Minority Status and the Use of Computer-Mediated Communication: A Test of the Social Diversification Hypothesis.

Group differences in the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) were investigated, to test the diversification hypothesis that argues that minorities and immigrants will be more likely to use CMC to compensate for their lack of social capital. Data were gathered from a sample of Internet users...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Communication Research Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 317 - 338
Main Author: Mesch, Gustavo S.
Format: Article
Published: Sage Publications Inc. Jun2012
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jun2012
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      pub: Sage Publications Inc.
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        10.1177/0093650211398865
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        atl: Minority Status and the Use of Computer-Mediated Communication: A Test of the Social Diversification Hypothesis.
      aug:
        au: Mesch, Gustavo S.
        affil: University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
      su:
        Telematics
        Information & communication technologies
        Mass media & minorities
        Mass media & immigrants
        Social capital
        Multiculturalism -- Social aspects
        Internet access
        Digital divide
        Online social networks
        Computer users -- Research
      sug:
        subj:
          Telematics
          Information & communication technologies
          Mass media & minorities
          Mass media & immigrants
          Social capital
          Multiculturalism -- Social aspects
          Internet access
          Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals
          Digital divide
          Online social networks
          Computer users -- Research
      keyword:
        communication channel choice
        computer-mediated communication
        digital divide
        social networking sites
        communication channel choice
        computer-mediated communication
        digital divide
        social networking sites
      ab: Group differences in the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) were investigated, to test the diversification hypothesis that argues that minorities and immigrants will be more likely to use CMC to compensate for their lack of social capital. Data were gathered from a sample of Internet users reflecting the percentage of minorities in the general population (n = 1,264). The results provide support for the hypothesis, indicating that in multicultural societies disadvantaged groups show greater motivation to use CMC to expand business and occupational contacts, whereas members of the majority group are more motivated to use CMC to maintain existing family and friendships ties. Implications of the finding are discussed.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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