TY - JOUR
T1 - A social status perspective of network utility over electronic channels in academic communities
AU - Sherif, Karma
AU - Song, Jaeki
AU - Wilcox, James
PY - 2009/8
Y1 - 2009/8
N2 - Early research on the social implications of e-mail has promoted the role of electronic communication channels in fostering social equality and reducing gaps between the social classes. Follow-up studies, however, suggest that people continue to rely on social cues in electronic communication as a way of dealing with uncertainties and reducing feelings of discomfort associated with unfamiliar contexts. Based on a review of the Social Cognitive Theory, social status and electronic communication literatures, along with the results of a previous qualitative study, we propose a formal model that indicates how self-perceptions of social status are related to the use of e-mail and the acquisition of social resources over electronic channels. The model is tested using data collected from 206 faculty members in a major U.S. university. The empirical results support the proposed model implying that self-perceptions of social status influence social assertiveness, which in turn reinforces the use of e-mail to seek help and acquire social resources from others. The use of e-mail for the acquisition of social resources is associated with a socially diverse network whose contacts are perceived to acquire valuable information and to extend instrumental support for career development. Implications are drawn for both theory and practice.
AB - Early research on the social implications of e-mail has promoted the role of electronic communication channels in fostering social equality and reducing gaps between the social classes. Follow-up studies, however, suggest that people continue to rely on social cues in electronic communication as a way of dealing with uncertainties and reducing feelings of discomfort associated with unfamiliar contexts. Based on a review of the Social Cognitive Theory, social status and electronic communication literatures, along with the results of a previous qualitative study, we propose a formal model that indicates how self-perceptions of social status are related to the use of e-mail and the acquisition of social resources over electronic channels. The model is tested using data collected from 206 faculty members in a major U.S. university. The empirical results support the proposed model implying that self-perceptions of social status influence social assertiveness, which in turn reinforces the use of e-mail to seek help and acquire social resources from others. The use of e-mail for the acquisition of social resources is associated with a socially diverse network whose contacts are perceived to acquire valuable information and to extend instrumental support for career development. Implications are drawn for both theory and practice.
KW - Electronic networks
KW - Social Cognitive Theory
KW - Social benefits
KW - Social networks
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=66249105385&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2009.03.011
DO - 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2009.03.011
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:66249105385
VL - 29
SP - 262
EP - 271
JO - International Journal of Information Management
JF - International Journal of Information Management
SN - 0268-4012
IS - 4
ER -