Computer-mediated communication (CMC)
CMC Competence
Spitzberg‚ 2006
MOTIVATION
1. I enjoy communicating using computer media.
2. I am nervous about using the computer to communicate with others. [R]
3. I am very motivated to use computers to communicate with others.
4. I look forward to sitting down at my computer to write to others.
5. Communicating through a computer makes me anxious. [R]
KNOWLEDGE
6. I am very knowledgeable about how to communicate through computers.
7. I am never at a loss for something to say in CMC.
8. I am very familiar with how to communicate through email and the internet.
9. I always seem to know how to say things the way I mean them using CMC.
10.When communicating with someone through a computer‚ I know how to adapt my messages to the medium.
EFFICACY
11.I don’t feel very competent in learning and using communication media technology.
12.I feel completely capable of using almost all currently available CMCs.
13.I am confident I will learn how to use any new CMCs that are due to come out.
14.I’m nervous when I have to learn how to use a new communication technology.
15.I find changes in technologies very frustrating.
16.I quickly figure out how to use new CMC technologies.
17.I know I can learn to use new CMC technologies when they come out.
18.If a CMC isn’t user friendly‚ I’m likely not to use it.
SKILLS
COORDINATION
19.I know when and how to close down a topic of conversation in CMC dialogues.
20.I manage the give and take of CMC interactions skillfully.
21.I am skilled at timing when I send my responses to people who email me.
22.I am skilled at prioritizing (triaging) my email traffic.
ATTENTIVENESS
23.I ask questions of the other person in my CMC.
24.I show concern for and interest in the person I’m conversing with in CMC.
25.I can show compassion and empathy through the way I write emails.
26.I take time to make sure my emails to others are uniquely adapted to the particular receiver I’m sending it to.
EXPRESSIVENESS
27.I am very articulate and vivid in my CMC messages.
28.I use a lot of the expressive symbols [e.g.‚ ? for “smile”] in my CMC messages.
29.I try to use a lot of humor in my CMC messages.
30.I am expressive in my CMC conversations.
COMPOSURE
31.I display a lot of certainty in the way I write my CMC messages.
32.I use an assertive style in my CMC writing.
33.I have no trouble expressing my opinions forcefully on CMC.
34.I make sure my objectives are emphasized in my CMC messages.
35.My CMC messages are written in a confident style.
36.I am skillful at revealing composure and self-confidence in my CMC interactions.
selectIVITY
I choose which medium (i.e.‚ computer‚ phone‚ face-to-face‚ etc.) to communicate based on . . .
37.how quickly I need to get a message out to people.
38.how much benefit there would be to having the other(s) present face-to-face.
39.how lively the interaction needs to be.
40.how much access the person I need to communicate with has to the medium.
41.how much information is involved in the message I need to communicate.
42.how much access I have to the channel or medium.
43.how long I need people to hang on to or remember the message.
44.how many different uses and forms are needed (e.g.‚ hardcopy‚ image processing‚ voicemail‚ computer language‚ etc.)
45.how personal or intimate the information in the message is.
46.how quickly the receiver needs to react to the message.
47.the extent to which I need to get some “back and forth‚”“give and take‚” and interchange of ideas.
48.the extent to which I need some creative brainstorming.
APPROPRIATENESS
49.I avoid saying things through that might offend someone.
50.I pay as much attention to the WAY I say things as WHAT I say.
51.I never say things that offend the other person.
52.I am careful to make my comments and behaviors appropriate to the situation.
EFFECTIVENESS
53.I generally get what I want out of interactions.
54.I consistently achieve my goals in interactions.
55.My interactions are effective in accomplishing what I set out to accomplish.
56.I am effective in my conversations with others.
CLARITY
57.I get my ideas across clearly in conversations with others.
58.My comments are consistently accurate and clear.
59.My messages are rarely misunderstood.
60.I feel understood when I interact with others.
SATISFACTION
61.I am generally satisfied with my communication encounters.
62.I enjoy my interactions with others.
63.I feel good about my conversations.
64.I am generally pleased with my interactions.
ATTRACTIVENESS
65.If I can engage someone in conversation‚ I can usually get them to like me.
66.I come across in conversation as someone people would like to get to know.
67.I make friends easily.
68.People generally enjoy my company when interacting with me.
EFFICIENCY/PRODUCTIVITY
69.I get a tremendous amount accomplished through CMC.
70.My CMC interactions are more productive than my face-to-face interactions.
71.I am more efficient using CMC than other forms of communication.
72.CMC technologies are tremendous time-savers for my work.
GENERAL USAGE/EXPERIENCE
73.I rely heavily upon my CMCs for getting me through each day.
74.I use computer-mediated means of communication almost constantly.
75.I can rarely go a week without any CMC interactions.
76.I am a heavy user of computer-mediated communication.
77.If I can use a computer for communicating‚ I tend to.
Motivation (alpha .85)‚ Knowledge (alpha .90)‚ Efficacy (alpha .85)‚ Coordination (alpha .78)‚ Attentiveness (alpha .82)‚ Expressiveness (alpha .74)‚ Composure (alpha .88)‚ Appropriateness (alpha .87)‚ Effectiveness (alpha .85)‚ Satisfaction (alpha .78)‚ Productivity/efficiency (alpha .72)‚ General Usage (alpha .65)‚ CMC Interactivity orientate (alpha .87)‚ Task Orientation (alpha .77)‚ Co-orientation (alpha .80) (Bubaš et al‚ 2003)
1- not at all true of me‚ 2- mostly not true of me‚ 3- neither true nor untrue of me; undecided‚ 4- mostly true of me‚ 5- very true of me
This instrument can be found online at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281162801 & http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2006.00030.x/full
By date
Spitzberg‚ B. H. (1983). Communication competence as knowledge‚ skill‚ and impression. Communication Education‚ 32(3)‚ 323–328.
Spitzberg‚ B. H. (1990). The construct validity of trait-based measures of interpersonal competence. Communication Research Reports‚ 7(2)‚ 107–116.
Morreale‚ S. P.‚ Spitzberg‚ B. H.‚ & Barge‚ J. K. (2001). Human communication: Motivation‚ knowledge‚ & skills. Belmont‚ CA: Wadsworth.
Spitzberg‚ B. H.‚ & Hoobler‚ G. (2002). Cyberstalking and the technologies of interpersonal terrorism. New Media & Society‚ 4(1)‚ 71–92
Bubaš‚ Goran.‚ Radoševic‚ Danijel.‚ Hutinski‚ Željko. (2003). Assessment of Computer Mediated Communication Competence: Theory and Application in an Online Environment. Journal of information and organizational sciences‚ 27(2)‚ 53-71
Ladwig‚ M. A.‚ & Spitzberg‚ B. H. (2005). Great expectations: An expectancy approach to computer-mediated communication competence. Manuscript submitted for conference presentation.
Spitzberg‚ B. H. (2006). Preliminary development of a model and measure of computer mediated communication (CMC) competence. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication‚ 11(2)‚ 629-666.
Perry‚ Martha‚ “FACE TO FACE VERSUS COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION: COUPLES SATISFACTION AND EXPERIENCE ACROSS CONDITIONS” (2010). University of Kentucky master’s Theses. Paper 66. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_theses/66