Impression development in computer‐mediated interaction

This study reports an experiment of the effects of time and communication channel— asynchronous computer conferencing versus face‐to‐face meetings—on the development of interpersonal impressions. Prior research on interpersonal aspects of computer‐mediated communication suggests that the absence of nonverbal cues inhibits interactants’ ability to form impressions of each other and that without these cues communication is generally depersonalized. Past research is criticized for failing to incorporate social cognitive, temporal, and linguistic perspectives on communication via computer technology. A social information processing perspective suggests different rates and patterns of impression development using alternative media. In this experiment, computer conferencing and face‐to‐face groups addressed three tasks over several weeks. Results showed that computer‐mediated groups gradually increased in impression development to a level approaching that of face‐to‐face groups. New perspectives on social cognition in computer‐mediated communication are recommended.