Supplementing Access to Social Capital Over Time: Computer-Mediated Communication Competence for Social-Resource Development

Abstract

Social capital has been declining in America for the better part of a century, as citizens now find themselves connected to fewer people and resources. But computer-based modes of social contact have at the same time opened up new frontiers for expanding and developing personal relationships online. A two-wave U.S. web survey was used to examine the importance of computer-mediated communication (CMC) competence for social-resource development, measured in terms of occupational prestige. CMC competence related to acquiring more total resources over time. It also contributed to accessing a wider range of resources and having more valuable connections on average. When CMC competence was broken down into subscale measures, computer-based motivation contributed to total resources and range in resources, while computer-based attentiveness related to developing better resources. Findings speak to the value of CMC competence for social capital and the waning influence of interpersonal competence in general.

Social Networking for Interpersonal Life: A Competence-Based Approach to the Rich Get Richer Hypothesis

“…In addition to the usual credit for taking surveys through SSI, an extra $1 incentive was offered for completing the second wave. Of the original 900 respondents, 387 successfully completed Wave 2, and this group has been studied in previous research (Bouchillon, 2019; in press).…”

“…Competence is here defined as an ability to demonstrate proficiency, “whether innate or developed,” in accomplishing communicative goals (Wright et al, 2013, p. 45). It is operationalized in terms of motivation, knowledge, and skill (Bouchillon, in press; Canary et al, 2008; Spitzberg, 1983, 2006, 2015), with motivation as the engine that directs communication, encompassing a person’s “ratio of approach to avoidance” (Spitzberg, 2006, p. 640). The knowledge aspect of competence refers to mental acuities like experience and comprehension (Spitzberg, 2006; Spitzberg & Cupach, 1984).…”

“…Both are important for social life, and interpersonal competence remains the quintessential type (Spitzberg & Cupach, 1984). But computer-mediated competence may have added value in the digital age (Bouchillon, in press).…”

“…Competence is often studied interpersonally, while research into computer-based competence only began in earnest about 15 years ago (Spitzberg, 2006). Interpersonal competence and computer-mediated competence have nonetheless been correlated, as measures that appear to increase together (Bouchillon, in press; Schulze et al, 2017; Wright et al, 2013). Yet the forms of competence are rarely used to predict one another over time, for determining how and whether one might contribute to the other.…”

Social Bonding in Initial Acquaintance: Effects of Modality and Modality Order

“…The development of social bonds and social capital has long been of interest to social psychologists (Molm and Cook 1995;Solano and Dunnam 1985;Stets, Burke, and Savage 2018). Today, it is important to consider the role of modality of communication in the formation of social bonds (e.g., Bouchillon 2019;Chen 2013). People are becoming acquainted with others in a variety of ways, including through more than one communication modality.…”