The Social Influence Qualities of Social Network Sites

<p>While social network sites (SNS) are a popular form of new media the literature has not investigated the social influence of these sites. Using a mixed method approach of qualitative interviews and a laboratory experiment this study tests a process model predicting the effects of communication processes and technology on social influence. This model suggested that SNSs may be more effective at social influence than face-to-face communication. A qualitative study was performed to determine whether the hypotheses were plausible whereby it was suggested that SNSs may influence others and SNSs might be a more effective when compared to others. Qualitative results illustrate that social network sites have several strengths over traditional communications mediums and that they can be used to influence others. The results of the experiment found that face-to-face communication was more effective than social network sites at influencing others. The data implies that sharing more ideas when combined with slower communications mediums such as SNSs can actually result in less effective social influence attempts. However Facebook participants overwhelmingly felt that they needed more time to complete tasks. Thus it is not yet possible to reject the theory that SNSs have the potential to be more influential than face-to-face communication.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>