The new communications technologies are developing at such a fast pace that it is difficult for research and theorizing to keep up. Although exploring the range of applications and instantiations of the latest forms of computer-mediated communication (CMC), texting, and video-based phone systems provides many useful insights, research and theorizing that lags behind the technological developments will run the risk of being phenomenon- and even technology-driven, making it difficult to anticipate ... Continue Reading
Facing the future: Emotion communication and the presence of others in video communications
Manstead, A.S.R., Lea, M. & Goh, J. (2011). Facing the future: Emotion communication and the presence of others in the age of video telephony. In Arvid Kappas (Ed.) Face-to-face communication over the Internet: Issues, research, challenges. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (pp. 144-175).
Video-mediated communication is becoming a ubiquitous feature of everyday life. This chapter considers the differences between face-to-face and video-mediated communication in terms of co-presence and considers the implications for the communication of emotion, self-disclosure, and relationship rapport. Following initial consideration of the concepts of physical presence and social presence, we describe recent studies of the effect of presence on the facial communication of emotion. We then ... Continue Reading
SIDE-VIEW: A social identity account of computer-supported collaborative learning
Rogers, P., & Lea, M. (2011). SIDE-VIEW: A social identity account of computer-supported collaborative learning. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 5 (2), article 1.
Much is written about the benefits of computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) but many accounts report problematic interactions and less than desirable outcomes for attempts at CSCL. A theoretical approach is presented that is grounded in a social identity perspective of groups and seeks to promote and support successful collaborations. Using this approach, along with examples from laboratory and field studies, key concepts such as cohesion, participation, accountability and group norms ... Continue Reading
Video-linking emotions
Parkinson, B. & Lea, M. (2011). Video-linking emotions. In Arvid Kappas (Ed.) Face-to-face communication over the Internet: Issues, research, challenges. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (pp. 100-126).
How does video mediation influence communication of affective information? In the present chapter, we review the range of possible constraints associated with the video medium and consider their potential impact on transmission and co-ordination of emotions. In particular, we focus on the effects of transmission delays on interpersonal attunement. Results of a preliminary investigation of this issue are described. In the study, pairs of participants discussed liked and disliked celebrities ... Continue Reading
Computer-mediated communication and social identity
Spears, R. Lea, M. & Postmes, T. (2007). CMC and social identity. In A. Joinson, K. McKenna, T. Postmes, & U Reips (Eds.) Oxford handbook of Internet psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (pp. 253-272).
The reader is asked to tolerate a degree of egocentrism if this chapter appears to be written from an “ingroup” point of view, particularly with an emphasis on our own theoretical slant, and to some extent research. This is after all meant to be a general overview chapter on social identity and CMC. Our excuse is that this is difficult to avoid to some extent. When we started working in this area in the mid-80s there was very little research on the role of social identities in CMC, and what ... Continue Reading
Visibility and anonymity effects on attraction and group cohesiveness
Lea, M., Spears, R., & Watt, S.E. (2007). Visibility and anonymity effects on attraction and group cohesiveness. European Journal of Social Psychology, 37, 761-773.
This study investigated attraction and group cohesiveness under different visibility and anonymity conditions for social categories that differed in their capacity to be visually cued. Using computer-mediated communication in 36 mixed gender (visually cued category) and nationality (non-visually cued category) groups, we manipulated social category salience (via discussion topic), and anonymity vs. visibility (via live video links). Under high salience, the effects of anonymity versus visibility ... Continue Reading
Social presence in distributed group environments: The role of social identity
Rogers, P. & Lea, M. (2005). Social presence in distributed group environments: The role of social identity. Behaviour & Information Technology, 24,151-158.
This paper argues that to achieve social presence in a distributed environment, it is not necessary to emulate face-to-face conditions of increased cues to the interpersonal. Rather, it is argued, that a sense of belongingness to the group, or perceptual immersion in the group, can be realised through the creation of a shared social identity between group members. From this perspective, social presence is a function of the cognitive representation of the group by group members and not the ... Continue Reading
Cohesion in Online Groups
Rogers, P. & Lea, M. (2004). Cohesion in Online Groups. In K. Morgan, C. A. Brebbia, J. Sanchez & A. Voiskounsky (Eds.). Human Perspectives in the Internet Society: Culture, Psychology and Gender. Southampton: WIT Press (pp.115-124).
Groups are traditionally defined in terms of the interpersonal bonds that exist between group members and thus cohesion is based on the strength of those bonds. The transition of this definition of the group onto online groups leads to attempts to emulate face to face behaviour through presentation of group member pictures, video and detailed personal descriptions. However, this can be problematic due to reduced bandwidth and individual cues necessary for supporting ... Continue Reading
Social processes in electronic teamwork: The central issue of identity.
Lea, M., Spears, R. & Rogers, P. (2003). Social processes in electronic teamwork: The central issue of identity. In S. A. Haslam, D. van Knippenberg, M. J. Platow, & N. Ellemers (Eds.). Social identity at work: Developing theory for organizational practice. (pp. 99-116). New York: Psychology Press.
In this chapter we argue that issues of identity are central to understanding how communication technologies affect organizational practice. We develop this argument by first reviewing some of the dominant approaches to understanding the social psychological processes implied or held responsible for CMC effects. We highlight the common themes underpinning these approaches, and trace their origins. As we hope to make clear, despite the variety of approaches, they rely nevertheless on a small set ... Continue Reading
Engaging in email discussion: conversational context and social identity
Watts, L, Nugroho, Y, Lea, M. (2003). Engaging in email discussion: conversational context and social identity in computer-mediated communication. In G. W. M.Rauterberg, M. Menozzi & J. Wesson (Eds.) Human computer interaction: INTERACT'03 (pp. xx-xx). Amsterdam: IOS Press. ISBN: 1586033638.
For millions of people, text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC) is a convenient and engaging way to exchange information and opinion. Research shows that the social ambiguity of text-based CMC, such as email, can both promote participation and group cohesion and lead to misunderstanding, offence and social division. We report a field experiment that attempted to expose some underlying factors. GNU Mailman was configured to promote either individual or group perspectives during email ... Continue Reading
Social Psychology of the Internet
Lea, M. & Spears, R. (2003). Social Psychology of the Internet. In K. Christensen & D. Levinson (Eds.) Sage Encyclopedia of Community: From the Village to the Virtual World. (pp. 779-783). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Social psychology has a long history of researching the effects of communication technologies, such as the telephone and television, on individuals and groups. Social psychological research on the Internet has focused predominantly on text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC), such as e-mail, bulletin boards, newsgroups, conferencing, and chat. These have been compared both theoretically and empirically with face-to-face communication or with some other standard that controls for certain ... Continue Reading
How social is Internet communication? A reappraisal of bandwidth and anonymity effects
Susan Watt, Martin Lea, & Russell Spears (2002). How social is Internet communication? A reappraisal of bandwidth and anonymity effects. In Steve Woolgar (Ed.) Virtual Society? (pp.61-77). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[easyazon_image align="left" height="500" identifier="B001M5TSDM" locale="US" src="https://martinlea.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/51ac9W2Bdt2BL.jpg" tag="martinlea-20" width="311"] The use of Internet communications has increasingly become part of our lives both at work and at home, for business and for recreation. Internet communications are augmenting and substituting for many of the interpersonal and group interactions that were previously conducted face-to-face. Surveys have repeatedly ... Continue Reading
Intergroup differentiation in computer-mediated communication: Effects of depersonalization
Postmes, T., Spears, R. & Lea, M. (2002). Intergroup differentiation in computer-mediated communication: Effects of depersonalization. Group Dynamics, Theory, Research and Prractice, 6, 3-16. (Special issue on 'Groups and the Internet').
Two studies examined intergroup discussions via computer-mediated communication systems. It was hypothesized that depersonalization, in comparison with individuated interaction, would increase the tendency for intergroup differentiation in attitudes and stereotypes. In Study 1, 24 groups communicated internationally over the Internet in a longitudinal design. Interacting groups, based in 2 different countries, were individuated versus partially unidentifiable, and thus depersonalized. Results ... Continue Reading
When are net effects gross products? The power of influence and the influence of power in computer-mediated communication
Spears, R., Postmes, T., Lea, M. & Wolbert, A. (2002). When are net effects gross products? The power of influence and the influence of power in computer-mediated communication. Journal of Social Issues 58, 91-107 (Invited contribution to Issue on 'Consequences of the Internet for self and society'').
[easyazon_image align="left" height="500" identifier="1405100788" locale="US" src="https://martinlea.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/41ZANJWVT4L.jpg" tag="martinlea-20" width="318"]The rush to judgment about the social effects of the new communications media has branded them as positive and negative in equal measure. Alienation from "real world' relationships coupled with a lack of social regulation within the medium is balanced by liberation from the influences, inequalities, and identities to ... Continue Reading
SIDE-VIEW: Evaluation of a prototype system to develop team players and improve productivity in Internet collaborative learning groups
Lea, M., Rogers, P. & Postmes, T. (2002). SIDE-VIEW: Evaluation of a prototype system to develop team players and improve productivity in Internet collaborative learning groups. British Journal of Educational Technology 33, 53-64.
This paper briefly summarizes the initial development of a computer-supported collaborative learning environment and evaluates its effects in relation to the productivity of CSCL groups. The design of the SIDE-VIEW system is driven by the social identity approach to understanding group behaviour and is premised upon the need to establish congruity between the self-definition of group members and their collaborative learning tasks. We begin by outlining the rationale for the system in relation to ... Continue Reading
A SIDE view of social influence
Spears, R., Postmes, T., Lea, M., & Watt, S. E. (2001). . In J. P. Forgas & K. D. Williams (Eds.). Social influence: Direct and indirect processes (pp. 331-350). Philadelphia, PA: Psychology Press.
Researchers from the field of intergroup relations, and notably self-categorization theorists, have investigated how our group memberships impinge on the social influence process. Much progress has been made in showing how ingroup and outgroup information is processed differently and can have different impacts. Within this tradition, the way in which we categorize the source is more than an input, but may actually change the way we see the same message, and even whether we process it ... Continue Reading
Computer-mediated communication as a channel for social resistance: The strategic side of SIDE
Spears, R., Lea, M., Corneliussen, R. A., Postmes, T., & Ter Haar, W. (2002). Computer-mediated communication as a channel for social resistance: The strategic side of SIDE. Small Group Research 33, (5), 55-574. (Special Issue on European views of computer-mediated communication).
In two studies, the authors tested predictions derived from the social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE) concerning the potential of computer-mediated communication (CMC) to serve as a means to resist powerful out-groups. Earlier research using the SIDE model indicates that the anonymity of virtual groups can accentuate the lower differentials associated with salient social identities: a cogntive effect. The present research builds on the strategic component of the SIDE model ... Continue Reading
Knowing me, knowing you: Anonymity effects on social identity processes within groups
Lea, M., Spears, R. & de Groot, D. (2001). Knowing me, knowing you: Anonymity effects on social identity processes within groups. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 526-537.
The Social Identity Model of Deindividuation Effects (SIDE) proposes that depersonalization of self and others is responsible for the effects of visual anonymity on group behavior. The authors investigated these mediating processes by assessing the effects of group-based self-categorization and stereotyping of others on group attraction within visually anonymous or video-identifiable groups communicating via computer. Structural equation modeling showed that visual anonymity increased ... Continue Reading
Social psychological theories of computer-mediated communication: Social pain or social gain?
Spears, R., Lea, M., & Postmes, T. (2001). Social psychological theories of computer-mediated communication: Social pain or social gain? In W. P. Robinson and H. Giles (eds.) The New Handbook of Language and Social Psychology (pp. 601-623). Chichester: Wiley.
It is a safe bet that computer-mediated communication (CMC) features in the everyday life of those likely to be consulting this volume. Less than two decades ago this would not have been the case. The growth of the Internet has meant that CMC use has become ubiquitous in the developed world, and a marker of social exclusion for those denied access. Social science has hardly kept pace with these technological changes in communication, either in terms of understanding their global impacts or ... Continue Reading
The formation of group norms in computer-mediated communication
Postmes, T., Spears, R. & Lea, M. (2000). The formation of group norms in computer-mediated communication. Human Communication Research, 26, 341-71.
The formation of group norms in computer-mediated communication (CMC) was examined among students who used email as part of a course. A network analysis of group structures revealed that (a) content and form of communication is normative, group norms defining communication patterns within groups, (b) conformity to group norms increases over time, (c) communication outside the group is governed by different social norms. Results show that norms prescribing a particular use of technology are ... Continue Reading