Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
1-2020
Abstract
This experiment examines the effects of presentation consistency on perceived authenticity and liking in computer-mediated communication, differentiating between profile views and short online text-based conversations. The experimental design is a 2 (presentation-consistent vs. -inconsistent) × 2 (profile view vs. short conversation) between-subjects experiment using university students (N = 173) in Singapore. Results show higher perceived authenticity (η2p = .29) and liking after short conversations than after profile views without conversations. When there is only a profile view, perceived authenticity is lower when the profile photo is inconsistent with the profile text than when it is consistent (η2p = .05). We discuss these findings in terms of schema tuning, where presentation inconsistencies can be accommodated over time as individuals develop unique mental schemas about their communication partners.
Keywords
Computer-mediated communication, Idealization, Liking; Perceived authenticity, Schema theory
Discipline
Applied Behavior Analysis | Communication Technology and New Media
Research Areas
Integrative Research Areas
Publication
Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace
Volume
14
Issue
3
First Page
1
Last Page
15
ISSN
1802-7962
Identifier
10.5817/CP2020-3-1
Publisher
Masarykova University
Citation
TANG, Nicholas; CHU, Janell; LEONG, Kahmun; and ROSENTHAL, Sonny.
To thine communication partner be true: The effect of presentation consistency on perceived authenticity and liking after making a first impression online. (2020). Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace. 14, (3), 1-15.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/cis_research/179
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2020-3-1