Group task participation using computer-mediated communication.

Abstract

This study focuses on how technology--especially networked computers--influences communication among members of a "real" population (school administrators) within a "real" organization (The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) with a "real" purpose. Three questions formed the basis for the research: (1) How does the amount and manner of computer-mediated communication (CMC) use compare to the use of other communication media to accomplish the same task within an organization? (2) How do differences between systems of computer-mediated communication influence the way two different groups communicate for the same purpose? and (3) What is the relationship between technology and certain task and group variables? Three groups of education leaders were given an identical task to be accomplished during the same six-week period. Of the two groups whose members were accustomed to working with each other, one used "traditional" media (face-to-face, telephone, written) to accomplish the task, while the second group used a computer conferencing system--Confer--with which they were already familiar. The third group, representing eight different states and having never formally worked together, used only LutherNet (the computer-mediated communication system being studied) to complete the assigned task. Written surveys, on-line collection, interviews, and personal logs were all employed to collect and organize data related to the media, the task, and the group members. Four significant conclusions were drawn from the study: (1) Personal knowledge of group members is important, but not absolutely necessary, for effective computer-mediated communication among members, (2) the leader is important for encouraging group participation and for keeping the members on task, (3) users of LutherNet demonstrated greater on-line participation and expressed more overall satisfaction with the medium than the Confer group, and (4) the amount of activity on a computer-mediated communication system is an important factor in how much group members participate in its use. Also discussed are issues relating to use of other media, the task itself, and specific characteristics of the CMC systems.