Abstract

Motivation for communication, interaction involvement, and channel affinity were examined to assess their influence on channel choice. Participants (N = 230) completed a self-report survey that assessed their main reasons for using interpersonal communication. In addition, participants identified frequency of use, level of interaction involvement, and channel affinity for face-to-face, phone, email, and text messaging. The vast majority of participants used face-to-face and phone channels often, email and text messaging regularly, and instant messaging and chat rooms infrequently. Channel affinity was a significant predictor of use for face-to-face, phone, email, and text messaging. Communication motivated by social feeling and control predicted face-to-face channel use. Communication motivated by pleasure and escape, however, significantly predicted interaction involvement for face-to-face and phone channels. In addition, communication motivated by social feeling significantly predicted interaction involvement for email use, and communicating for control significantly predicted interaction involvement for text messaging Interaction involvement was not a significant predictor of channel use.

Key words: Interaction involvement, communication motives, channel affinity, channel use.