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Human Communication Processes in the Small Group Context 33

Computer-Mediated Communication and Face-to-Face
Communication in Small Groups
Since the advent of computers and the explosion of Internet capabilities, groups
supplement their face-to-face meetings using a variety of technological tools.
Computer-mediated communication, or CMC, is the formal phrase used to refer to the Computer-Mediated
use of computers to interact with others. CMC can take a variety of forms, including Communication (CMC)
e-mail or electronic mail, chat rooms, electronic bulletin boards, Listservs, net confer- Group members’ use
encing (audio-, video-, or computer conferencing), texting, instant messaging, wikis, of computers to
discussion boards, and decision-making software. Group members often use com- communicate with
puter technology to communicate with each other between and during meetings. A one another.
question to ask is: “How different is computer-mediated communication from face-to-
face communication?” Before we address this question, let’s look at the variety of
technology-related communication tools available to groups.
In Chapter 1, we mentioned that groups range in the degree to which they use
technology—from “not at all” to “that’s the only way we meet.” Generally, there are
three broad functions technology can serve. First, it allows members to keep in touch
between meetings. Phone calls, e-mails, and text messages serve this function well.
They can help group members connect socially, as when a member calls or texts
another to see if everything is okay, and they can help facilitate task accomplishment,
as when the chair sends out the meeting notice and agenda in advance. Second, tech-
nology allows members to work collaboratively on projects and documents. Devices
such as virtual Dropbox allow members to upload documents so others at different
locations can access them, respond, suggest changes, and so forth. Wikis allow mem-
bers to work both virtually and collaboratively and allow tracking so everyone can see
which member suggested which changes. Such virtual access to projects and docu-
ments can supplement regular face-to-face meetings or be the only way some groups
work on projects. Third, technology may actually allow members to meet in real time,
although they may be geographically distributed. For instance, Skype, which requires
a computer, Internet connection, and a webcam (many computers now have them
built in), allows someone to attend a meeting on video. We are seeing the increased
use of Skype as a way to interview faculty job candidates, replacing the phone inter-
views or in-person interviews. In addition, members of groups who, for some reason,
are not able to make a meeting can attend “via Skype.”
Other conferencing possibilities exist, also. The simplest of these is the telephone
conference call, or audioconference, where members interact simultaneously on tele-
phone. Net conference is a general term that refers to conferences electronically medi- Net Conference
ated by networked computers and takes two forms, videoconferences and computer A conference that
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conferences. Videoconferences involve both audio and video communication, which takes place
allows members to observe more nonverbal communication in real time. In computer electronically over
conferences, members actually sit in front of their computers and type messages to networked
one another. Many classes that use Blackboard and similar online course management computers.
systems allow for real-time discussions like this, with classmates or group members
typing instead of talking.
Although this kind of computer technology has its advantages, the question
remains: “Do computer-mediated meetings have disadvantages in comparison to

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