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Shyness, sociability, and the role of media synchronicity in the use of computer‐mediated communication for interpersonal communication
Author(s) -
Chan Michael
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
asian journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1467-839X
pISSN - 1367-2223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-839x.2010.01335.x
Subject(s) - shyness , synchronicity , psychology , interpersonal communication , computer mediated communication , asynchronous communication , feeling , social psychology , anxiety , social media , interpersonal relationship , the internet , world wide web , computer science , psychoanalysis , computer network , psychiatry
This study analysed how university students in Hong Kong with varying degrees of shyness and sociability utilized computer‐mediated communication (CMC) technologies for interpersonal communication. As spontaneous communication can increase the workload on working memory and accentuate feelings of social anxiety, it was hypothesized that shy students were more likely to use email and social network sites (asynchronous CMC) more frequently, and instant messaging and chat less (synchronous CMC). Results from an online questionnaire provided partial support for the hypotheses and suggested distinctive usage patterns separated by media synchronicity. Moreover, the analyses revealed a significant interaction between shyness and sociability on asynchronous CMC use.