An experimental test of processes underlying self-disclosure in computer-mediated communication
Year: 2009
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: A consistent finding in computer-mediated communication (CMC) and Internet research is that, compared to face-toface communication, CMC results in higher levels of self-disclosure.We identified four possible mediators that may carry the influence of CMC on self-disclosure: self-presentation, similarity, self-awareness, and direct questioning.The validity of these mediators was tested in an experiment in which 81 cross-sex dyads were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions: a text-only CMC condition, a visual CMC condition, and a face-to-face condition.Selfdisclosure was lower in the face-to-face condition than in the text-only CMC condition and the visual CMC condition.Between the two CMC conditions, no differences in self-disclosure were found.Of the four possible mediators, only direct questioning mediated the effect of CMC on self-disclosure.CMC dyads engaged in more direct questioning and therefore displayed higher levels of self-disclosure.
Language: English
Subfield: Linguistics and Language
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2147837078