Initiating a joint activity: An examination of communication media selection

How do people decide which communication medium to use when initiating joint activities? Five studies investigated this question. In Study 1, participants selected media to initiate two common joint activities and reported dimensions influencing their selection in a pencil-and-paper survey. They chose speech-based media (e.g., cell phone) more often to give driving directions and text-based media (e.g., email) to revise a group paper. Availability of medium/addressee and importance of information influenced media selection the most. Studies 2a and 2b probed participants' real-life media selections and use among different addressee categories. In Study 2a, participants in an online survey reported self-initiated joint activities and answered questions about media selection. They reported using six media (face-to-face; cell phone; email; text messaging from cell phone; Social Networking Sites; Instant Messaging) most often. The data also revealed 21 dimensions that influenced media selection; each medium had a unique set of dimensions motivating its use. Participants in Study 2b completed a pencil-and-paper survey on communication media use with specific addressee categories. The same six media as Study 2a were used most often; media use and options also varied by addressee category. Studies 3 and 4 explored turnaround time to messages across communication media. In Study 3, participants in a pencil-and-paper survey reported when and how they would respond to a variety of messages, including simulated emails, Facebook messages, and Facebook wall posts. They would reply to simulated emails slower than to Facebook messages and wall posts; they would also use the same medium to reply most often. Across all media, they would respond to Instant Messages (IMs) fastest. Participants in Study 4 reported actual turnaround times for emails, Facebook messages, and Facebook wall posts they received and in an online survey answered questions about these messages. They replied to emails fastest, in contrast to Study 3; for all three media, they replied in the same medium most often, replicating Study 3. These studies provide evidence for a multi-faceted process for selecting a medium to initiate joint activities. People consider: the addressee; the medium and its characteristics; the environment; and the activity itself. This research also sheds light on distinguishing features of newer media (e.g., Social Networking Sites) that influence their selection over other media.