Compares electronic support groups to electronic hobby groups to demonstrate the difference in terms of the rhetorical behavior of participants. Finds that some discourse characteristics and rhetorical features are common to all groups, others are unique to the special requirements of electronic support groups. (PA)

Describes the contemporary societal context to which the work of communication studies must respond. Discusses ongoing social changes and the issue of social consensus. Discusses three perspectives (new traditionalism, science and commerce, and cynical opportunism) that propose solutions to these dilemmas. Argues that communication studies can…

Contributes to rhetorical scholarship on political discourse by surveying Web sites relevant to the 1996 presidential campaign. Argues that parodic sites sought to entertain the reader and to expose candidates' questionable or deceptive practices but that they themselves engaged in deception. Argues that they provided the illusion of political…

Investigates whether participants in online environments (Multi-User Dungeon) take advantage of the technological capability to be something different, or instead manipulate the online environment to reflect the world off-line. Suggests individual choice inherent in strategic use of programmed convention is not welcome behavior, and that virtual…

Examines how physicians and patients interactionally accomplish the transition from the activity of history taking to that of physical examination. Finds implications for: the theoretic relationship between verbal and nonverbal behavior in social meaning; what it means to explain transitions and reduce patients' uncertainty; the organization of…

Describes the results of a study intended to test a specific hypothesis and a research question related to the theoretical development of the candidate image construct in political communication. Tests the long-standing assumption that there is a dichotomy between candidate issue positions and candidate persona impressions ("images").…

Examines 650 Internet mail messages sent to NBC Nightly News in response to an invitation during a series dealing with the impact of new technologies. Investigates to what degree Internet viewer comments resemble traditional viewer mail, and whether perceived interactivity was a factor in the character of Internet viewer mail. (SR)

Discusses the controversy surrounding the existence of a culture created by those who use computers; some argue that computers lack emotional contact and that computer-mediated communication does not have the commonality to form a culture. Analyzes transcripts collected through a synchronous computer system, and argues that cultures are both…

Reveals that instructors who used a sense of humor in dealing with technical nuances, used a relaxed interpersonal style focusing on the interaction across sights, and involved students directly in the course content were perceived as more successful on the network. Finds that instruction was hampered by cameras, microphones, and by students…

Explores, from the students' perspective, what it is like to be a participant in a college course taught in a live, interactive television classroom. Discusses expectations of and problems with technology, problems associated with distance, differing education goals, encouraging proper use of equipment, and encouraging student interaction. Offers…

Examines the influence of interclause connectives on inference generation. Finds that readers incorporate causal knowledge-based inferences in the discourse representations for sentences containing a causal connective, and that connectives elicit inferences that are based on the connective's meaning. (SR)

Finds that judgments of communicative behaviors strongly predicted judgments of the communicator's traits and that both strongly predicted leadership evaluations; but measures of actual communication were poor predictors of trait judgments and leadership evaluations and were generally unrelated with judgments of these behaviors. Implies that…

Finds that employee perceptions regarding top management's general expressions of support for employees, formal positive feedback directed towards individuals, and decision-making input were strongly related to perceived organizational support; employees talked more frequently about their organization's support of its employees with coworkers than…

Notes that past research has shown a large disparity between general support for abstract principles of free speech and willingness to apply those principles in specific situations. Surveys undergraduate students. Shows a smaller tolerance disparity for high "need for cognition" respondents; they are more likely to apply free speech…

States that research in organizational socialization outlines a common process of transition making--newcomers first anticipating what the workplace and their involvement there will be like, then adjusting expectations upon encountering reality. Surveys student interns. Suggests that classes intended to prepare students for workplace communication…