Coursework Advice Please - Computer Mediated Communication

[jcb33]

Hi all, had 3 sets of results from a questionnaire given to our year on Computer Mediated Communication, which I have to write about the first one being:

A discussion of the nature and implications of the numerical results shown in Appendix 1, illustrating the overall preference of CMC method that the class exhibited when contacting a friend, acquaintance or stranger (250 words).

Appendix 1:

My answer for this is:

Overall these results show a very similar hierarchy of popularity in methods of contact. In whichever group is selected the methods preferred are in the same order:

1) Text
2) Call
3) Email
4) Online Messaging

Although clearly the mean score is different in each scenario. In each case “Text” is significantly preferred over any other method, this method is ideal for short communications between two people, allowing a message to be constructed and sent quickly, it is unobtrusive in most situations, and can be replied to when convenient. I would suggest that this is the reason this has been rated as the most used form of CMC.

Again in each case, “Call” is the second most preferred method, this method has most likely been selected as it is ideal for more in depth communication, and allows better understanding of what is being said, through voice tones, with less problems in interpretation.

“Email” and “Online Message” are the least popular two forms of CMC in each case, probably because these methods tend to me used in a more professional manner (Rather than personal), and are open to misinterpretation, E.G “I love you to”, this could be taken in several ways, sarcasm, serious etc, but this form of communication suffers when trying to get this across.

When contacting Friend/Family, “Text” and “Call” are highly favoured, most likely because these are more personal, than “Email” “Online Messaging” and allow for a higher level of communication. As opposed to contacting Stranger/Unfamiliar Person, where the difference between the use of each method is notably less, suggesting that the contact is less personal on all levels.

The Second:

A discussion of the nature and implications of the numerical results shown in Appendix 2, a comparison of how the results differ between (i) the scenario in which you are in a particular situation and you are contacting someone and (ii) the scenario in which you are calling someone who you suspect to be in a particular situation (500 words).

Appendix 2:

My answer being:

As to be expected the overall results again show the same methods to be in the same order of popularity as in Appendix 1.

Scenario: Participant in the setting in picture:

There is only a 0.36 difference between people using text when with company, and alone, this difference shows that participants prefer to text when alone, however texting is used widely in both situations.

There is a notable difference for calls, between being in company (2.75) and alone (4.1) of 1.35, this suggests that people are much more inclined to make phone calls when alone. This is probably because when alone you are able to easily locate a quiet environment, making phone calls much easier and private.

Participants also say they are more likely to use “Email” and “Online Message” when alone. This could indicate that some participants do not use mobile devices for these types of CMC.

Scenario: Recipient in the setting in picture:

There is a difference of 0.31 between the use of text when with company and when alone, suggesting that participants find it the most acceptable way to contact someone, whether they are alone or in company. Probably, as already mentioned because this is the least intrusive method of contact.

There is a difference of 0.86 between the use of calling, these results show that percipients are more inclined to use this method of CMC when they know that the recipient is alone.

The difference between the popularity of “Email” is 0.51, indicating that people are more inclined to email when they know that the recipient is alone. The difference is 0.52 for “Online Message”, which is a very similar however email is the more popular method of contact out of these two.
Comparison:

Overall the results are very similar for both scenarios, the results show that people are more willing to use each method of CMC when they know what the recipient is doing, as opposed to when they only know what they are doing. The participants are more willing to use each method when the recipient is in company, than when they are, but the same is also true for when the recipient is alone (With the exception of the call method).

When the participant knows what situation the recipient is in they are much more inclined to use all four methods of CMC, as opposed to when they are in said situations.

They are more likely to call someone who is with company, than make a phone call when they themselves are with company. However this method is used most when the Participant is alone.

The participant is more likely to text, email or send the recipient an online message, when they know what situation they are in, with the most notable difference being with email, showing consideration for the situation.

I am yet to complete the third set, however I do not feel that what I have written looks correct, I have no particular experience in doing this sort of thing, and the lectures have talked only about Computer Mediated Technology, and not about actually data analysis. So I am just wondering if I am going about this in the right way, and if not how can I improve it it?

Thanks!
Jcb33

 

[Tefal]

What do the graphs mean by score?

 

[jcb33]

What do the graphs mean by score?

We took a questionair with questions on situations such as

If you were at a party, and trying to contact "Insert here" how likely would you be to:

Call Them:

Very Likely - Likely - Unlikely - Very Unlikely - Not At All

So im guessing its some rounding of this to show how likely it is each one will be used, but to be fair, I am not 100%, which is not helping, this assignment seems to be very poorly put together.

I'm not even sure what to make of the third set of results, they seem to contradict the second set of results by saying that people are more likely to call someone in a noisy situation than in a quiet one...