Graduation Semester and Year
2016
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Communications
Department
Communication
First Advisor
Chyng-Yang Jang
Abstract
Communication researchers continue to explore the promise and the impact of the Internet and computer-mediated communication. While much research has shown that the effects have been distancing, polarizing and negative others point to a more connected global world. In this study we attempt to look for the initial promise of the Internet. By manipulating anonymity, avatars and types of similarity in a virtual computer-mediated scenario we uncover a pathway to improve group identity, trust and social attraction. These concepts are supported by social identity theories and by the social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE). A 2x3 factorial experimental design looked for causal relationships but all the findings did not support our hypotheses. However, we did support our underlying suppositions and the basis for our conceptual model.
Keywords
Avatar, SIDE, Social identity, Similarity, CMC, Group identity, Trust, Social attraction, Competition
Disciplines
Communication | Social and Behavioral Sciences
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Zenner, Shannon, "A Virtual Foot in the Door: How Avatar Similarity Impacts Group Identity in Computer-Mediated Communication" (2016). Communication Theses. 52.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/communication_theses/52
Comments
Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington