A58. D'Ambra,
J.; Rice, R.E.; & O'Connor, M. (1998). Computer-mediated
communication
and media preference: An investigation of the dimensionality of
perceived
task equivocality and media richness. Behaviour and Information
Technology,
17(3),
164-174.
Computer-mediated communication is the foundation of networking
and electronic communities. As the use of new communication
technologies
continues to proliferate throughout organizations, new modes of
interaction
between individuals and groups emerge, presenting alternative media
choices.
How individuals choose between these modes has stimulated much research
into theoretical perspectives of media choice within networked and
electronic
communities. Media Richness Theory is one of these theoretical
perspectives.
The research presented in this paper investigates the underlying
factors
of Media Richness Theory, task equivocality and media richness. The
results
obtained provide evidence to suggest that equivocality may not be
unidimensional,
and that the richness of media is perceived multidimensionally in terms
of the information carrying capacity of media. The findings on
dimensionality
of equivocality raise doubts as to the basic assumptions of this
concept
and media richness theory.
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