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DISCLOSING RACIAL ATTITUDES: A COMPARISON OF HIGH VERSUS LOW APPREHENSIVES AND FACE-TO-FACE VERSUS COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION

COMBS, JESSICA J.

Abstract Details

2004, MA, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences : Communication.
This study examined the relationships between communication apprehension, self-disclosure, face-to-face (FtF) versus computer mediated communication (CMC), and how language manifests racism. Participants (n=66) were given two measures of communication apprehension, the PRCA-24 and the Unwillingness to Communicate scale. After determining level of apprehension, high and low apprehensives were paired with moderate apprehensives and asked to discuss race either in a face-to-face or computer mediated context. One hypothesis predicted that low apprehensives would disclose more than high apprehensives, and this hypothesis was supported. Research Question 1 asked if the medium affected the amount of disclosures from high and low apprehensives. It was discovered that high apprehensives disclosed less than low apprehensives in a face-to-face context but that difference did not exist in the mediated context. Research Question 2 asked if the amount of blatantly racist, subtly racist, and neutral disclosures differed among groups. Only one pair of groups differed significantly in the number of blatantly racist disclosures, with low CA FtF participants disclosing significantly more than low CA CMC participants. Nearly all groups were different, except when comparing the number of subtly racist disclosures between high CA FtF participants and high CA CMC participants and when comparing the high CA CMC participants and the low CA CMC participants. Regarding neutral disclosures, all groups were significantly different with the exception of the comparison between high CA CMC participants and low CA CMC participants. Research Question 3 asked if sex differences existed in the total number of disclosures for high and low apprehensives. Research Question 4 asked if sex differences existed in the total number of disclosures across mediums. Sex was not found to be a significant predictor in the number of disclosures for either research question.
Dr. Stephen Haas (Advisor)
79 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • COMBS, J. J. (2004). DISCLOSING RACIAL ATTITUDES: A COMPARISON OF HIGH VERSUS LOW APPREHENSIVES AND FACE-TO-FACE VERSUS COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1085537777

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • COMBS, JESSICA. DISCLOSING RACIAL ATTITUDES: A COMPARISON OF HIGH VERSUS LOW APPREHENSIVES AND FACE-TO-FACE VERSUS COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION. 2004. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1085537777.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • COMBS, JESSICA. "DISCLOSING RACIAL ATTITUDES: A COMPARISON OF HIGH VERSUS LOW APPREHENSIVES AND FACE-TO-FACE VERSUS COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2004. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1085537777

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)