Running head: VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 1

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titles of articles,
under especially when
discussion those articles
and the are published in
relationship Varying Definitions of Online Communication and larger works.
between Even if your
them. A good
paper is not
title should Their Effects on Relationship Research intended for
also be able The author’s name publication,
to stand on and the institution Elizabeth L. Angeli your paper
its own. where the research should still have
took place should be a running head.
The title centered and double-
State University
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capital letters.
italicized. A
The running
title should Elizabeth Angeli is now at Department of English, Marquette University. head should be
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This research was supported in part by a grant from the Sample Grant
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should include
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Elizabeth the words
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Angeli, Department of English, Marquette University, Madison, WI, 55555. For pages
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Contact: author@marquette.edu repeat the
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provides contact information. For more information, see the APA manual,
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class papers, theses, and disserations.

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VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 2
appear after The word
the title “Abstract”
Abstract should be
page.
centered
The
This paper explores four published articles that report on results from research conducted and typed
in 12-point
abstract is
Times New
a brief on online (Internet) and offline (non-Internet) relationships and their relationship to Roman. Do
summary of
not indent
the paper,
allowing computer-mediated communication (CMC). The articles, however, vary in their the first
line of the
readers to
abstract
quickly definitions and uses of CMC. Cummings, Butler and Kraut (2002) suggest that face-to- paragraph.
review the
All other
main points
face (FtF) interactions are more effective than CMC, defined as “email,” in creating paragraphs
and
in the
purpose of
paper
the paper.
feelings of closeness or intimacy. Other articles define CMC differently and, therefore, should be
indented.
The
abstract offer different results. This paper examines Cummings, Butler, and Kraut’s (2002)
should be
between
150-250
research in relation to three other research articles to suggest that all forms of CMC
words.
Abbre- should be studied in order to fully understand how CMC influences online and offline
viations and
acronyms
used in the relationships.
paper
should be Keywords: computer-mediated communication, face-to-face communication End your
defined in
abstract
the
with a set of
abstract.
keywords
that will be
repeated
throughout
your paper.
The title
should be
VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 3
centered on
the page and
typed in 12- Varying Definitions of Online Communication and
point Times
New Roman
Font. It
Their Effects on Relationship Research
should not be
bolded, Numerous studies have been conducted on various facets of Internet relationships,
underlined, or
italicized.
focusing on the levels of intimacy, closeness, different communication modalities, and

The introduc- the frequency of use of computer-mediated communication (CMC). However,

tion presents
the problem
that the
contradictory results are suggested within this research because only certain aspects of
If an article
paper
has three
addresses. CMC are investigated, for example, email only. Cummings, Butler, and Kraut (2002) to five
See this OWL
authors,
resource on
the
suggest that face-to-face (FtF) interactions are more effective than CMC (read: email) in write out all
of the
fundamental
authors’
qualities of
research
creating feelings of closeness or intimacy, while other studies suggest the opposite. To names the
papers: first time
https:// understand how both online (Internet) and offline (non-Internet) relationships are affected they
owl.purdue.e appear.
du/owl/ Then use
general_writi by CMC, all forms of CMC should be studied. This paper examines Cummings et al.’s the first
ng/
author’s
common_wri
last name
ting_assign research against other CMC research to propose that additional research be conducted to
ments/ followed by
research_pa “et al.”
pers/ better understand how online communication affects relationships.
index.html

In-text Literature Review

citations
that are
direct
In Cummings et al.’s (2002) summary article reviewing three empirical studies on APA
quotes requires
should online social relationships, it was found that CMC, especially email, was less effective you to
include the include the
author(s') publication
than FtF contact in creating and maintaining close social relationships. Two of the three year
name(s),
because
the
reviewed studies focusing on communication in non-Internet and Internet relationships APA users
publication are
year, and concerned
page mediated by FtF, phone, or email modalities found that the frequency of each modality’s with the
number/s. date of the
If you are article (the
para-
use was significantly linked to the strength of the particular relationship (Cummings et more
phrasing a current the
source, al., 2002). The strength of the relationship was predicted best by FtF and phone better).
APA
encourages
you to
include
page
numbers:
(Smith,
2009, p.
76).
 VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 4

communication, as participants rated email as an inferior means of maintaining personal

Use an relationships as compared to FtF and phone contacts (Cummings et al., 2002).
appendix
(located at
the end of Cummings et al. (2002) reviewed an additional study conducted in 1999 by the
your paper)
to
provide HomeNet project (see Appendix A for more information on the HomeNet project). In
brief
content this project, Kraut, Mukhopadhyay, Szczypula, Kiesler, and Scherlis (1999) compared
that
supplement
s your the value of using CMC and non-CMC to maintain relationships with partners. They
paper but is
not directly found that participants corresponded less frequently with their Internet partner (5.2 times
related to
your text.
per month) than with their non-Internet partner (7.2 times per month; Cummings et al.,
If you are
including an
appendix, 2002). This difference does not seem significant, as it is only two times less per month.
refer to it
in the body However, in additional self-report surveys, participants responded feeling more distant,
of your
paper.
or less intimate, towards their Internet partner than their non-Internet partner. This

finding may be attributed to participants’ beliefs that email is an inferior mode of

personal relationship communication.

Intimacy is necessary in the creation and maintenance of relationships, as it is

defined as the sharing of a person’s innermost being with another person, i.e., self-

disclosure (Hu, Wood, Smith, & Westbrook, 2004). Relationships are facilitated by the

reciprocal self-disclosing between partners, regardless of non-CMC or CMC. Cummings

et al.’s (2002) reviewed results contradict other studies that research the connection

between intimacy and relationships through CMC.

Hu et al. (2004) studied the relationship between the frequency of Instant

Messenger (IM) use and the degree of perceived intimacy among friends. The use of IM

instead of email as a CMC modality was studied because IM supports a non-professional

 VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 5

environment favoring intimate exchanges (Hu et al., 2004). Their results suggest that a

positive relationship exists between the frequency of IM use and intimacy, demonstrating
When you
make a direct
that participants feel closer to their Internet partner as time progresses through this CMC
quotation,
provide the
modality.
page number in
the Similarly, Underwood and Findlay (2004) studied the effect of Internet
parenthetical
that ends the relationships on primary, specifically non-Internet relationships and the perceived
sentence. Use
the intimacy of both. In this study, self-disclosure, referred to "whether [participants] shared
abbreviation
"p." for a single secrets, discussed personal problems, or had discussed sexual preferences" (p. 131).
page and "pp."
for a range of
Participants reported significantly higher self-disclosure in their Internet relationship than
pages (e.g., if
in their primary relationship. In contrast, the participants’ primary relationships were
the quotation
spans two
reported as highly self-disclosed in the past, but the current level of disclosure was
pages). If the
source does perceived to be lower (Underwood & Findlay, 2004). This result suggests participants
not contain
pages, you can turned to the Internet in order to fulfill the need for intimacy in their lives.
use "para." to
specify which In further support of this finding, Tidwell and Walther (2002) hypothesized CMC
paragraph the
quote is from, participants employ deeper self-disclosures than FtF participants in order to overcome the
or, if this is
inconvenient,
limitations of CMC, e.g., the reliance on nonverbal cues. It was found that CMC partners
you can specify
engaged in more frequent intimate questions and disclosures than FtF partners in order to
the subsection
of the
overcome the barriers of CMC. In their study, Tidwell and Walther (2002) measured the
document
containing the perception of a relationship’s intimacy by the partner of each participant in both the CMC
quote.
and FtF conditions. The researchers found that the participants’ partners stated their

CMC partner was more effective in employing more intimate exchanges than their FtF
 VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 6

partner, and both participants and their partners rated their CMC relationship as more

intimate than their FtF relationship.

A Level 1
Discussion heading
should be

A Level 2
Cummings et al. (2002) argued that the evidence from their research conflicted centered,
bolded, and
heading uppercase
should be with other data examining the effectiveness of online social relationships. This statement and lower
flush with case (also
the left referred to
margin, is supported by the aforementioned discussion of other research. There may be a few as title
bolded, and case).
title case.
possible theoretical explanations for these discrepancies.
Because all
Limitations of These Studies research
has its
limitations,
The discrepancies identified may result from a number of limitations found in the it is
important

A Level 3
materials reviewed by Cummings et al. (2002). These can result from technological to discuss
the
heading limitations
should constraints, demographic factors, or issues of modality. Each of these limitations will be of articles
indented
under
0.5” from
examination
the left examined in further detail below.
.
margin,
bolded, and
lower case Technological limitations. First, one reviewed study by Cummings et al. (2002)
(except for
the first
word). Text
examined only email correspondence for their CMC modality. Therefore, the study is
should
follow limited to only one mode of communication among other alternatives, e.g., IM as studied
immediately
after. If you
use more by Hu et al. (2004). Because of its many personalized features, IM provides more
than three
levels of
headings, personal CMC. For example, it is in real time without delay, voice-chat and video
consult
section 3.03
of the APA
features are available for many IM programs, and text boxes can be personalized with the
manual
(6th ed.) or user’s picture, favorite colors and text, and a wide variety of emoticons, e.g., :). These
the OWL
resource on
APA options allow for both an increase in self-expression and the ability to overcompensate
headings:
https://
for the barriers of CMC through customizable features, as stated in Tidwell and Walther
owl.purdue.e
du/owl/
research_an
d_citation/
apa_style/
apa_formatt
ing_and_sty
le_guide/
apa_heading
s_and_seria
tion.html
/
VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 7

(2002). Self-disclosure and intimacy may result from IM’s individualized features,

which are not as personalized in email correspondence.

Demographic limitations. In addition to the limitations of email, Cummings et

al. (2002) reviewed studies that focused on international bank employees and college

students (see Appendix B for demographic information). It is possible the participants’

CMC through email was used primarily for business, professional, and school matters

and not for relationship creation or maintenance. In this case, personal self-disclosure

and intimacy levels are expected to be lower for non-relationship interactions, as this

communication is primarily between boss and employee or student and professor.

Intimacy is not required, or even desired, for these professional relationships.

Modality limitations. Instead of professional correspondence, however,

Cummings et al.’s (2002) review of the HomeNet project prioritized already-established

relationships and CMC’s effect on relationship maintenance. The HomeNet

researchers’ sole dependence on email communication as CMC may have contributed to

the lower levels of intimacy and closeness among Internet relationships as compared to

non-Internet relationships (as cited in Cummings et al., 2002). The barriers of non-

personal communication in email could be a factor in this project, and this could lead to

less intimacy among these Internet partners. If alternate modalities of CMC were

studied in both already-established and professional relationships, perhaps these results

would have resembled those of the previously mentioned research.

VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 8

Conclusions and Future Study

The
conclusion
In order to gain a complete understanding of CMC’s true effect on both online
restates
the
and offline relationships, it is necessary to conduct a study that examines all aspects of problem
the paper
CMC. This includes, but is not limited to, email, IM, voice-chat, video-chat, online addresses
and can
offer areas
journals and diaries, online social groups with message boards, and chat rooms. The for further
research.
See the
effects on relationships of each modality may be different, and this is demonstrated by OWL
resource on
the discrepancies in intimacy between email and IM correspondence. As each mode of conclu-
sions:
https://
communication becomes more prevalent in individuals’ lives, it is important to examine owl.purdue.
edu/owl/
general_wri
the impact of all modes of CMC on online and offline relationship formation, ting/
common_w
riting_assig
maintenance, and even termination. nments/
argument_
papers/
conclusions.
html
VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 9

References

Cummings, J. N., Butler, B., & Kraut, R. (2002). The quality of online social

relationships. Communications of the ACM, 45(7), 103–108.

Hu, Y., Wood, J. F., Smith, V., & Westbrook, N. (2004). Friendships through IM:

Examining the relationship between instant messaging and intimacy. Journal of

Computer-Mediated Communication, 10, 38–48.

Tidwell, L. C., & Walther, J. B. (2002). Computer-mediated communication effects on

disclosure, impressions, and interpersonal evaluations: Getting to know one

another a bit at a time. Human Communication Research, 28, 317–348.

Underwood, H., & Findlay, B. (2004). Internet relationships and their impact on primary

relationships. Behaviour Change, 21(2), 127–140.

Start the reference list on a new page, center the title “References,” and
alphabetize the entries. Do not underline or italicize the title. Double-space
all entries. Every source mentioned in the paper should have an entry. For a
more thorough breakdown of an APA References page https://
owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/
apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_basic_rules.html
 VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 10

Appendix A Begin each

appendix
The HomeNet Project on a new
page, with
The first
the word
paragraph Started at Carnegie Mellon University in 1995, the HomeNet research project has appendix in
of the
the top
appendix
should flush involved a number of studies intended to look at home Internet usage. Researchers center. Use
an
with the
identifying
left margin. began this project because the Internet was originally designed as a tool for scientific capital
Additional
letter (e.g.,
paragraphs
and corporate use. Home usage of the Internet was an unexpected phenomenon worthy Appendix
should be
indented. A,
Appendix B,
of extended study. etc.) if you
have more
than one
Each of HomeNet’s studies has explored a different facet of home Internet usage, appendix. If
you are
such as chatting, playing games, or reading the news. Within the past few years, the referring to
more than
one
explosion of social networking has also proven to be an area deserving of additional appendix in
your text,
research. Refer to Table A1 for a more detailed description of HomeNet studies. use the
plural
appendices
(APA only).

Table A1

Description of HomeNet Studies by Year

Label tables
and figures
Year  of  Study   Contents  of  Study  
in the 1995-­‐1996   93 families in Pittsburgh involved in school
appendix as or community organizations
you would
in the text
1997-­‐1999   25 families with home businesses
of your 1998-­‐1999   151 Pittsburgh households
manuscript, 2000-­‐2002   National survey
using the
letter A
before the
number to
clarify that
the table or
figure
belongs to
the
appendix.
 VARYING DEFINITIONS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION 11

Appendix B
Demographic Information for Cummings et al. (2002)’s Review
If an
appendix
consists
entirely of
a table or
figure, the
title of the
table or
figure
should
serve as
the title of
the
appendix.