A First Look At Communication Theory, 10e (Griffin)
Chapter 13 Media Multiplexity Theory
1) Which of the following approaches was originally taken by media multiplexity theory to
understand how and why people use different communication channels?
A) a rhetorical approach
B) an interpretive approach
C) a feminist approach
D) a cybernetic approach
2) In the context of media multiplexity theory, identify a true statement about strong ties.
A) They usually consume little time and energy.
B) They usually refer to relationships between acquaintances or classmates.
C) They demand that people make a significant investment in the relationship.
D) They refer to relationships in which people know each other well without being emotionally
close.
3) Sean and Kyra are close friends and invest a great amount of time and emotional energy in
their relationship. In the context of media multiplexity theory, their relationship most likely
illustrates a(n) ________.
A) asymmetrical relationship
B) strong tie
C) disturbed relationship
D) latent tie
4) In the context of media multiplexity theory, which of the following is defined as a relationship
involving a small investment of time and emotional energy?
A) a symmetrical relationship
B) a latent tie
C) a weak tie
D) a disturbed relationship
5) According to Stanford sociologist Mark Granovetter, which of the following is a major
weakness of strong ties?
A) They are redundant when it comes to accessing information and resources.
B) They are devoid of acceptance, intimacy, and enjoyment.
C) They fail to provide a sense of purpose or well-being.
D) They tend to exhibit a restricted use of available media during communication.
6) According to Stanford sociologist Mark Granovetter, which of the following is a strength of
weak ties?
A) They involve experiences of acceptance, intimacy, and enjoyment.
B) They give people a sense of purpose.
C) They are important for understanding one’s identity.
D) They provide quick and uncanny access to diverse information.
7) Identify a true statement about media multiplexity.
A) Weak ties are uncomplicated and do not need many channels to sustain them.
B) The choice of medium is primarily important in determining the strength of relationships.
C) Tie strength plays an insignificant role in determining the number of media employed by
pairs.
D) Strong ties require less media than weak ties to orchestrate their varied and interdependent
connection.
8) The technical possibility of connection between two people who do not currently have a
relationship is referred to as a(n) ________.
A) I-Thou relationship
B) I-It relationship
C) strong tie
D) latent tie
9) Keith, a 44-year-old professor, found his school friend, Simone, on Facebook and sent her a
friend request. They last met 25 years back on the day of their high school graduation and went
to different universities for their majors. By accepting Keith’s friend request, Simone is most
likely to convert their relationship into a(n) ________.
A) I-Thou relationship
B) I-It relationship
C) weak tie
D) strong tie
10) In the context of strong and weak ties, which of the following statements is true about adding
and subtracting media access?
A) The shape of one’s interpersonal ties is rarely changed by adding and subtracting access to a
medium.
B) The addition of a medium exerts a greater effect on weak ties than on strong ties.
C) Strong ties are significantly affected by the loss of a medium.
D) Weak ties tend to have built-in redundancy that can withstand the loss of a channel.
11) To date, which of the following theories represents the most comprehensive and systematic
attempt to explain how the multimodality of social life influences, and is influenced by, the
characteristics of interpersonal relationships?
A) social information processing (SIP) theory
B) media multiplexity theory
C) cognitive dissonance theory
D) social judgment theory
12) Art Ramirez used media multiplexity to explain how people can effectively rekindle old
friendships on social media. Which of the following criteria of a good theory is illustrated in this
statement?
A) practical utility
B) relative simplicity
C) quantifiable research
D) testability
13) According to media multiplexity scholars, the number of media used between people is
inversely proportional to their relationship strength.
14) Bridging ties are the ties that connect several weak ties to one another to create one strong tie
group.
15) Media multiplexity and social information processing (SIP) agree that people can and do
maintain close ties online.
16) Media multiplexity theorists have been most interested in the getting-to-know-you phase of
relationship initiation through online communication.
17) Social information processing (SIP) researchers have been most interested in the
maintenance of ongoing online relationships.
18) University of Illinois professor John Caughlin noted that media multiplexity theory has much
to say on what media interpersonal partners use, but not how they link all those media together.
19) A central thesis of media multiplexity theory is that changes to the media landscape alter
weak ties only minimally, but may change the nature of strong ties considerably.
20) Effective media choice does not match medium to message so much as medium to person.
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21) Research suggests that patterns of media multiplexity depend not just on enjoyment, but also
on a person’s level of communication competence.
22) One of media multiplexity theory’s greatest strengths is its relative simplicity.
23) “Explanation of the data” is an area in which media multiplexity theory falters.
24) Media multiplexity theory has failed to demonstrate its practical utility.
25) In the context of media multiplexity theory, the degree of connection between people,
determined by amount of time spent together, emotional intensity and intimacy, and willingness
to exchange resources is referred to as ________.
26) Weak tie relationships that enable information and resources to pass between groups of
people are referred to as ________.
27) A phenomenon in which strongly tied pairs make use of more of the available media to
sustain their relationships than do weakly tied pairs is termed ________.
28) According to multiplexity scholars, group norms that guide which media are used with all
ties and which are reserved for strong ties create a(n) ________.
29) A preference for a specific medium, driven by the belief that it is fun and convenient, is
called ________.
30) Explain how the structure of a social network shapes the flow of information and resources
between people using a visual example.
31) Bridging ties serve a particularly powerful role. Discuss this statement with the help of a
personal experience.
32) The basic claim of media multiplexity theory is “Tie strength drives use of multiple media.”
Explain this claim with relevant examples.
33) In a free world of interpersonal relationships, norms for media use are not explicit. Samuel
Hardman Taylor investigated this statement in the context of extended family members. Explain
his findings with reference to expectancy violations theory.
34) Briefly describe the three claims of media multiplexity theory that demonstrate how Caroline
Haythornthwaite’s unexpected finding has grown into an insightful new theory.
35) Media multiplexity theory has gained a sizable following among scholars within and outside
the communication discipline. Explain the statement with respect to the criteria that are met for
being a good objective theory.