VIRTUALLY PRESENT: AN ETHNOGRAPHY OF COMMUNICATION LOOK AT THE SHAPING OF SOCIAL RULES IN SMALL GROUP INTERACTIONS MEDIATED BY MOBILE DEVICES

In this study I describe the communication rules that inform how particular bar patrons use mobile device technologies to shape particular types of small groups. Mobile devices have increasing been naturalized into the communicative landscape and the effects of this need to be explored. I focus on a college bar, MVF, to answer the following research questions: (1) What are the sets of rules surrounding mobile device use in small groups at MVF during late afternoons and evenings? (2) What are meaning(s) users and other group members attribute to the use of mobile devices at MVF during late afternoons and evenings? (3) What particular type of small group does the use of mobile device technology enable and mediate? I argue that mobile device technologies enable and mediate the presence of three types of social groups, specifically, suspended groups,' 'procured groups,' and 'transitory groups.'

Name thesis:degree_name

Communication

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Communication and Journalism

Year

2012

Author dc:creator

• Gerber, Pamela

Contributors dc:contributor

• Covarrubias, Patricia
• Collier, Mary Jane
• Shiver, Janet

• mobile devices
• small groups
• ethnography of communication
• speech codes theory
• codes
• rules

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cj_etds/70

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalrepository.unm.edu:cj_etds-1069