Cmic3: Computer-Mediated Interpersonal Communication

Communication 482
Winter 2005

Class Schedule
January 3 - Monday - Introduction, Understanding Social Technologies
Class introduction, overview of the class and a framework for understanding how we relate to new communication technologies-- how they affect us and how we shape them. Online survey exercise.	Readings: Wallace, Chapter 1, "The Internet in a Psychological Context." Rheingold, Chapter 1, "Shibuya Epiphany" Kiesler & Sproull, "Group decision making and communication technology" (1992) Explore class links on "Net History and Background"
January 5 - Wednesday - Lab session, Theories of Computer-Mediated Communication
The first half of class will be devoted to an overview of the "trios" mini-projects that will be such an important part of the class. Please be in class today. The second half of class will begin a unit on theories of computer-mediated communication. It will lay the foundation for the rest of the course.
January 10 - Monday - Theories of Computer-Mediated Communication
Theories of computer-mediated interaction as impersonal, personal, and hyperpersonal communication. A theoretic foundation for understanding CMC-- helping us understand how computer-mediated communication operates and how it differs from face-to-face (F2F) communication.	Readings: Walther & Parks "Cues filtered out, cues filtered in: Computer-mediated communication and relationships." (2002)
January 12 - Wednesday - Lab Session: Social Venues of the Internet
The Internet is not an "it"-- it's a "they." In other words, the Internet is not a single medium, but rather a collection of distinct digital media.
January 17 - Monday - *No Class - Martin Luther King Day*

January 19 - Wednesday - Negotiating Identity and Gender on the Internet
How do we present ourselves on line? Do you really know who you are meeting in cyberspace? How do we manage gender and sexuality in online settings? In this unit we will explore how people establish and maintain online identities. Using small group reports by "Trios" we will begin to explore the various social venues of the Internet today.	Readings: Wallace, Chapter 2, "Your online persona: The psychology of impression formation." Wallace, Chapter 3, "Online masks and masquerades." Wallace, Chapter 11, "Gender issues on the net." Trio 2 - Chat demonstration Trio 3 - Blog demonstration (2 groups)
January 24 - Monday - Lab Session: Exploring Identity Issues Online
Trios reports on how identity is managed in several popular online social venues	Trio 4 - Self-presentations using personal homepages (two groups) Trio 5 - Managing identity in chats Trio 18 - Managing identity in network settings: Friendster
January 26 - Wednesday - Interpersonal Conflict on the Internet
Explore how basic group processes of cooperation and conflict play out in online settings. How does the net influence the way we come together, rivalries between "us" and "them"? How and why do we fight online?	Readings: Wallace, Chapter 4, "Group dynamics in cyberspace." Wallace, Chapter 5, "Intergroup conflict and cooperation." Wallace, Chapter 6, "Family and fighting: The psychology of aggression on the net." Trio 7 - Interaction in visual virtual worlds
January 31 - Monday - **Lab Session: Group Conflict and Cooperation on the Net**
Laboratory session continues our discussion of conflict and aggression online and applies it using a multi-group bargaining game. Please plan on attending this session.
February 2 - Wednesday - *First Examination*
	The examination will cover all materials to date. It will be a mixed format test-- some essay, some multiple choice, and other formats.

February 7 - Monday - *Personalization in E-Commerce*
Online retail sales grew by over 25% in 2004 and now approach $150-160 billion. They now represent 7% of total retail sales. In this unit we examine how the principles of interpersonal communication are being applied to the growing world of online business.	Trio 9 - Collaborative filters and recommendation systems (two groups) Trio 10 - Personalization and interactivity on Amazon.com
February 9 - Wednesday - *Building Reputation and Trust on the Internet*
An overview of Internet strategies for building reputation and trust in an impersonal environment.	*Readings:* Rheingold, Chapter 2, "Technologies of cooperation Rheingold, Chapter 5, "The evolution of reputation" (2002) Trio 11 - Trust and reputation on eBay
February 14 - Wednesday - *Lab Session on Developing Romantic Relationships On-Line*
In honor of Valentine's day we explore the Internet as a venue for finding romance and love...	Trio 12 - Internet dating sites. Trio 12/13 - Debating online relationships (Hax column).(2 groups) Trio 18 - Managing identity and relationships on destination sites: Facebook
February 16 - Wednesday - *No Class -* *(Mac at Conference)*

February 21 - Monday - *No Class - Presidents Day*

February 23 - Wednesday - Developing Personal Relationships On-Line
Personal relationships of many kinds develop in the social venues of the Internet. To understand them, we will begin by looking at previous research and theory in the area of interpersonal communication and then move into an application to the development of on-line relationships.	Readings: Wallace, Chapter 7, "Liking and loving on the net."
February 28 - Monday - Social Support on the Internet
Each day tens of thousands of people turn to the Internet to seek and give social support. Using Internet examples, we explore the nature of social support and the functions it serves for people. We explain why social support is one of the things the Internet does best. We also explore the risks of seeking help on the net.	Readings: Wallace, Chapter 10, "Altruism on the net: The psychology of helping." Lorig, et al. "Can a back pain e-mail discussion group improve health status and lower health care costs?" (2002) Trio 14 - Reports and commentary on Internet support groups (2 groups)
March 2 - Wednesday - *Smart mobs and grass roots collective action*
In this unit, we will examine how groups of people come together to pursue their social and political agenda using the Internet and wireless technologies. How grassroots social action movements use the Internet . What are the limits of democracy and social action in on line settings? What are the risks of the electronic public square?	Readings: Rheingold, Chapter 6, "Wireless quilts" Rheingold, Chapter 7, "Smart mobs: The power of the mobile many." Trio 15 - Flashmobs in action
March 7 - Monday - *Civic Involvement, Community, Privacy & the Internet*
What is your definition of "community" and do you think a real community can exist in an online setting? Does the Internet assist or detract from getting involved in our off-line communities? Does the Internet threaten or enhance our privacy or freedom?	Readings: Putnam, "Bowling Alone: America's declining social capital" Katz & Aspden, "A nation of strangers?" Rheingold, Chapter 8, "Always-on panopticon or cooperation amplifier?" Shapiro, "The net that binds: Using cyberspace to create real communities." Trios 16 - Debate on the Internet and Social Participation (2 groups)
March 9 - Wednesday - Internet Addiction: Real or Hype?
Internet addiction is one of the most common concerns raised about the effects of the Internet. How seriously should we take the concept of being addicted to the net?	Reading: Wallace, Chapter 10, "Internet as a Time Sink" Trio 20 - Discussion on Internet addiction. (2 groups)
March 16 - Wednesday. 2:30-4:20 - Second Examination
The second examination will cover just those materials presented in class or readings since the first examination. The format for this examination will be similar to that for the first.

© Malcolm R. Parks, Winter 2005 This page is intended only for the use of students enrolled in Communication 482. Reproduction or linking without written permission of the author is prohibited.