method)
Presence - ANSWER-a feeling one has that they are immersed in the communication
medium
Mobility - ANSWER-having mobile devices used to communicate influences our
communication
