Jex, Jay_MPC_2016

Title Jex, Jay_MPC_2016
Alternative Title GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES AND INNOVATION ADOPTION
Creator Jex, Jay
Collection Name Master of Professional Communication
Description With the advent of online classes and new technologies that allow students and faculty to access sources off campus, computer mediated communication (CMC) has seen tremendous growth in academic libraries around the United States. Academic librarians have been using and studying online communication methods such as online chat since at least the year 2000 (Kresh, 2000; White, Abels & Kaske, 2003). Online chat and other technologies such as e-mail, help librarians reach out to faculty, students and community members who are working at a distance or who may be uncomfortable talking to a librarian in-person. Despite CM C's growing use there has been very little research concerning how librarians communicate ideas and concepts over online chat. This means that there is a lack of understanding concerning both the effectiveness and the communication patterns that are used by librarians when answering questions over online chat. This thesis adds to the research on this topic by considering generational communication patterns and innovation adoption behaviors in online chat of the reference personnel at the Weber State University, Stewart Library. While there has been some research on generational communication differences between librarians, such as Pauk! (2004) and Young et al (2006) much of this research is not empirical and most of it relies heavily on interviews or surveys that focus on opinions and individual's recollections of their behaviors. There has been no research that looks at generational differences among librarians in the actual transcripts of online chat or CMC. It is important to expand the research in the field of generational communication because generational stereotypes are perpetuated as reality by news media, but when they are scrutinized by scholars there is very GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES AND INNOVATION ADOPTION little evidence to support the conclusions made by media outlets (Becton, Walker & Jones Farmer, 2014; Burke, 2013; Pankl, 2004). One item that often factors into generation stereotypes is the methods that different generations use to adopt new innovations. This paper will also look at how CMC relates to librarian's reported behavior in adopting new innovations. Specifically, this paper will seek to apply Roger's (2003) diffusion of innovations theory to explore differences in online chat. This theory concerns the patterns people follow when adopting new innovations. Both diffusion of innovations theory and generational differences are often closely connected in both scholarly research and generational stereotypes. Often those in older generations are seen as being less adaptable to new innovations, while younger generations readily accept them (Pankl, 2014). Considering both of these variables in the context of online chat will help provide more insight into specific communication patterns that are prevalent in the ways that librarians use CMC. 3 The faculty and staff at the Stewart Library who used online chat in 2015 represented all four generational cohorts including, traditionalists (born before 1945), baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1965), Generation X (born between 1966 and 1980) and Generation Y (born between 1981and2001). These individuals are also relatively spread out on the diffusion of innovations spectrum. These librarians do not provide a large sample size, but they do provide a unique perspective concerning how librarians in these different groups communicate, interact and learn from each other as they use Computer Mediated Communication.
Subject Communication and technology; Communication--Research; Academic librarians
Keywords Library and Information skills; academic librarians; online chats; generations
Date 2016
Language eng
Rights The author has granted Weber State University Archives a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce their theses, in whole or in part, in electronic or paper form and to make it available to the general public at no charge. The author retains all other rights.
Source University Archives Electronic Records; Master of Professional Communication. Stewart Library, Weber State University
OCR Text Show
Format application/pdf
ARK ark:/87278/s6qa8qkd
Setname wsu_smt
ID 96681
Reference URL https://digital.weber.edu/ark:/87278/s6qa8qkd
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