Valerie Barker

A Generational Comparison of Social Networking Site Use: The Influence of Age and Social Identity

An online survey (N = 256) compared social networking site (SNS) use among younger (millennial: 18–29) and older (baby-boomer: 41–64) subscribers focusing on the influence of collective self-esteem and group identity on motives for SNS use. Younger participants reported higher positive collective self-esteem, social networking site use for peer communication, and social compensation. Regardless of age, participants reporting high collective self-esteem and group identity were more likely to use social networking sites for peer communication and social identity gratifications, while those reporting negative collective self-esteem were more likely to use social networking sites for social compensation. The theoretical implications of the strong relationship between social identity gratifications and social compensation are discussed.

English-only policies: Perceived Support and Social Limitation

Abstract The growth in language minorities in the USA is matched by an increase in language policies encapsulated by the English-only movement and support for policies controlling immigration and health/welfare services to immigrants. A re-analysis of data obtained from a telephone survey in Santa Barbara, California ( n =389) investigated if support for English-only policies among Anglo-Americans is related to perceptions about a decreasing gap between Anglo-American group vitality and that of Latino group vitality (i.e., relative vitality). The influence of Spanish mass media and level of language group identity is also assessed. A structural equation model summarizing the relationships between these factors is proposed. The final SEM indicates that English-only policies are one form of social limitation. Support for English-only policies is positively related to level of language group identity and negatively related to Spanish mass media. Support for social limitation among Anglo-Americans is negatively related to relative vitality.

Mixi Diary versus Facebook Photos: Social Networking Site use among Japanese and Caucasian American Females

A survey of Caucasian-American and Japanese young women investigated cultural differences in types of social networking site use and motives for use. Although there were some disparities between American and Japanese young women in motives for social networking site use, generally the main motive was communication with ingroup peers known offline. Participants reported lesser use for social identity gratifications and social compensation. The findings also indicated that American young women are more prone to public expressions of connection with peer group via their Facebook photographs. Japanese young women are much more likely to communicate closeness via Mixi diaries. Such diaries illustrate a preference for privacy among Japanese being available only to those considered close friends.

An examination of the validity of the Subjective Vitality Questionnaire

Abstract The concept of group vitality was developed over 30 years ago to assist in understanding of power relations between language groups. However, vitality has also been an important consideration when attempting to understand intergroup relations more generally. Vitality researchers distinguish subjective vitality from objective vitality. This study focuses on subjective vitality. Specifically, the paper examines the validity of the Subjective Vitality Questionnaire (SVQ), the instrument frequently utilised to quantitatively assess vitality perceptions. Data collected in the USA from three ethnic groups (African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans) who rated the vitalities of Caucasian, African, and Hispanic Americans, were analysed using both first-order confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory factor analysis. Both types of analysis failed to uncover the underlying factor structure of status, demography, and institutional support proposed by vitality researchers. Although the factors could not be validated, when the SVQ was analysed as a unidimensional measure, it posted strong reliability. The discussion offers suggestions on how to improve the SVQ in future research.

New Contexts for Relational Communication in Groups

This article discusses the importance of relational communication in groups. Connections are made with potentially fruitful theoretical concepts, while findings from related group research are used to discuss new and interesting directions with regard to relational communication in three pivotal group contexts. Each section provides a rationale for why these group contexts should be studied and suggests propositions to guide future research. The discussion highlights the many facets of the relational side of members’ intentions in groups: cooperation, connection, autonomy, similarity, flexibility/rigidity, cohesion/withdrawal, harmony/conflict, stereotyping, and stigmatization. Concerning group process analysis, the authors revisit the family, as one’s first group experience, from a relational communication perspective. Next, the influence of heterogeneity of group membership and intercultural diversity is discussed with regard to relational dynamics. Finally, the effects of computer-mediated communication (CMC) on relational communication in groups are investigated.

Communicative dynamics of police-civilian encounters: South African and American interethnic data

Research in the American West, China, and Taiwan has shown that officers’ communication accommodative practices (and attributed trust in them) can be more potent predictors of satisfaction with the police than are the sociodemographic characteristics of those judging. With Black and White respondents, this study continues this line of work in Louisiana and South Africa and tests a new model about the relationships among perceived officer accommodation, trust in the police, and reported voluntary compliance from civilians. In addition to an array of differences that emerged between nations and ethnicities, officer accommodativeness indirectly predicted civilian compliance through trust. The hypothesized model was partially supported and culturally-sensitive.

Harnessing peer potency: Predicting positive outcomes from social capital affinity and online engagement with participatory websites:

This study involved data from a survey of a representative sample of 1417 US Internet users investigating positive outcomes from three types of participatory websites: social networking sites, e-commerce sites, and content communities (i.e. news organizations and content sharing sites). The findings indicate that the experience of flow (intense engagement in and enjoyment of an activity) promotes satisfaction with and affirmation for such websites as well as perceived focused and incidental knowledge-gain from them. Social capital affinity (sympathy marked by community of interest, and likeness based on weak ties) was found to strongly facilitate the experience of flow. Thus, the findings underscore the potency of online peers in terms of enhancing a variety of Internet experiences.

Young adults' reactions to grandparent painful self-disclosure: the influence of grandparent sex and overall motivations for communication.

This study examined young adult grandchildrens self-reports about the influence of grandparent sex on perceived grandparent painful self-disclosure (PSD) as well as their reactions to grandparent dyad PSD. Perceived grandmother and grandfather motivations for overall communication were assessed as mediators of young adult grandchildrens discomfort with grandparent dyad PSD. Findings show that participants perceived PSD more in their interactions with their maternal grandmothers compared to their maternal grandfathers. These young adult grandchildren were less likely to report discomfort if they perceived grandparents to be communicating overall for the purposes of positive affect, or identity, but more likely to feel discomfort if they perceived grandparents to be communicating for the purpose of control.

Police-Civilian Interaction, Compliance, Accommodation, and Trust in an Intergroup Context: International Data

Abstract Prior cross-cultural research has produced models of police-civilian interaction that highlight the effect of officers’ communication accommodation and reported trust in police on attitudinal outcomes. The present study, conducted in Korea, Japan, Guam, and Canada and involving 684 university students, continued this program of research by testing a theoretical model exploring the influence of perceived police officer communication accommodation and reported trust in police on attitudes about compliance with police requests. Findings indicated that across study locations perceived police officer communication accommodation predicted trust in police which, in turn, predicted attitudes about compliance with police requests.

Integrating the Communicative Predicament and Enhancement of Aging Models: The Case of Older Native Americans

This article addresses issues of diversity in intergenerational communication by introducing a model that integrates key aspects of the communication predicament and enhancement models of aging with other potent constructs (e.g., group vitality, mindfulness). The model is then applied to the health care experience of an understudied population-older Native Americans. Specifically, it is used to illuminate how intergenerational communication may be facilitated or, indeed, hindered by communicative processes born out of categorization and stereotyping. Health care professionals (in particular), whose working environment is increasingly populated by older economically, culturally, and ethnically diverse patients, should be made aware of some of the strengths and weaknesses of their communicative practices in such intergenerational interactions.