Examines nonvoluntary relationships with disliked partners (NR/D). Hypothesizes that the subjects (undergraduate students) would try to attenuate this discomfort by increasing psychological distance between themselves and their disliked partners. Shows that people use distance to attenuate the discomfort created by an NR/D. Finds 36 distancing…

Examines how computer-mediated communication partners (undergraduate students) exchange personal information in initial interactions, focusing on the effects of communication channels on self-disclosure, question-asking, and uncertainty reduction. Illuminates some microstructures previously asserted but unverified within social information…

Notes that in communication research, attempts to enhance external validity usually focus on techniques to enhance surface representativeness. Suggests that the findings of a study should be examined in light of its contribution to theory. Argues surface representativeness is usually not a good indicator of contribution to theory. Suggests journal…

Examines whether computer-literate college students can be induced to use social rules distinguishing "self" and "other" to respond to the behaviors of technologies. Finds that respondents used voices but not boxes (computers) to distinguish self from other behavior in applying the social rules on performance evaluation, praise, and criticism. (RS)

Investigates the relationship between social skills and depression in a college student population. Finds that depression is associated with a partial social skill deficit, most notable in terms of excessive social anxiety, low motivation to communicate with others, low social expressivity, and diminished behavioral involvement. (PRA)

Examines the effects of participant and observer perspectives on the quantity and quality of information recalled from conversations. Finds that conversational memory may be linked to the social cognitive bias, which has long been associated with the observer perspective. (MS)

Reanalyzes data which suggests there may be gender differences in the relationship between academic performance and interaction with peers among college students. Shows that there are no such gender differences. Reports also a study assessing gender differences in relationships between academic performance and loneliness, communication skills, and…

Provides evidence that high and low self-monitors are distinguishable not only by their initial interactions but also by their cognitive summaries of these sequences. Found that students who are high self-monitors appear to be more linguistically competent, in part because their scripted understanding of appropriate conversation is more extensive.…