Looking for someone to write a capstone professional paper

Topic Statement: How do learners know if their thesis is strong? Learners should run their thesis by their facilitator. Even if they do not have time to get advice elsewhere, they can do some thesis evaluation of their own. When reviewing their first draft of the working thesis, ask yourself the following:

1) Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. 2) Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument. 3) Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?

4) Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is, “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue. 5) Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always re-assess and revise your writing as necessary. 6) Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your

thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Proposal Statement: May include: • A problem statement about your global topic • Why is it happening?

• What are the points of contention? • What are the Leadership stand-points? • What are the Management stand-points? • What makes this organization great? • Resources A proposal statement is basically the introduction section of the writing project. For example:

• Background of the problem: There’s has been a significant increase of employees quitting their jobs in the manufacturing of textiles in the state of Texas in the first year of employment during 2015 and 2017 (Cite here; at end of the sentence). • Anchor: Empirical research by XXX Illustrate that two out of five employees abandon their employment in the manufacturing of textiles in the state of Texas in the first year of employment because of XXX (Cite here, at end of the sentence). • General Problem: Textile manufacturing employees who quitting their job in the first year of employment cause a significant decrease in the business profitability aspect.

• Specific Problem: Textile manufacturing employees that quit their job in the first year have a direct effect in recruiting, training, retention, and compensation efforts of the organization. Your proposed paper topic: This part of the proposal is one sentence. Keep your paper topic narrow (but not so narrow that there are no scholarly sources available on the topic). Why the topic is interesting and important: Address how you will focus the topic. If you choose a topic that is not of interest to you, it will show in your paper. This topic must remain of interest to you throughout the semester, so

give it some serious consideration. As you cover topics in class, undoubtedly something will come up that you want to learn more about. This would be an ideal paper topic. This part of the assignment requires that you include two to three paragraphs about why this topic is interesting and important. What should your paper topic be? As shown in the previous slide, select a course-related topic. Facilitators suggest you write about an area that most interests you and in which you might already have some background knowledge. What do you want to learn more about? What are you interested in? Avoid choosing a topic that bores you. Sustained interest in your topic is important, as a topic that bores you makes for a boring

paper. It is unlikely you will be able to fool the reader into believing you liked a topic that you didn’t actually like. Next, narrow down your topic: Once you’ve chosen a topic, ask yourself if it’s narrow enough for you to tackle in the paper or honors thesis you will be writing. Narrow topics generally result in the best papers. One important consideration is the availability of material. Therefore, before making a final decision on your topic, do some initial research to find out the type, quality, and quantity of information available. Finally, how much time do you have to write your paper? The earlier you begin your paper, the more thorough the treatment your topic will receive. If you can’t begin your paper early in the semester, consider limiting your topic so you can deal with it adequately.

Literature Review: What is a Literature Review? • Discusses published information • Summary of sources as an organizational pattern combining both summary and synthesis

• Help evaluate sources • Advices the reader on the most relevant information A literature review is a critical summary of what the scientific literature says about your specific topic or question. Often, learner’s research in APA fields falls into this category. Facilitators will ask learners to write and submit this kind of paper to demonstrate their familiarity with work in the field pertinent where the learner will write their capstone paper on. A literature review typically contains the following sections:

• Cover/Title page • Body/Content

• List of references

Facilitators will also ask learners to write an abstract for the literature review assignment. Learners should consult the APA 6th Edition Publication Manual Pgs. 25-27 for detailed information. The length of a literature review and the required number of sources are outlined in the next slide. *A literature review and an annotated bibliography are not synonymous. Learner should consult the APA

6th Edition Publication Manual.

Synthesis: Putting it all together. Conduct a synthesis of your lit review, ethics, and diversity paper, and provide possible solutions for your global or contemporary issue: See your Capstone Handout. Proposed solution Advocate most equitable, ethical solution to meet needs of vulnerable, disenfranchised Draw upon scholarly sources & previous sections to substantiate position Provide further support with government reports & studies, NGO reports & studies Conclusion Reference list Putting your paper together: • Problem or proposal statement (this is the introduction to your essay) • The Literature Review • Diversity and Ethics • Synthesis, it covers, findings, what you learn • The way ahead • Recommendations

Format Standards: • Cover Page

• Introduction

• Body

• Conclusion

• References

• Times New Roman, 12 Point Font

• Standard 1 inch margins, with double-spaced lines

• Paper must be 2500-3000 words of content (not including the cover and reference pages.)

• Individual project (no group work)

Varying Definitions of Online Communication and

Their Effects on Relationship Research

Elizabeth L. Angeli

State University

Author Note

Elizabeth L. Angeli, Department of Psychology, State University.

Elizabeth Angeli is now at Department of English, Purdue University.

This research was supported in part by a grant from the Sample Grant

Program.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Elizabeth

Angeli, Department of English, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 55555.

Contact: [email protected]

The running head cannot exceed 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation. The running head’s title should be in capital letters. The running head should be flush left, and page numbers should be flush right. On the title page, the running head should include the words “Running head.” For pages following the title page, repeat the running head in all caps without “Running head.”

The title should be centered on the page, typed in 12- point Times New Roman Font. It should not be bolded, underlined, or italicized.

The author’s name and institution should be double- spaced and centered.

The running head is a shortened version of the paper’s full title, and it is used to help readers identify the titles for published articles (even if your paper is not intended for publication, your paper should still have a running head).

The title should summarize the paper’s main idea and identify the variables under discussion and the relationship between them.

Green text boxes contain explanations of APA style guidelines.

Blue boxes contain directions for writing and citing in APA style.

Running head: VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 1

The author note should appear on printed articles and identifies each author’s department and institution affiliation and any changes in affiliation, contains acknowledgements and any financial support received, and provides contact information. For more information, see the APA manual, 2.03, page 24-25. Note: An author note is optional for students writing class papers, theses, and dissertations.. An author note should appear as follows: First paragraph: Complete departmental and institutional affiliation Second paragraph: Changes in affiliation (if any) Third paragraph: Acknowledgments, funding sources, special circumstances Fourth paragraph: Contact information (mailing address and e-mail)

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 2

Abstract

This paper explores four published articles that report on results from research conducted

on online (Internet) and offline (non-Internet) relationships and their relationship to

computer-mediated communication (CMC). The articles, however, vary in their

definitions and uses of CMC. Cummings, Butler and Kraut (2002) suggest that face-to-

face (FtF) interactions are more effective than CMC, defined as “email,” in creating

feelings of closeness or intimacy. Other articles define CMC differently and, therefore,

offer different results. This paper examines Cummings, Butler, and Kraut’s (2002)

research in relation to three other research articles to suggest that all forms of CMC

should be studied in order to fully understand how CMC influences online and offline

relationships.

Keywords: computer-mediated communication, face-to-face communication

The abstract should be between 150-250 words. Abbre- viations and acronyms used in the paper should be defined in the abstract.

The abstract is a brief summary of the paper, allowing readers to quickly review the main points and purpose of the paper.

The word “Abstract” should be centered and typed in 12 point Times New Roman. Do not indent the first line of the abstract paragraph. All other paragraphs in the paper should be indented.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 3

Varying Definitions of Online Communication and

Their Effects on Relationship Research

Numerous studies have been conducted on various facets of Internet relationships,

focusing on the levels of intimacy, closeness, different communication modalities, and

the frequency of use of computer-mediated communication (CMC). However,

contradictory results are suggested within this research because only certain aspects of

CMC are investigated, for example, email only. Cummings, Butler, and Kraut (2002)

suggest that face-to-face (FtF) interactions are more effective than CMC (read: email) in

creating feelings of closeness or intimacy, while other studies suggest the opposite. To

understand how both online (Internet) and offline (non-Internet) relationships are affected

by CMC, all forms of CMC should be studied. This paper examines Cummings et al.’s

research against other CMC research to propose that additional research be conducted to

better understand how online communication affects relationships.

Literature Review

In Cummings et al.’s (2002) summary article reviewing three empirical studies on

online social relationships, it was found that CMC, especially email, was less effective

than FtF contact in creating and maintaining close social relationships. Two of the three

reviewed studies focusing on communication in non-Internet and Internet relationships

mediated by FtF, phone, or email modalities found that the frequency of each modality’s

use was significantly linked to the strength of the particular relationship (Cummings et

al., 2002). The strength of the relationship was predicted best by FtF and phone

In-text citations that are direct quotes should include the author’s/ authors’ name/s, the publication year, and page number/s. If you are para- phrasing a source, APA encourages you to include page numbers: (Smith, 2009, p. 76).

If an article has three to five authors, write out all of the authors’ names the first time they appear. Then use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.”

APA requires you to include the publication year because APA users are concerned with the date of the article (the more current the better).

The title of the paper is centered and not bolded.

The introduc- tion presents the problem that the paper addresses. See the OWL resources on introduc- tions: https://owl.en glish.purdue.e du/owl/resou rce/724/01/

The title should be centered on the page, typed in 12- point Times New Roman Font. It should not be bolded, underlined, or italicized.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 4

communication, as participants rated email as an inferior means of maintaining personal

relationships as compared to FtF and phone contacts (Cummings et al., 2002).

Cummings et al. (2002) reviewed an additional study conducted in 1999 by the

HomeNet project (see Appendix A for more information on the HomeNet project). In

this project, Kraut, Mukhopadhyay, Szczypula, Kiesler, and Scherlis (1999) compared

the value of using CMC and non-CMC to maintain relationships with partners. They

found that participants corresponded less frequently with their Internet partner (5.2 times

per month) than with their non-Internet partner (7.2 times per month; Cummings et al.,

2002). This difference does not seem significant, as it is only two times less per month.

However, in additional self-report surveys, participants responded feeling more distant,

or less intimate, towards their Internet partner than their non-Internet partner. This

finding may be attributed to participants’ beliefs that email is an inferior mode of

personal relationship communication.

Intimacy is necessary in the creation and maintenance of relationships, as it is

defined as the sharing of a person’s innermost being with another person, i.e., self-

disclosure (Hu, Wood, Smith, & Westbrook, 2004). Relationships are facilitated by the

reciprocal self-disclosing between partners, regardless of non-CMC or CMC. Cummings

et al.’s (2002) reviewed results contradict other studies that research the connection

between intimacy and relationships through CMC.

Hu et al. (2004) studied the relationship between the frequency of Instant

Messenger (IM) use and the degree of perceived intimacy among friends. The use of IM

instead of email as a CMC modality was studied because IM supports a non-professional

Use an appendix to provide brief content that supplement s your paper but is not directly related to your text.

If you are including an appendix, refer to it in the body of your paper.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 5

environment favoring intimate exchanges (Hu et al., 2004). Their results suggest that a

positive relationship exists between the frequency of IM use and intimacy, demonstrating

that participants feel closer to their Internet partner as time progresses through this CMC

modality.

Similarly, Underwood and Findlay (2004) studied the effect of Internet

relationships on primary, specifically non-Internet relationships and the perceived

intimacy of both. In this study, self-disclosure, or intimacy, was measured in terms of

shared secrets through the discussion of personal problems. Participants reported a

significantly higher level of self-disclosure in their Internet relationship as compared to

their primary relationship. In contrast, the participants’ primary relationships were

reported as highly self-disclosed in the past, but the current level of disclosure was

perceived to be lower (Underwood & Findlay, 2004). This result suggests participants

turned to the Internet in order to fulfill the need for intimacy in their lives.

In further support of this finding, Tidwell and Walther (2002) hypothesized CMC

participants employ deeper self-disclosures than FtF participants in order to overcome the

limitations of CMC, e.g., the reliance on nonverbal cues. It was found that CMC partners

engaged in more frequent intimate questions and disclosures than FtF partners in order to

overcome the barriers of CMC. In their 2002 study, Tidwell and Walther measured the

perception of a relationship’s intimacy by the partner of each participant in both the CMC

and FtF conditions. The researchers found that the participants’ partners stated their

CMC partner was more effective in employing more intimate exchanges than their FtF

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 6

partner, and both participants and their partners rated their CMC relationship as more

intimate than their FtF relationship.

Discussion

In 2002, Cummings et al. stated that the evidence from their research conflicted

with other data examining the effectiveness of online social relationships. This statement

is supported by the aforementioned discussion of other research. There may be a few

possible theoretical explanations for these discrepancies.

Limitations of These Studies

The discrepancies identified may result from a number of limitations found in the

materials reviewed by Cummings et al. These limitations can result from technological

constraints, demographic factors, or issues of modality. Each of these limitations will be

examined in further detail below.

Technological limitations. First, one reviewed study by Cummings et al. (2002)

examined only email correspondence for their CMC modality. Therefore, the study is

limited to only one mode of communication among other alternatives, e.g., IM as studied

by Hu et al. (2004). Because of its many personalized features, IM provides more

personal CMC. For example, it is in real time without delay, voice-chat and video

features are available for many IM programs, and text boxes can be personalized with the

user’s picture, favorite colors and text, and a wide variety of emoticons, e.g., :). These

options allow for both an increase in self-expression and the ability to overcompensate

for the barriers of CMC through customizable features, as stated in Tidwell and Walther

Because all research has its limitations, it is important to discuss the limitations of articles under examination .

A Level 2 heading should be flush with the left margin, bolded, and title case.

A Level 1 heading should be centered, bolded, and uppercase and lower case (also referred to as title case).

A Level 3 heading should indented 0.5” from the left margin, bolded, and lower case (except for the first word). Text should follow immediately after. If you use more than three levels of headings, consult section 3.02 of the APA manual (6th ed.) or the OWL resource on APA headings: https://owl.en glish.purdue. edu/owl/reso urce/560/16 /

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 7

(2002). Self-disclosure and intimacy may result from IM’s individualized features,

which are not as personalized in email correspondence.

Demographic limitations. In addition to the limitations of email, Cummings et

al. (2002) reviewed studies that focused on international bank employees and college

students (see Appendix B for demographic information). It is possible the participants’

CMC through email was used primarily for business, professional, and school matters

and not for relationship creation or maintenance. In this case, personal self-disclosure

and intimacy levels are expected to be lower for non-relationship interactions, as this

communication is primarily between boss and employee or student and professor.

Intimacy is not required, or even desired, for these professional relationships.

Modality limitations. Instead of professional correspondence, however,

Cummings et al.’s (2002) review of the HomeNet project focused on already established

relationships and CMC’s effect on relationship maintenance. The HomeNet

researchers’ sole dependence on email communication as CMC may have contributed to

the lower levels of intimacy and closeness among Internet relationships as compared to

non-Internet relationships (as cited in Cummings et al., 2002). The barriers of non-

personal communication in email could be a factor in this project, and this could lead to

less intimacy among these Internet partners. If alternate modalities of CMC were

studied in both already established and professional relationships, perhaps these results

would have resembled those of the previously mentioned research.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 8

Conclusions and Future Study

In order to gain a complete understanding of CMC’s true effect on both online

and offline relationships, it is necessary to conduct a study that examines all aspects of

CMC. This includes, but is not limited to, email, IM, voice-chat, video-chat, online

journals and diaries, online social groups with message boards, and chat rooms. The

effects on relationships of each modality may be different, and this is demonstrated by

the discrepancies in intimacy between email and IM correspondence. As each mode of

communication becomes more prevalent in individuals’ lives, it is important to examine

the impact of all modes of CMC on online and offline relationship formation,

maintenance, and even termination.

The conclusion restates the problem the paper addresses and can offer areas for further research. See the OWL resource on conclu- sions: https://owl. english.pur due.edu/ow l/resource/ 724/04/

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 9

References

Cummings, J. N., Butler, B., & Kraut, R. (2002). The quality of online social

relationships. Communications of the ACM, 45(7), 103-108.

Hu, Y., Wood, J. F., Smith, V., & Westbrook, N. (2004). Friendships through IM:

Examining the relationship between instant messaging and intimacy. Journal of

Computer-Mediated Communication, 10, 38-48.

Tidwell, L. C., & Walther, J. B. (2002). Computer-mediated communication effects on

disclosure, impressions, and interpersonal evaluations: Getting to know one

another a bit at a time. Human Communication Research, 28, 317-348.

Underwood, H., & Findlay, B. (2004). Internet relationships and their impact on primary

relationships. Behaviour Change, 21(2), 127-140.

Start the reference list on a new page, center the title “References,” and alphabetize the entries. Do not underline or italicize the title. Double-space all entries. Every source mentioned in the paper should have an entry.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 10

Appendix A

The HomeNet Project

Started at Carnegie Mellon University in 1995, the HomeNet research project has

involved a number of studies intended to look at home Internet usage. Researchers

began this project because the Internet was originally designed as a tool for scientific

and corporate use. Home usage of the Internet was an unexpected phenomenon worthy

of extended study.

Each of HomeNet’s studies has explored a different facet of home Internet usage,

such as chatting, playing games, or reading the news. Within the past few years, the

explosion of social networking has also proven to be an area deserving of additional

research. Refer to Table A1 for a more detailed description of HomeNet studies.

Table A1

Description of HomeNet Studies by Year Year  of  Study   Contents  of  Study   1995-­‐1996   93 families in Pittsburgh involved in school

or community organizations 1997-­‐1999   25 families with home businesses 1998-­‐1999   151 Pittsburgh households 2000-­‐2002   National survey

Begin each appendix on a new page., with the word appendix in the top center. Use an identifying capital letter (e.g., Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.) if you have more than one appendix. If you are referring to more than one appendix in your text, use the plural appendices (APA only).

The first paragraph of the appendix should flush with the left margin. Additional paragraphs should be indented.

Label tables and figures in the appendix as you would in the text of your manuscript, using the letter A before the number to clarify that the table or figure belongs to the appendix.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 11

Appendix B Demographic Information for Cummings et al. (2002)’s Review

If an appendix consists entirely of a table or figure, the title of the table or figure should serve as the title of the appendix.

Format Standards: • Cover Page

• Introduction

• Body

• Conclusion

• References

• Times New Roman, 12 Point Font

• Standard 1 inch margins, with double-spaced lines

• Paper must be 2500-3000 words of content (not including the cover and reference pages.)

• Individual project (no group work)

Varying Definitions of Online Communication and

Their Effects on Relationship Research

Elizabeth L. Angeli

State University

Author Note

Elizabeth L. Angeli, Department of Psychology, State University.

Elizabeth Angeli is now at Department of English, Purdue University.

This research was supported in part by a grant from the Sample Grant

Program.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Elizabeth

Angeli, Department of English, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 55555.

Contact: [email protected]

The running head cannot exceed 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation. The running head’s title should be in capital letters. The running head should be flush left, and page numbers should be flush right. On the title page, the running head should include the words “Running head.” For pages following the title page, repeat the running head in all caps without “Running head.”

The title should be centered on the page, typed in 12- point Times New Roman Font. It should not be bolded, underlined, or italicized.

The author’s name and institution should be double- spaced and centered.

The running head is a shortened version of the paper’s full title, and it is used to help readers identify the titles for published articles (even if your paper is not intended for publication, your paper should still have a running head).

The title should summarize the paper’s main idea and identify the variables under discussion and the relationship between them.

Green text boxes contain explanations of APA style guidelines.

Blue boxes contain directions for writing and citing in APA style.

Running head: VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 1

The author note should appear on printed articles and identifies each author’s department and institution affiliation and any changes in affiliation, contains acknowledgements and any financial support received, and provides contact information. For more information, see the APA manual, 2.03, page 24-25. Note: An author note is optional for students writing class papers, theses, and dissertations.. An author note should appear as follows: First paragraph: Complete departmental and institutional affiliation Second paragraph: Changes in affiliation (if any) Third paragraph: Acknowledgments, funding sources, special circumstances Fourth paragraph: Contact information (mailing address and e-mail)

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 2

Abstract

This paper explores four published articles that report on results from research conducted

on online (Internet) and offline (non-Internet) relationships and their relationship to

computer-mediated communication (CMC). The articles, however, vary in their

definitions and uses of CMC. Cummings, Butler and Kraut (2002) suggest that face-to-

face (FtF) interactions are more effective than CMC, defined as “email,” in creating

feelings of closeness or intimacy. Other articles define CMC differently and, therefore,

offer different results. This paper examines Cummings, Butler, and Kraut’s (2002)

research in relation to three other research articles to suggest that all forms of CMC

should be studied in order to fully understand how CMC influences online and offline

relationships.

Keywords: computer-mediated communication, face-to-face communication

The abstract should be between 150-250 words. Abbre- viations and acronyms used in the paper should be defined in the abstract.

The abstract is a brief summary of the paper, allowing readers to quickly review the main points and purpose of the paper.

The word “Abstract” should be centered and typed in 12 point Times New Roman. Do not indent the first line of the abstract paragraph. All other paragraphs in the paper should be indented.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 3

Varying Definitions of Online Communication and

Their Effects on Relationship Research

Numerous studies have been conducted on various facets of Internet relationships,

focusing on the levels of intimacy, closeness, different communication modalities, and

the frequency of use of computer-mediated communication (CMC). However,

contradictory results are suggested within this research because only certain aspects of

CMC are investigated, for example, email only. Cummings, Butler, and Kraut (2002)

suggest that face-to-face (FtF) interactions are more effective than CMC (read: email) in

creating feelings of closeness or intimacy, while other studies suggest the opposite. To

understand how both online (Internet) and offline (non-Internet) relationships are affected

by CMC, all forms of CMC should be studied. This paper examines Cummings et al.’s

research against other CMC research to propose that additional research be conducted to

better understand how online communication affects relationships.

Literature Review

In Cummings et al.’s (2002) summary article reviewing three empirical studies on

online social relationships, it was found that CMC, especially email, was less effective

than FtF contact in creating and maintaining close social relationships. Two of the three

reviewed studies focusing on communication in non-Internet and Internet relationships

mediated by FtF, phone, or email modalities found that the frequency of each modality’s

use was significantly linked to the strength of the particular relationship (Cummings et

al., 2002). The strength of the relationship was predicted best by FtF and phone

In-text citations that are direct quotes should include the author’s/ authors’ name/s, the publication year, and page number/s. If you are para- phrasing a source, APA encourages you to include page numbers: (Smith, 2009, p. 76).

If an article has three to five authors, write out all of the authors’ names the first time they appear. Then use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.”

APA requires you to include the publication year because APA users are concerned with the date of the article (the more current the better).

The title of the paper is centered and not bolded.

The introduc- tion presents the problem that the paper addresses. See the OWL resources on introduc- tions: https://owl.en glish.purdue.e du/owl/resou rce/724/01/

The title should be centered on the page, typed in 12- point Times New Roman Font. It should not be bolded, underlined, or italicized.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 4

communication, as participants rated email as an inferior means of maintaining personal

relationships as compared to FtF and phone contacts (Cummings et al., 2002).

Cummings et al. (2002) reviewed an additional study conducted in 1999 by the

HomeNet project (see Appendix A for more information on the HomeNet project). In

this project, Kraut, Mukhopadhyay, Szczypula, Kiesler, and Scherlis (1999) compared

the value of using CMC and non-CMC to maintain relationships with partners. They

found that participants corresponded less frequently with their Internet partner (5.2 times

per month) than with their non-Internet partner (7.2 times per month; Cummings et al.,

2002). This difference does not seem significant, as it is only two times less per month.

However, in additional self-report surveys, participants responded feeling more distant,

or less intimate, towards their Internet partner than their non-Internet partner. This

finding may be attributed to participants’ beliefs that email is an inferior mode of

personal relationship communication.

Intimacy is necessary in the creation and maintenance of relationships, as it is

defined as the sharing of a person’s innermost being with another person, i.e., self-

disclosure (Hu, Wood, Smith, & Westbrook, 2004). Relationships are facilitated by the

reciprocal self-disclosing between partners, regardless of non-CMC or CMC. Cummings

et al.’s (2002) reviewed results contradict other studies that research the connection

between intimacy and relationships through CMC.

Hu et al. (2004) studied the relationship between the frequency of Instant

Messenger (IM) use and the degree of perceived intimacy among friends. The use of IM

instead of email as a CMC modality was studied because IM supports a non-professional

Use an appendix to provide brief content that supplement s your paper but is not directly related to your text.

If you are including an appendix, refer to it in the body of your paper.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 5

environment favoring intimate exchanges (Hu et al., 2004). Their results suggest that a

positive relationship exists between the frequency of IM use and intimacy, demonstrating

that participants feel closer to their Internet partner as time progresses through this CMC

modality.

Similarly, Underwood and Findlay (2004) studied the effect of Internet

relationships on primary, specifically non-Internet relationships and the perceived

intimacy of both. In this study, self-disclosure, or intimacy, was measured in terms of

shared secrets through the discussion of personal problems. Participants reported a

significantly higher level of self-disclosure in their Internet relationship as compared to

their primary relationship. In contrast, the participants’ primary relationships were

reported as highly self-disclosed in the past, but the current level of disclosure was

perceived to be lower (Underwood & Findlay, 2004). This result suggests participants

turned to the Internet in order to fulfill the need for intimacy in their lives.

In further support of this finding, Tidwell and Walther (2002) hypothesized CMC

participants employ deeper self-disclosures than FtF participants in order to overcome the

limitations of CMC, e.g., the reliance on nonverbal cues. It was found that CMC partners

engaged in more frequent intimate questions and disclosures than FtF partners in order to

overcome the barriers of CMC. In their 2002 study, Tidwell and Walther measured the

perception of a relationship’s intimacy by the partner of each participant in both the CMC

and FtF conditions. The researchers found that the participants’ partners stated their

CMC partner was more effective in employing more intimate exchanges than their FtF

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 6

partner, and both participants and their partners rated their CMC relationship as more

intimate than their FtF relationship.

Discussion

In 2002, Cummings et al. stated that the evidence from their research conflicted

with other data examining the effectiveness of online social relationships. This statement

is supported by the aforementioned discussion of other research. There may be a few

possible theoretical explanations for these discrepancies.

Limitations of These Studies

The discrepancies identified may result from a number of limitations found in the

materials reviewed by Cummings et al. These limitations can result from technological

constraints, demographic factors, or issues of modality. Each of these limitations will be

examined in further detail below.

Technological limitations. First, one reviewed study by Cummings et al. (2002)

examined only email correspondence for their CMC modality. Therefore, the study is

limited to only one mode of communication among other alternatives, e.g., IM as studied

by Hu et al. (2004). Because of its many personalized features, IM provides more

personal CMC. For example, it is in real time without delay, voice-chat and video

features are available for many IM programs, and text boxes can be personalized with the

user’s picture, favorite colors and text, and a wide variety of emoticons, e.g., :). These

options allow for both an increase in self-expression and the ability to overcompensate

for the barriers of CMC through customizable features, as stated in Tidwell and Walther

Because all research has its limitations, it is important to discuss the limitations of articles under examination .

A Level 2 heading should be flush with the left margin, bolded, and title case.

A Level 1 heading should be centered, bolded, and uppercase and lower case (also referred to as title case).

A Level 3 heading should indented 0.5” from the left margin, bolded, and lower case (except for the first word). Text should follow immediately after. If you use more than three levels of headings, consult section 3.02 of the APA manual (6th ed.) or the OWL resource on APA headings: https://owl.en glish.purdue. edu/owl/reso urce/560/16 /

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 7

(2002). Self-disclosure and intimacy may result from IM’s individualized features,

which are not as personalized in email correspondence.

Demographic limitations. In addition to the limitations of email, Cummings et

al. (2002) reviewed studies that focused on international bank employees and college

students (see Appendix B for demographic information). It is possible the participants’

CMC through email was used primarily for business, professional, and school matters

and not for relationship creation or maintenance. In this case, personal self-disclosure

and intimacy levels are expected to be lower for non-relationship interactions, as this

communication is primarily between boss and employee or student and professor.

Intimacy is not required, or even desired, for these professional relationships.

Modality limitations. Instead of professional correspondence, however,

Cummings et al.’s (2002) review of the HomeNet project focused on already established

relationships and CMC’s effect on relationship maintenance. The HomeNet

researchers’ sole dependence on email communication as CMC may have contributed to

the lower levels of intimacy and closeness among Internet relationships as compared to

non-Internet relationships (as cited in Cummings et al., 2002). The barriers of non-

personal communication in email could be a factor in this project, and this could lead to

less intimacy among these Internet partners. If alternate modalities of CMC were

studied in both already established and professional relationships, perhaps these results

would have resembled those of the previously mentioned research.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 8

Conclusions and Future Study

In order to gain a complete understanding of CMC’s true effect on both online

and offline relationships, it is necessary to conduct a study that examines all aspects of

CMC. This includes, but is not limited to, email, IM, voice-chat, video-chat, online

journals and diaries, online social groups with message boards, and chat rooms. The

effects on relationships of each modality may be different, and this is demonstrated by

the discrepancies in intimacy between email and IM correspondence. As each mode of

communication becomes more prevalent in individuals’ lives, it is important to examine

the impact of all modes of CMC on online and offline relationship formation,

maintenance, and even termination.

The conclusion restates the problem the paper addresses and can offer areas for further research. See the OWL resource on conclu- sions: https://owl. english.pur due.edu/ow l/resource/ 724/04/

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 9

References

Cummings, J. N., Butler, B., & Kraut, R. (2002). The quality of online social

relationships. Communications of the ACM, 45(7), 103-108.

Hu, Y., Wood, J. F., Smith, V., & Westbrook, N. (2004). Friendships through IM:

Examining the relationship between instant messaging and intimacy. Journal of

Computer-Mediated Communication, 10, 38-48.

Tidwell, L. C., & Walther, J. B. (2002). Computer-mediated communication effects on

disclosure, impressions, and interpersonal evaluations: Getting to know one

another a bit at a time. Human Communication Research, 28, 317-348.

Underwood, H., & Findlay, B. (2004). Internet relationships and their impact on primary

relationships. Behaviour Change, 21(2), 127-140.

Start the reference list on a new page, center the title “References,” and alphabetize the entries. Do not underline or italicize the title. Double-space all entries. Every source mentioned in the paper should have an entry.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 10

Appendix A

The HomeNet Project

Started at Carnegie Mellon University in 1995, the HomeNet research project has

involved a number of studies intended to look at home Internet usage. Researchers

began this project because the Internet was originally designed as a tool for scientific

and corporate use. Home usage of the Internet was an unexpected phenomenon worthy

of extended study.

Each of HomeNet’s studies has explored a different facet of home Internet usage,

such as chatting, playing games, or reading the news. Within the past few years, the

explosion of social networking has also proven to be an area deserving of additional

research. Refer to Table A1 for a more detailed description of HomeNet studies.

Table A1

Description of HomeNet Studies by Year Year  of  Study   Contents  of  Study   1995-­‐1996   93 families in Pittsburgh involved in school

or community organizations 1997-­‐1999   25 families with home businesses 1998-­‐1999   151 Pittsburgh households 2000-­‐2002   National survey

Begin each appendix on a new page., with the word appendix in the top center. Use an identifying capital letter (e.g., Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.) if you have more than one appendix. If you are referring to more than one appendix in your text, use the plural appendices (APA only).

The first paragraph of the appendix should flush with the left margin. Additional paragraphs should be indented.

Label tables and figures in the appendix as you would in the text of your manuscript, using the letter A before the number to clarify that the table or figure belongs to the appendix.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 11

Appendix B Demographic Information for Cummings et al. (2002)’s Review

If an appendix consists entirely of a table or figure, the title of the table or figure should serve as the title of the appendix.

Capstone Outline: Basic Framework Example

• Introduction

o Provide an overview with the significance of the issue related to the field of study

• Literature Review

o Building upon Scaffold Step #3

o Conclude this section with a concise statement of the problem based upon the literature

• Diversity & Ethics

o Cultural perspectives & inequities  Analyze competing entities including disenfranchised/vulnerable

groups  Address issues such as in-group favoritism, intergroup bias, etc.  Consider integrating Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory or

another theory in analyzing perspectives  Summarize cultural perspectives and perceived inequities

o Ethical implications  Analyze decision making and actions, social responsibility, applying

specific ethical theories  Identify possible pathways to equitable solutions  Summarize compelling ethical issues

o Proposed solution  Advocate most equitable, ethical solution to meet the needs of

vulnerable, disenfranchised  Draw upon scholarly sources and previous section to substantiate a

position  Provide further support with government reports and studies, NGO

reports & studies o Conclusion o Reference List

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