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New Media & Society
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`Extending Society': the role of personal networks and gratification-utilities in the use of interactive communication media

John Dimmick

Ohio State University, USA, dimmick.1{at}osu.edu

Artemio Ramirez, JR

Ohio State University, USA

Tao Wang

Ohio State University, USA

Shu-Fang Lin

National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan

This study examined the relationship among personal network characteristics, gratification-utilities and the frequency of use of three interactive communication technologies (landline telephone, email and instant messaging). A conceptual framework is presented, providing a rationale for three hypotheses predicting positive relationships between personal network characteristics (size, intimacy and physical proximity), gratification-utilities and frequency of use.The participants were 286 college students, whom research shows are primary users of interactive media. Hypotheses 1 and 2, proposing a link between network characteristics and gratification-utilities with frequency of use, were supported, while Hypothesis 3, predicting a link between the prior two variables, was only partially supported. Frequency of use was associated more strongly with network characteristics than with gratification-utilities across the three technologies. Of the network characteristics, network size was significantly associated with gratification-utilities. Directions for future research are discussed.

Key Words: email • gratifications • instant messaging • interactive communication technologies • personal networks • telephone

New Media & Society, Vol. 9, No. 5, 795-810 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1461444807081225
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[Abstract] [PDF]