Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: For rural areas the Internet allows cheap and easy connections with people from outside the community. We analyzed the reported frequency of use of email for communication with local, regional, provincial, other Canadian, and international contacts using a special spring-2005 internet survey of web-users living in the Canadian rural sites studied by the New Rural Economy project. There was a bimodal distribution of time spent within each category of communication. National and international communication patterns differed somewhat between Anglophones and Francophones. Buckner’s three dimensions of social cohesion correlated positively with time spent communicating with local and regional contacts but not significantly with time spent with other Canadian and international contacts.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: In the past decade new communications technology has
changed the way many people gather information about politics. The most
important of these new technologies is the Internet. Recent research
suggests use of the Internet for political information increases the
probability of participation (Bimber 2003, 2001; Tolbert and McNeal
2003; Shah et al 2002). While an empirical relationship between
Internet news and political participation has been found, a theoretical
link as to why the Internet is unique from other media forms is largely
missing. This research is an attempt to unpack the “black-box” linking
the Internet and political participation by building on two theoretical
approaches. The first, surge and decline theory (Campbell 1966) comes
out of political science and the second, media systems dependency
theory (DeFleur and Ball-Rokeach 1989), originates from communications.
Both explanations focus on individual costs and benefits of political
participation. The media can lower the “costs” by providing sufficient
information to make informed decisions about voting. Previous research
(Tolbert and McNeal 2003) argues that the Internet benefits the public
through the cost side of the equation. One of the media’s greatest
resources is information and the public relies on media to provide them
with the information they need. Because the Internet is capable of
providing information readily, and from a multitude of sources, one
would expect it to encourage political action through lowering the cost
of information. Besides lowering participation costs, the media can
also increase the benefits of participation. The benefits side of the
equation has been largely unexplored. Intense media coverage of an
event such as an election can generate excitement that increases the
perceived “benefit” of participating (Campbell 1966). The Internet may
encourage a unique participation benefit via increased mobilization
efforts. Before the 1960’s, political parties focused on this end of
the equation through get out the vote drives and door-to-door
canvassing. These activities have since dropped off along with voter
turnout. Recently, political parties, candidates and interest groups
have begun to increase mobilization efforts through email. Collectively
they have been making appeals to individuals to vote, register, give
money, contact elected officials or donate time. If the past is any
indication, then the
mobilization efforts taking place online may provide a positive
stimulus for political action. Drawing on this literature, this
research provides a case study of the email mobilization efforts of a
grassroots online nonprofit organization, Moveon.org, in an attempt to
better understand the possible electoral benefits of the Internet.
Strategies of Moveon.org will be discussed, including the use of online
petition drives, fundraisers and citizen contacting. Interviews with
members of Moveon.org will be conducted, as well as analysis of
participation data resulting from their various activities. This will
be augmented by analysis of email and support or opposition to the Iraq
war (an important issue for Moveon.org) using Pew Internet &
American Life Project Iraq War Survey, March 20-25, 2003. Using
multivariate regression, we will model predictors of email
mobilization, as well as general political email
correspondence.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Email is rapidly becoming a dominant form of workplace communication, yet limited knowledge exists for how to use it effectively. Relying on SIDE theory this 2x2 experimental design tested the effects of adherence to organizational norms and interpersonal familiarity in email messages. In addition, both the superior and subordinate perspectives on these messages were examined. Results reveal that using norm congruent email messages account for over 50% of variance in both superior and subordinate attitudes toward the message, and between 30% and 56% of variance in perceptions of source credibility. Data from the superiors indicate that norm congruent email messages account for 14.4% of the variance in message compliance. Results from subordinates reveal an interaction effect that is consistent with SIDE-based predictions. Subordinates believe superiors are most likely to comply with email requests from unfamiliar subordinates that are crafted in a manner congruent with organizational norms. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The RealU study consisted of a 20-week online smoking cessation intervention for college students during which peer support Epals wrote weekly emails to intervention group participants (n=257) encouraging smoking abstinence. Greater peer engagement via email was associated with increased abstinence rates and reduced frequency of smoking. These findings suggest that online peer support may improve the delivery of internet-assisted cessation programs for young adults.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Threats aimed at public officials are increasingly communicated through electronic means (i.e., email and Internet posting). Those who pose a threat must be identified and stopped before they engage in negative approach behavior toward their target. The current study examines 500 inappropriate letter, email and weblog cases targeting legislators from 2002 through 2006. The goals of the study are to examine each type of correspondence for differential content/language characteristics and differential problematic approach risk factors. Preliminary analyses revealed that emailers and letter writers significantly differ on some characteristics and risk factors. The findings and implications will be discussed in detail.