| Speech-language pathologists and audiologists have begun using computer technology for information storage and retrieval and as one means of providing clinical services to communication-disordered patients. The purpose of this study is to develop a protocol to assess the written communication of brain-injured clients whose communication therapy milieu includes interactions with the world outside the treatment room through computer-mediated communication (CMC).;A panel of experts reviewed a series of discourse analysis procedures and rated their perceptions of validity, reliability, and ease-of use for the procedures as means of evaluating CMC discourse. The Computer-Mediated Communication Evaluation Protocol (CMC-EP) was developed based on the results of the analysis of the panel ratings and a post-rating consensus inquiry.;A series of e-mail messages and on-line text chats generated over a period of three years were evaluated using the CMC-EP. The results of the CMC-EP were examined to determine if patterns of change were revealed in the CMC discourse of a traumatic brain injury. The CMC-EP consists of four procedures: T-unit analysis, cohesion analysis, Correct Information Unit analysis, and three scales of the Rating of Communication Behaviors. Using the CMC-EP enables speech-language pathologists to complete surface/sentential analysis, cohesion analysis, informational analysis, and conversation analysis of CMC discourse. |
