Bridging Emotional Bonds in Friendships: A Qualitative Study on Face-to-Face Vs. Mediated Communication at Pittsburg State University
Category
Topical Literature Review
Department
Communication
Student Status
Graduate
Research Advisor
Dr. Alicia M. Mason
Document Type
Event
Location
Student Center Ballroom
Start Date
10-4-2025 2:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2025 4:00 PM
Description
The growing digital communication technologies have enabled people to get together in person as well as digitally. It has become nearly impossible for people to abandon digital communication technologies, as they provide an alternative to traditional face-to-face interactions for staying connected. Text messaging, social media apps, instant messaging, and video calls are different mediated forms of communication people use. The study explores face-to-face and other mediated communication in the context of friendships to observe and analyze the differences in convenience, emotional bonding, satisfaction, the usage of non-verbal cues, and the ambiguity element of communication. The researcher incorporated a qualitative research design involving in-depth interviews with five participants at Pittsburg State University, including three staff and two students. The participants were asked open-ended questions regarding the preference for communication in friendship, emotional connection and satisfaction, the non-verbal cues to understand each other, and how ambiguity in communication may be perceived when interacting face-to-face versus mediated channels. Moreover, the study investigates the amount of awareness of non-verbal cues, like body language and facial expressions, besides the way these are conveyed as opposed to face-to-face communication. The findings of this study are expected to reveal how communication channels influence emotional bonding in friendships, the amount of satisfaction participants feel in their interactions, and the impact of non-verbal cues and ambiguity in communication. By comparing face-to-face and mediated communication, the research will contribute to a better understanding of how modern communication technologies shape interpersonal relationships and how individuals pursue the complexities of digital and face-to-face interactions. This research acknowledges the challenges individuals face in communication in the digital era and the study of interpersonal relationships in an increasingly mediated world.
Bridging Emotional Bonds in Friendships: A Qualitative Study on Face-to-Face Vs. Mediated Communication at Pittsburg State University
Student Center Ballroom
The growing digital communication technologies have enabled people to get together in person as well as digitally. It has become nearly impossible for people to abandon digital communication technologies, as they provide an alternative to traditional face-to-face interactions for staying connected. Text messaging, social media apps, instant messaging, and video calls are different mediated forms of communication people use. The study explores face-to-face and other mediated communication in the context of friendships to observe and analyze the differences in convenience, emotional bonding, satisfaction, the usage of non-verbal cues, and the ambiguity element of communication. The researcher incorporated a qualitative research design involving in-depth interviews with five participants at Pittsburg State University, including three staff and two students. The participants were asked open-ended questions regarding the preference for communication in friendship, emotional connection and satisfaction, the non-verbal cues to understand each other, and how ambiguity in communication may be perceived when interacting face-to-face versus mediated channels. Moreover, the study investigates the amount of awareness of non-verbal cues, like body language and facial expressions, besides the way these are conveyed as opposed to face-to-face communication. The findings of this study are expected to reveal how communication channels influence emotional bonding in friendships, the amount of satisfaction participants feel in their interactions, and the impact of non-verbal cues and ambiguity in communication. By comparing face-to-face and mediated communication, the research will contribute to a better understanding of how modern communication technologies shape interpersonal relationships and how individuals pursue the complexities of digital and face-to-face interactions. This research acknowledges the challenges individuals face in communication in the digital era and the study of interpersonal relationships in an increasingly mediated world.
