How do people really seek information about others?: Information seeking across Internet and traditional communication channels Export

@article{citeulike:3757902, abstract = {The present research describes the manner in which individuals use various media in the interpersonal information seeking process. Stephens' (2007) information and communication technology (ICT) succession theory was applied to an interpersonal information seeking context, and hypotheses and research questions about the channels people use to seek information about others of various relationship to the seeker were offered. Two hundred and twenty-five participants responded to a survey about this topic, and they reported a greater likelihood to seek information about less-known targets using channels where they would be unidentifiable. However, participants reported a greater likelihood to seek information about more-known targets using channels where they would be identifiable. Channels such as social networking websites were frequently reported to be useful regardless of whether the target was well known or less known. Properties of these channels and their implications for interpersonal information seeking as well as theoretical implications of these findings are discussed and directions for future research are examined. How do people really seek information about others?: Information seeking across Internet and traditional communication channels The present research describes the manner in which individuals use various media in the interpersonal information seeking process. Stephens' (2007) information and communication technology (ICT) succession theory was applied to an interpersonal information seeking context, and hypotheses and research questions about the channels people use to seek information about others of various relationship to the seeker were offered. Two hundred and twenty-five participants responded to a survey about this topic, and they reported a greater likelihood to seek information about less-known targets using channels where they would be unidentifiable. However, participants reported a greater likelihood to seek information about more-known targets using channels where they would be identifiable. Channels such as social networking websites were frequently reported to be useful regardless of whether the target was well known or less known. Properties of these channels and their implications for interpersonal information seeking as well as theoretical implications of these findings are discussed and directions for future research are examined. Wie suchen Menschen nun wirklich Informationen \"{u}ber andere? Informationssuche im Internet und \"{u}ber traditionelle Kommunikationskan\"{a}le Die vorliegende Forschungsarbeit beschreibt die Art und Weise, wie Personen im Prozess der interpersonalen Informationssuche verschiedene Medien nutzen. Stephens' (2007) Theorie der Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie-Abfolge wurde auf die interpersonale Informationssuche angewandt. In diesem Rahmen werden Hypothesen und Forschungsfragen formuliert bez\"{u}glich der Kan\"{a}le, die von Menschen genutzt werden, um Informationen \"{u}ber andere, die in verschiedenartigen Beziehungen zum ihnen selbst stehen, zu suchen. 225 Teilnehmer beantworteten einen Fragebogen zu diesem Thema. Die Befragten gaben an, dass sie eher solche Kan\"{a}le nutzen, bei denen sie eher nicht identifizierbar bleiben, wenn sie Informationen \"{u}ber wenig bekannte Zielpersonen suchen. Die Informationssuche bei bekannten Zielpersonen erfolgt eher \"{u}ber Kan\"{a}le, bei denen sie identifizierbar sind. Die Befragten gaben au{\ss}erdem an, dass Kan\"{a}le wie soziale Netzwerkseiten sowohl f\"{u}r bekannte als auch weniger bekannte Zielpersonen brauchbar sind. Die Eigenschaften dieser Kan\"{a}le und die Auswirkungen f\"{u}r die interpersonale Informationssuche werden ebenso diskutiert wie theoretische Folgerungen der Ergebnisse und Implikationen f\"{u}r zuk\"{u}nftige Forschung. ¿C\'{o}mo Busca la Gente Informaci\'{o}n Acerca de Otros?: La B\'{u}squeda de Informaci\'{o}n a trav\'{e}s del Internet y los Canales Tradicionales de Comunicaci\'{o}n La presente investigaci\'{o}n describe la manera en la cual los individuos usan varios medios en el proceso de b\'{u}squeda de informaci\'{o}n interpersonal. Aplicamos la teor\'{\i}a de sucesi\'{o}n de informaci\'{o}n y comunicaci\'{o}n tecnol\'{o}gica de Stephens (2007) (ICT) al contexto de la b\'{u}squeda de informaci\'{o}n interpersonal, y las hip\'{o}tesis y preguntas de investigaci\'{o}n sobre los canales que la gente usa para buscar informaci\'{o}n acerca de otros relacionados con ellos. Doscientos veinticinco participantes respondieron a una encuesta sobre este tema, y reportaron una mayor probabilidad de buscar informaci\'{o}n sobre metas menos conocidas usando los canales donde ser\'{\i}an menos identificados. No obstante, los participantes reportaron mayor probabilidad de buscar informaci\'{o}n sobre metas m\'{a}s conocidas usando canales donde ser\'{\i}an identificados. Los canales tales como sitios de redes sociales de Internet fueron frecuentemente reportados como \'{u}tiles sin importar si la meta era bien conocida \'{o} no. Examinamos las propiedades de estos canales y sus implicaciones para la b\'{u}squeda de informaci\'{o}n interpersonal. Tambi\'{e}n discutimos las implicancias te\'{o}ricas de estos resultados y las direcciones para investigaciones futuras.}, address = {Department of Communication StudiesWest Virginia University; Department of CommunicationMichigan State University; Departments of Communication and Telecommunication, Information Studies, and MediaMichigan State University}, author = {Westerman, David and Van Der Heide, Brandon and Klein, Katherine A. and Walther, Joseph B.}, citeulike-article-id = {3757902}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2008.00418.x}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/119414164/ABSTRACT}, doi = {10.1111/j.1083-6101.2008.00418.x}, journal = {Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication}, keywords = {cmc, communication, information, internet, relationships}, number = {3}, pages = {751--767}, posted-at = {2008-12-08 19:57:17}, priority = {2}, title = {How do people really seek information about others?: Information seeking across Internet and traditional communication channels}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2008.00418.x}, volume = {13}, year = {2008} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:3757902 L3 - citeulike-article-id:3757902 N2 - The present research describes the manner in which individuals use various media in the interpersonal information seeking process. Stephens' (2007) information and communication technology (ICT) succession theory was applied to an interpersonal information seeking context, and hypotheses and research questions about the channels people use to seek information about others of various relationship to the seeker were offered. Two hundred and twenty-five participants responded to a survey about this topic, and they reported a greater likelihood to seek information about less-known targets using channels where they would be unidentifiable. However, participants reported a greater likelihood to seek information about more-known targets using channels where they would be identifiable. Channels such as social networking websites were frequently reported to be useful regardless of whether the target was well known or less known. Properties of these channels and their implications for interpersonal information seeking as well as theoretical implications of these findings are discussed and directions for future research are examined. How do people really seek information about others?: Information seeking across Internet and traditional communication channels The present research describes the manner in which individuals use various media in the interpersonal information seeking process. Stephens' (2007) information and communication technology (ICT) succession theory was applied to an interpersonal information seeking context, and hypotheses and research questions about the channels people use to seek information about others of various relationship to the seeker were offered. Two hundred and twenty-five participants responded to a survey about this topic, and they reported a greater likelihood to seek information about less-known targets using channels where they would be unidentifiable. However, participants reported a greater likelihood to seek information about more-known targets using channels where they would be identifiable. Channels such as social networking websites were frequently reported to be useful regardless of whether the target was well known or less known. Properties of these channels and their implications for interpersonal information seeking as well as theoretical implications of these findings are discussed and directions for future research are examined. Wie suchen Menschen nun wirklich Informationen über andere? Informationssuche im Internet und über traditionelle Kommunikationskanäle Die vorliegende Forschungsarbeit beschreibt die Art und Weise, wie Personen im Prozess der interpersonalen Informationssuche verschiedene Medien nutzen. Stephens' (2007) Theorie der Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie-Abfolge wurde auf die interpersonale Informationssuche angewandt. In diesem Rahmen werden Hypothesen und Forschungsfragen formuliert bezüglich der Kanäle, die von Menschen genutzt werden, um Informationen über andere, die in verschiedenartigen Beziehungen zum ihnen selbst stehen, zu suchen. 225 Teilnehmer beantworteten einen Fragebogen zu diesem Thema. Die Befragten gaben an, dass sie eher solche Kanäle nutzen, bei denen sie eher nicht identifizierbar bleiben, wenn sie Informationen über wenig bekannte Zielpersonen suchen. Die Informationssuche bei bekannten Zielpersonen erfolgt eher über Kanäle, bei denen sie identifizierbar sind. Die Befragten gaben außerdem an, dass Kanäle wie soziale Netzwerkseiten sowohl für bekannte als auch weniger bekannte Zielpersonen brauchbar sind. Die Eigenschaften dieser Kanäle und die Auswirkungen für die interpersonale Informationssuche werden ebenso diskutiert wie theoretische Folgerungen der Ergebnisse und Implikationen für zukünftige Forschung. ¿Cómo Busca la Gente Información Acerca de Otros?: La Búsqueda de Información a través del Internet y los Canales Tradicionales de Comunicación La presente investigación describe la manera en la cual los individuos usan varios medios en el proceso de búsqueda de información interpersonal. Aplicamos la teoría de sucesión de información y comunicación tecnológica de Stephens (2007) (ICT) al contexto de la búsqueda de información interpersonal, y las hipótesis y preguntas de investigación sobre los canales que la gente usa para buscar información acerca de otros relacionados con ellos. Doscientos veinticinco participantes respondieron a una encuesta sobre este tema, y reportaron una mayor probabilidad de buscar información sobre metas menos conocidas usando los canales donde serían menos identificados. No obstante, los participantes reportaron mayor probabilidad de buscar información sobre metas más conocidas usando canales donde serían identificados. Los canales tales como sitios de redes sociales de Internet fueron frecuentemente reportados como útiles sin importar si la meta era bien conocida ó no. Examinamos las propiedades de estos canales y sus implicaciones para la búsqueda de información interpersonal. También discutimos las implicancias teóricas de estos resultados y las direcciones para investigaciones futuras. IS - 3 JF - Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication AD - Department of Communication StudiesWest Virginia University; Department of CommunicationMichigan State University; Departments of Communication and Telecommunication, Information Studies, and MediaMichigan State University EP - 767 TI - How do people really seek information about others?: Information seeking across Internet and traditional communication channels VL - 13 SP - 751 KW - cmc KW - communication KW - information KW - internet KW - relationships AU - Westerman, David AU - Van Der Heide, Brandon AU - Klein, Katherine AU - Walther, Joseph PY - 2008/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2008.00418.x ER -