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'IM Me': Instant Messaging as Relational Maintenance and Everyday Communication
Unformatted Document Text:  Instant Messaging, Page 1 RUNNING HEAD: Instant Messaging ‘IM Me’: Instant Messaging as Relational Maintenance and Everyday Communication Abstract Few studies to date have examined the use of Internet applications in enacting “everyday” routine relational maintenance and even fewer assess how such tools converge or replace other, more traditional forms of communication to sustain involvements. The present study is exploratory in nature and examines the role of one such tool, instant messaging (IM), in relational maintenance. Participants (N = 402) reported their general use of IM (stage 1) and subsequently conducted and reported on a specific interaction occurring either through IM or face-to-face (stage 2). Analyses indicated IM users were younger, had used the Internet for a longer period, and spent more time on-line per session than their counterparts. Among IM users, significant differences in “every communication” also emerged according to gender and the types of relationships maintained. Findings also indicate that IM is being utilized in conjunction with other richer communication channels. New research opportunities for examining the relational maintenance processes employing IM technologies are advanced. Key Words: relational maintenance, computer-mediated communication, Internet, instant messaging, routine interaction

Authors: Ramirez, Artemio. and Broneck, Kathy.
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Instant Messaging, Page 1
RUNNING HEAD: Instant Messaging
‘IM Me’: Instant Messaging as Relational Maintenance and Everyday Communication
Abstract
Few studies to date have examined the use of Internet applications in enacting “everyday”
routine relational maintenance and even fewer assess how such tools converge or replace other,
more traditional forms of communication to sustain involvements. The present study is
exploratory in nature and examines the role of one such tool, instant messaging (IM), in
relational maintenance. Participants (N = 402) reported their general use of IM (stage 1) and
subsequently conducted and reported on a specific interaction occurring either through IM or
face-to-face (stage 2). Analyses indicated IM users were younger, had used the Internet for a
longer period, and spent more time on-line per session than their counterparts. Among IM users,
significant differences in “every communication” also emerged according to gender and the
types of relationships maintained. Findings also indicate that IM is being utilized in conjunction
with other richer communication channels. New research opportunities for examining the
relational maintenance processes employing IM technologies are advanced.
Key Words: relational maintenance, computer-mediated communication, Internet, instant
messaging, routine interaction


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