Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The exponential growth of the Internet has been accompanied by the use of the information by government agencies and offices to reach out to the members of the public. E-government has become a critical component in the literature on online communication, with specific inferences made about the ability of the medium to foster democratic participation, economic growth and better communication between the government and the public. In spite of the growing literature on e-government, little research has been conducted about the relationship between the use of e-government and the use of more traditional media to connect with the government. Based on the theory of channel complementarity, this article compares the users of e-government with non-users to suggest that the users of the online platform will be more likely to communicate with the government via traditional platforms as compared to non-users.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Back channel diplomacy (BCD) refers to official negotiations conducted in secret among the parties to a dispute or even between a party and a third party intervenor, which complement front channels, and are potentially at variance with declared policies. Aspects of secrecy in negotiation have been the subject of descriptive and prescriptive literature. Research specifically focused on the strategic interaction of multiple channels of international negotiation-front and back channels-did not exist. In this study, the cases of Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations from 1991 to 2003 are rigorously analyzed according to a theoretical framework designed to understand what BCD is, and how it works. This helps us understand why decisionmakers choose to use it. The framework looks at the treatment of the issues negotiated, the role of secrecy, the exclusion of subparties that results from secrecy, the role of third party intervenors, the proximity of decisionmakers to the negotiators, and the strategic interaction of multiple channels (front and back). The overarching condition is that of incrementalist peace negotiations, which proceed from early agreements on principles, to interim accords and finally to a permanent settlement. Decisionmakers use BCD to advance their policies and manage four critical uncertainties that affect their negotiations in violent international conflicts. The uncertainties regard the i) cost of entry into negotiations, ii) effect of spoilers in the peace process, iii) the lack of information on other parties' interests and preferences that is needed to make the decision to negotiate, and iv) political impact of negotiation outcome on the decisionmakers. In helping to manage these uncertainties, BCD is associated with the achievement of early breakthrough agreements where front channels fail. However, under the condition of the incrementalist peace process requiring progressively more difficult implementation, BCD's inherent qualities of secrecy and the consequent exclusion turn problematic. The ability of decisionmakers to conclude accords before spoilers can mobilize against them is progressively diminished, until BCD no longer helps the parties reach agreement, but becomes a substitute for good faith negotiation and ultimately, yields negative returns. The potential exists for renewal of violent conflict.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This cross-cultural investigation examines the relationship between fear of negative evaluation, affect for communication channels (i.e., email versus face-to-face), and self-reports of communication competence. Participants from both Japan (N = 146) and the United States (N = 325) responded to three scales, Fear of Negative Evaluation (Leary, 1983), Affect for Communication Channels Scale (Kelly & Keaten, 2005), and a measure of communication competence. Cross-cultural differences were discovered on reports of fear of negative evaluation, CMC use, and self-reported competence. The factors predicting channel usage in a difficult personal situation (e.g., competence and general email usage), however, were quite similar across Japanese and U.S. participants.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Twenty-six people participated in this Q study. They sorted cable television channels by frequency and affinity. The primary goal was to use these sorts to identify channel repertoires among the respondents. The study found that in some cases there are differences between viewers' favorite television channels and those channels they most frequently view. The study found and labeled five distinct types of channel repertoires related to frequency and six related to affinity. Channel repertoires were found to sometimes, though not always, correlate with demographic or psychographic characteristics. And finally, several channels - notably the traditional broadcast channels - cross viewer types.

Publication Type: GIFTS
Abstract: This activity demonstrates the importance of using the appropriate combination of channel (text, phone, face to face, e-mail, etc) and type of message for effective communication. Using students’ own cell phones and text messages as a starting point, this critical thinking, discussion, and writing activity gets students to use less frequently chosen channels of communication (such as handwritten notes) to experience how message construction differs depending on the channel chosen to communicate.