Chapter 13 – Social Information Processing Theory
Chapter 13
Social Information Processing Theory
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following theories influenced the development of Social Information
Processing Theory?
2. Social Information Processing Theory has been critiqued in all of the following areas
EXCEPT
3. Which of the following is an assumption of Social Information Processing Theory?
4. Elena posts a status update on Facebook celebrating her new job, but she never mentions that
she was fired from her previous position, fearing that her friends might think she’s unreliable or
even a thief. This is an example of
5. A tendency for an individual’s expectation of a target person to evoke a response from that
person which, in turn, reaffirms the original prediction is called
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18. Ellison, Heino, and Gibbs (2006) found that online daters present all of the following
“selves” EXCEPT
19. _____ is defined as either a strategic or unconscious effort to influence another’s perception.
20. In the context of impression management, the _____ refers to the attributes a person
possesses.
21. Which of the following is a definition of cues filtered-out theories?
22. Which of the following statements is true of Social Presence Theory?
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23. Which of the following statements is true of Media Richness Theory?
True/False Questions
24. Relationships developed online require more time to achieve the same level of intimacy as
relationships developed face-to–face.
25. One assumption of Social Information Processing Theory is that online communicators are
motivated to form favorable impressions of themselves to others.
26. Computer-mediated communication is a process in which people perceive, interpret, and
exchange information via large networked telecommunications systems.
27. In synchronous communication, both the sender and the receiver are online
simultaneously.
29. Walther has never addressed critics who believe Social Information Processing Theory has
too much breadth.
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30. Social Information Processing Theory is a positivistic/empirical theory.
31. Social Information Processing Theory was developed as a critique of Communication
Privacy Management Theory.
32. Both Social Presence Theory and Media Richness Theory have the advantage of an
in-depth understanding of relational life online.
Essay Questions
33. Explain the role of impression management in Social Information Processing Theory. How
does it manifest in online conversations and relationships?
Answers will vary.
34. Do you agree with Social Information Processing Theory’s belief that online relationships
can become just as intimate as those developed face-to–face? Why or why not?
Answers will vary.
35. Describe Social Presence Theory and Media Richness Theory. How does Social
Information Processing Theory function as a critique of these theories?
36. Differentiate between synchronous and asynchronous communication. Use examples.
Answers will vary.
37. Describe some of the ways in which online communicators adapt to the restrictions of the
online medium. How do they compensate with the lack of nonverbal cues?
Answers will vary.
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38. How would you apply Social Information Processing Theory to social media? Choosing a
particular form of social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads), formulate a hypothesis or
research question based on the theory, and describe your method for investigating it.
Answers will vary.
39. How is computer-mediated communication different from face-to-face communication?
Answers will vary.