In an effort to find a focus that will get the most out of the rich qualitative data I will be collecting, I decided to revise some of my earlier thoughts. As part of my exploration of self-efficacy, I came across the idea of interpersonal awareness, a term proposed by Neustaedter et al (2006).
Drawing on studies of context awareness and CSCW, Neustaedter et al. develop a model for interpersonal awareness through a qualitative analysis of the relationships of a number of participants. Relationships were put into three categories. These are placed on a spectrum in order of decreasing need for awareness and decreasing need for detail: home inhabitants, intimate socials and extended socials. The analysis also explored the types of information needed and the reasons for needing awareness. Fundamental reasons for needing awareness were distilled to co-ordination, promoting connectedness and desire to share personal knowledge. The three fundamental types of awareness information were of location, activity and status.
This study is relevant to the current problem situation as it deals with context awareness in a social context. Many studies in IS research have focussed on awareness needs in a work context. My first thoughts on possible ways to expand this model are through investigating:
- how online relationships with no face to face component fit into the model
- how support relationships fit into this model
- people’s need to express their status or convey information. Neustaedter et al. focus on the awareness of others that people require. Apart from cases involving co-ordination, they do not mention people’s own need for others to be aware of their location or status.
- how aware people are of others in an online support community, and whether increasing awareness is of any benefit
I was also thinking of looking at the relationship between interpersonal awareness and perceived social support through obtaining a subjective account of their perceived supportedness before and after the trial.
Anyway, these are thoughts that require a bit more rumination over the weekend, I think.
References
Neustaedter, C., Elliot, K., & Greenberg, S. (2006). Interpersonal awareness in the domestic realm . Proceedings of OZCHI 2006, 15-22 .
