Human-Computer Interaction. Human Aspects of Business Computing. The 6th East-West Int.
Conf. EWHCI-96. Moscow, Russia, August 12-16, 1996. – Int. Centre for Scientific and Technical
Information. Moscow, p. 129-145.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS
OF COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION
Arestova O.N., Babanin L.N., Voiskounsky A.E.
Psychological Department, Moscow State University
8 Mokhovaya str., Moscow 103009, Russia
Ph.: +7 (095) 9392452; Fax: +7 (095) 939-2319
E-mail: leo@motiv.cogsci.msu.su
ABSTRACT
Research in the field followed a traditional for Russian psychology
problem of mediated forms of behavior. Presented investigation was
conducted in 1992-1995. The actual number of respondents in
surveys varied between 300 and 500 persons.
It was shown that the computer technologies usage transforms human
activity structure
and
functioning.
Computer
mediated
communication develops communicative components of activity,
subjective parameters of interpersonal interaction, motivational
regulation of human activity. The computer mediated communication
becomes an important source of new mental formations - personal,
cognitive, motivational, communicative.
These facts allow to conclude that computer mediated
communication transforms the most inportant aspects of subjective
activity. Thus we can define the interaction with computer
technologies as a new specific kind of human activity.
1. DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER NETWORKS PSYCHOLOGICAL
INVESTIGATION IN THE FORMER USSR AND IN RUSSIA
Psychological research of computer networks in the former USSR began in 1980ies with the analysis of local area networks and episodic access to the international
newsgroups (Tikhomirov et al. 1986; Voiskounsky 1987).
Global computer networks appeared in the former USSR only in the 1990-ies. This
process results from the attempts of different independent groups of computer
1
scientists and enthusiastic programmers (Relcom network and FIDONet), state
organizations (ROSPAC, RELARN, RUNNET) and direct intervention of
international computer networks (Sprint). Some computer networks are the result
of international co-operation between Russian organizations and state (RadioMSU) or commercial foreign organizations ( Glasnet, SOVAM TELEPORT).
Foreign national (American, German) and international foundations (NATO,
ISF,INTAS, IREX, Carnegie Corporation) also assist in the development of
computer networks in Eastern Europe. The actual status and development
perspectives of post-Soviet computer networks are actively discussed at the
conferences held at Moscow (Research Networking in Russia and Other NATO
Partners 1994; Distance Learning and New Technologies in Education 1994).
Global computer networks emerged and developed in Russia in a very short
period. At the beginning of 1990-ies an American researcher was pleased to note
the fact of Relcom’s connection to the Internet (Press 1991). In the middle of
1990-ies another American author counted the amount of users of main global
Russian networks (McHenry 1994). According to his results, in the beginning of
1994 there were about 300 000 computer network users in Russia. There are even
more users because the author did not take into account some networks and
BBSs(FIDONet, for example).
Computer network development in Russia coincides with the appearance of
market economics elements. Thus, it copied the political and economical situation
in the country. The largest Russian network Relcom might be a typical example.
Relcom was created as a means of communication of professional computer
programmers. Lacking the financial support, Relcom was developing as a business
enterprise. Business activity became a necessary condition of its functioning.
Special administrative and advertising actions were undertaken to attract the
business users. As a result, Relcom users vary greatly in their professions, interests
and activities thus differing from the users of specialized foreign and Russian
networks - commercial, educational, scientific, political) (Arestova et al. 1993).
Relcom is now a reslly universal network that gives access to Internet to users in
Russia and in another independent states formerly belonging to the USSR.
2. THEORETICAL CONCEPTIONS IN RUSSIAN PSYCHOLOGY AS A
BASIS OF INVESTIGATIONS IN THE COMPUTER MEDIATED
COMMUNICATION FIELD
Research in the field followed a traditional for Russian psychology problem. We
mean the investigation of mediated forms of behavior. This very line of research
is associated with the major findings in the Soviet and Russian developmental and
cognitive studies.
The investigation of mediated forms of behavior belongs to the Russian tradition
in psychological research (Wertsch 1991). Physical objects and sign systems
mediating any kind of activity form the basis of human specific behavior.
2
Physical and mental sign systems having been internalized form the higher levels
of mental functions (thinking, memory, etc.). This conception was created and
proved by L.Vygotsky (Vygotsky 1962, 1978), the author of the cultural-historical
theory of mental development. He emphasized that the higher mental functions
have a social origin. Their development is based the joint actions and the
interpersonal communications.
Thus, the individual activity is the transformed joint activity in it’s origin. As a
result, the external and internal (mental) activities have the same structure
(Leontiev 1981). External actions could also be transformed into internal mental
actions (Galperin 1976; ). Psychologists are mostly interested in internalization
mechanisms. It is especially typical for the developmental psychology. At the
same time the importance of studying the externalization mechanism (e.g. the
transformation of internal mental actions to external actions) is underestimated.
The development of modern informatics
reinforces the importance of
externalization analysis. Informatics development leads to the great amount of
external tools mediating human activity. By its origin these computer based tools
are highly developed sign systems. All kinds of modern human activity include
external parts. It is mostly evident in cognitive and management activities. It might
be concluded that modern information technologies impact the change of the
leading paradigms of psychological reseach; externalization problems are now
much closer to the core of psychological investigations than it was even a decade
ago.
Vygotsky’s follower A.N.Leontiev, the author of the original activity theory
considered communication to be a specific kind of activity (Leontiev, 1983). It is
important to mention that there is another opinion. According to this opinion,
communication could not be reduced to the conception of activity (Lomov, 1984).
The externalization process has some specific features in communication. The
socio-historical analysis hints that
the development of external tools (channels,
sign systems, networks, etc.) mediating human communication is rapidly
accelerating.
Throughout the world the psychologists admit the L.Vygotsky’s priority in the
analysis of mediated forms of activity (Vygotsky 1962; 1978). His priority is also
confirmed by psychologists who are studying the computer mediated
communication. This point of view was expressed in many publications
(Bacalarski 1994; Cole 1995; Griffin et. al 1989). Foreign psychologists
collaborate with Russian colleagues, studying the computer mediated
communication field (Activity Theory 1990; Belyaeva et al 1991). The joint work
is devoted to the problems of mediation and remediation; the latter term refers to
the changes in the mediation process - say, the transfer from syllabic to
alphabetical writing sign systems (Cole & Griffin 1988; Kharitonov 1988; Griffin
et. al 1989). Moscow and Californian psychologists collaborations are realized in
the joint scientific project “Cognition and Communication”. This project has been
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realized for 10 years. It is to mentioned as a good example of international
cooperation in solving important psychological problems that could not be limited
by national borders.
3. DIRECTIONS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN THE COMPUTER
MEDIATED COMMUNICATION FIELD IN RUSSIA
The predominant way of global networks’ usage in Russia is e-mail. The access to
remote sources (ftp and telnet) is available but much more restricted. As computer
networking is quite a new experience in Russia, research in the area has a very
short tradition. Moreover, no tradition evolved
to evaluate the human
performance in group support systems (GSS) or in computer supported
collaborative (cooperative) work systems (CSCW). The most commonly used
term in Russia is computer mediated communication (CMC).
The earliest research carried out in Russia in the CMC field that was held with a
very limited access to the global networking and with the access to the evaluation
of the local area networks usage, had two main goals. First, to find out and
describe the psychological changes caused by the new way of mediated
communication. Second, to investigate the CMC speech peculiarities and
specifics, compared to the other forms of speech.
One of the goals enumerated was initiated in the mid-1980s (Tikhomirov et al.
1986; Voiskounsky 1987). It was shown that the easily notic able differences
between the CMC and another ways of mediated communication (i.e. geographical
dispersion of partners, non-simultaniousness of communication, possibilities of
group discussions, multiplicity of formatting rules, etc.) are sometimes masking
the new mental formations. The motivations for the choice of the CMC were
described. These motivations include the convenience of this communication
mode for computer programmers and end users, the necessity to exchange the texts
or software programs between the members of the remote groups, the possibility
of overcoming some anti-communicative personality traits (say, shyness), as well
as speach or appearance defects, the curiosity to the new ways of information
technology usage, the intention to make jokes and play tricks (all the new
communication media are used for mediated tricks), the intention to pass negative
messages (refusals, declinations, etc.) not face-to-face but in a mediated form.
This set of motivations was valid for rather innumerous Russian participants of
global computer conferences. As it was already mentioned, one of the dominant
Russian psychological conceptions is the activity theory (Leontiev 1981),
according to which special activities consist of actions and operations.
To fulfill an action, one needs to start with an orientation in the situation (Galperin
1976). This is true according to the communicative actions as well. The possible
ways of the choice of actual communicative partners mediated by computers and
computer networks were investigated (Tikhomirov et al. 1986; Voiskounsky
4
1994). It is stated that the base of awareness and orientation is widened, compared
to the orientation taking place when more traditional communication media are
used. The direct and indirect ways of orientation differ. The former include getting
information available through the access to remote sources. The indirect ways
include suppositions concerning the competence of the certain would-be partner,
his/her “talkativeness” in the newsgroups, etc. It was stated thus that the new
mediated ways of orientation in the sample of possible and actual communicative
partners are emerging in the CMC field.
The investigation of the attitudes of CMC users, professional researchers in
science (Voiskounsky 1987) and humanities (Belyaeva et al. 1993) fields was
done. The preferences and barriers to the choice of computer mediated contacts
were found out. Besides the usual barriers - computer anxiety, etc. - some
personality traits like introversion and the lack of self-confidence make the
subjects refuse from the CMC. The subjects tend to apply their competence in
using various communicative media in the situation of computer mediation. This
general disposition is to be taken into account when initiating the CMC usage for
a new sample group.
Another goal is concerned with the speech characteristics of the CMC. It is shown
that computer mediated speach combines the characteristics of dialogues,
monologues and polylogues, of written and oral speech (Voiskounsky 1991; 1992;
1993). The mixed oral and written speech character is first confirmed by American
researchers (Griffin et al. 1989). The influence of the non-native English speakers
on the English usage in the CMC field is investigated; the return influence of the
English usage on the native (e.g., Russian) language usage is being traced
(Voiskounsky 1993) It is hypothesized that a kind of network English will be
formed that will combine some characteristics of Basic English and of the English
“foreigner talk”.
After the access to global networks became a reality, the projects of kids’
communication via computers were initiated. The projects “Pilotnet”, “World
classroom”, “5th Dimension” and others got some popularity; besides, rather a lot
of two-way (i.e. Russian-Western schools connected) projects have now been
realized (Telekommunikatzii v obrazovanii 1993; Telecommunications and
Education 1994; Belyaeva et al. 1994; Bogdanova et al. 1993). Some high-school
students participate in FIDONet echo-conferences; an attempt is made to install a
specialized educational Bulletin Board System (BBS) (Patarakin 1993). The
educational effects of kids’ and teenagers’ participation in the CMC are usually
stressed. The psychological research is held, too. The theoretical framework for
this kind of research is formulated by Griffin & Cole (1988): they compare effects
of the involvement of children to computer mediated communication to the zone
of proximal development - the notion genuinely introduced by Vygotsky (1962;
1978). While computer telecommunicating kids are said to be introduced to their
future (Griffin & Cole 1988).
5
The investigations carried out by the joined Moscow-Californian research group
are published elsewhere both in Russian (Belyaeva et al. 1991; Belyaeva et al.
1994) and in English (Belyaeva et al.1992; Activity Theory 1990). The research is
dependent heavily on the correspondence of kids with a Wizard that inhabits in the
so-called “5th Dimension”. The functions of the Wizard are performed by trained
psychologists - one dealing with the English speaking kids, and the other dealing
with the Russian-speaking kids. The idea is to change the educational environment
and to bring the educational process closer to playing and to communication. One
of the cross-cultural differences lies in the fact that American and Russian kids
estimate and assess the Wisards in a slightly different way.
The other direction of research that emerged when the global networks became
available, is presented in this very paper. The research is connected with
administering the questionnaires to the netters and analyzing the dynamics of the
networks’ users population growth and change (Arestova et. al. 1993;
Voiskounsky et al. 1994). It is proposed that the global networks promote the
remote communities formation in the ex-USSR (Voiskounsky 1995). The project
is stated to install a remote (virtual) service bureau for the networks’ users. The
most beneficial directions of this sort of service are defined, and the users’
opinions are analyzed (Arestova et al. 1992).
This research has an obvious trend for applications, and nevertheless it is relevant
for the psychological knowledge. The reason is that it is important to investigate
the ways new means influence the structure and functional features of human
activity. As it is proved , new communicative means essentially transform the
operational structure of human activity, its orientation basis and motivational
regulation. To illustrate this position, we present cumulative results of our
investigation conducted in 1992-1995.
4. FUNDAMENTALS OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN
COMPUTER MEDIATED COMMUNICATION
Computer networks emerged in Russia rather spontaneously without any
sociological or psychological planning and analysis. But soon practical needs of
users and administrators partly coincided with research interests of psychologists.
The research of computer networks development and functioning became actual.
The psychological research program was created as a result of the mutual
interests of the humanities and the science researchers.
This program was intended to study the psychological features of
networks users. A new methodological approach was necessary. It
necessary to define research problems, in the field of computer
interaction between users, to construct research methods and to
representative psychological investigation.
computer
was also
mediated
realize a
6
The investigation conducted in the 1990-ies was of a complex character. It
combined psychological as well as sociological, ergonomical, economical and
technical aspects. As it was demonstrated, technical and administrative systems
were influenced by psychological interactions. Individual characteristics of users
extremely influenced the structure of computer mediated communication.
Technical, administrative , social, economical and psychological components
perform joint effect on computer network communication (Arestova et al. 1993).
4.1. EXPERIMENTAL GOALS
The series of psychological investigations was conducted beginning with 1992.
The research goals were defined as follows: 1. What is the specifics of computer
network communication? 2. What is the psychological determination of human
activity in computer network? 3. What are the psychological criteria of computer
mediated communication development? 4. What operational, cognitive and
personal characteristics of users are influenced by computer mediated
communication?
4.2. RESEARCH METHOD DESIGN
The complicated research object needs an appropriate research method. The
method that is to be worked out should be a combination of different methods
intensely used in the humanities. The included observation seems to be the basis
of this method. It means that a researcher observe the computer Network system
functioning having been included in it’s activity. Psychologists in the computer
networks can play roles of an ordinary user or a postmaster. The research goals
may demand another selected positions and roles. Being the participant of the
network communication, the researcher subscribes the newsgroups, receives and
sends messages, communicates with the network administration. This work
facilitates the investigation of communicative processes, of the network structure
and functioning. As the users the psychologists form the communicative
environment in the network, cognate through the practical exchange of messages
the network communication rules (the so-called “netiquette”) and the interpersonal
relations among the netters.
The activity products analysis plays an important role in computer mediated
communication investigation. Personal correspondence, discussions in
teleconferences, business correspondence and other messages can be analyzed.
The unique feature of this method consists in the absolutely exact and reliable
documental fixation of communication processes. This kay of precise fixation is
hardly possible in ordinary, non-computerized communication. The
communication process mediated by computer networks, having been defended
from forgetting and motivation distortion can be investigated in its originality.
7
The psychological interviewing and questionnaires administration are also very
important methods. The comparison of the results of these two methods showed
the necessity of combining them. As a matter of fact, a personal interview gives
more rich psychological results. From the other hand, an interview takes a long
time and needs a high qualification of researchers. In opposite, the questionnaires
can be successfully applied using computer mediated communication means.
Personal conversations lead to very important indirect results.
We selected the questionnaire survey as a basic method of psychological
investigation for several reasons. The reasons are the following:
 the possibility to study a large sample of users at the same time;
 the possibility to address to the distant users (not only in Russia, but also
abroad);
 high psychological validity and effectiveness of the used method;
 the experimental procedure does not need a long time;
 the possibilities to use e-mail to spread the questionnaires.
4.2.1. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
The series of investigations was carried out in 1992-1995. Questionnaires were
administred via e-mail,respondents were the users of Russian networks
(Relcom,Glasnet, Sevam Teleport, Radio-MSU, etc.) and of BBSs network
(Fidonet). Surveys were administered Russian languge; the respondents’ sample
included citizen of all the 15 new independent former Soviet states. Besides, we
got responses from Russian speaking networkers residing in Germany and USA.
The specific feature of the questionnaires is the combination of questions dealing
with demographic, social, psychological, administrative, financial, and technical
problems. Demography related questions are usually concerned with the
geographic dispersion, age and gender of networkers, variettos of their
professional and educational background, etc. Among the social problems are the
specifics of remote groups formation and dynamies, role structure, hierarchy,
status, attitades and positions in the networkers’ sample, etc. Psychological
problems touched in the questionnaires include deminant motivations and
preferred ways of expressing emotions by networkers, their individual styles,
cognitive and goalsetting patterns, etc. Administrative - type questions usually
refer to the networks usage intensity, providers /postmasters/ administrators/ end
users connections and conflict situations (i.e., non-delivered message), levels of
satisfaction with the network services provided, etc. Financial problems include
traffic costs, types of services (e-mail, Usenet, ftp, telnet, etc.) available, amount
of teleconferences and newsgroups subscribed, number of personal accounts per a
node, etc. The interest in technical problems is associated with the proferred
hardware and seftuare, levels of satisfaction with the programs and eguipment
used, the need for actual upgrading and for the freeware/ shareware software, etc.
Though the actual questions varied during different surveys, we find it useful to
8
includ all the types of questions into actual questionnaires in order to gain interest
of networkers with the most diverse interests.
The number of questions in actual questionnaires vary from 10 to 25, the optimum
being about 15 questions. We use different types of questions:mostly closed ones,
sometimes Likert scales (for satisfaction measures), and open-ended questions (to
learn, for example, respondent’s professional background and occupation). The
number of fixed responses (menu of responses to choose) to the questions vary
from 4 to 12. To select menu items, we initiate face-to-face discussions with
networkers, or interview the participants of meetings and seminars for networks’
users, or else distribute some open-ended questions for the users of previously
selected local area networks. The actual number of respondents in our surveys
varied between 300 and 500 persons.
The way of questionnaires spreading significantly influence the survey
effectiveness. The quantity of received answers is taken as the criteria of the
effectiveness. The questionnaires can be spread using different ways:




putting questionnaires in general topic teleconferences;
putting questionnaires in specialized (narrow-topic) teleconferences;
putting them in local area networks;
e-mailing questionnaires to the postmasters and asking them personally to
distribute them among users;
 e-mailing questionnaires to the postmasters on behalf of the global network
administration that recommended them to distribute the questionnaire among
users;
 e-mailing questionnaires to personally the users;
 e-mailing personally questionnaires to the active networkers (computer experts
of high reputation) and asking them personally to spread the questionnaire
among other prospective
respondents.
All the mentioned ways of questionnaires spreading were used in our
investigation.
5. A REVIEW OF EXPERIMENTAL
The data obtained characterize the computer networking as a new form of human
communication media essentially transforming human activity structure and
functioning. Computer mediated communication influences the deep levels of
activity structure. These transformations could not be reduced to the simple
additions to the structures having been already formed.
First of all, orientation and operation mechanisms of activity are transformed.
Using computer network the subject needs the special operational and technical
skills. It takes a prolonged specially organized training to master these skills. The
skills include the complex operational actions (working with keyboard, for
9
example) and special cognitive components (as the orientation in computer
networks structure).As a rule, the users needs very complex and various skills.
The investigations showed that the users had the different levels of the skills
development. The numerous factors influenced the dynamics of these orientation
and operation skills. Some users retained the constant level of skills that might
finally limit their functioning possiblities. The others feel the permanent lacking of
new skills and knowledge. This need inspire them to master the new operating
skills. The “developed” users needs are satisfied by specially organized trainings
seminars, methodological courses, consultations, learning materials.
Second, communication via computer networks could be defined as a new specific
form of human communication.The respondents admitted that computer mediated
communication had the specific features in comparison with the ordinary
communication. Computer mediated communication significantly changed the
communication sphere of subject. The computer networks application leads to the
new level of communication activity mediation. For example, the transformations
in personal sphere increased the users’ tolerance, communication frankness and
confidence. Computer mediated communication has the following special features:
 stability and high intensity;
 partner’s communicative interests brought together;
 mutual productivity of communication;
 high activity of users (they are well - informed in the discussed problems);
 mutual crossing of user’s communicative intentions.
Thus, we might conclude that the significance of the overall personality attitudes
increase in computer mediated communication. It could be explained using
sociological and psychological reasons. The specialists marked the problem of
communicative deficiency in modern industrial society. This problem is caused by
the psychological non-coordination of people in industrial urbanistic society. This
problem is intensified by social, economical and political processes in Russia. We
mean the economical separation and political polarization of Russian society. The
psychological results of these processes are the feelings of solitude, isolation,
communicative links destruction. The computer mediated communication might
dectease the emerging communicative emptiness. There are several psychological
reasons of computer mediated communication attractiveness. It could make the
communication easy because:
 The partner could not be preliminary estimated by his appearance.
 The problem of “fast verbalization” difficulties in herent to face-to-face
dialogues is eliminated.
 There are possibilities of probe communicative actions and their corrections.
Communicative skills are developing.
 It is possible for users to address each other directly. Computer network rules
do not demand to introduce somebody.
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 Computer mediated communication levels some important in ordinary
communication but still rather accidental properties (racial, social, gender, age,
economical, geographical and so on).
 The possibilities of communicative games and mistifications are increased.
In CMC it is possible to address using pseudonames. Computer mediated
communication enlarges the psychological flexibility and diversity of
communicative process. The partners might keep themselves anonymous.
Computer mediated communication has partial character. It could be controlled or
limited by any user according to his wishes and intentions.
Third, CMC influences the motivation regulation of human activity. The
computer mediated communication is a highly personal and psychologically
intensive process. Communication via computer networks decreases the defense
mechanisms of personal activity; external (in accordance to thinking and
communication) motivation also dies away. This motivation has a socialestimation character. It is expressed as an orientation to the external opinion, and a
tendency to correspond with the social standards. This motivation becomes actual
in socially significant situation. Including computer networks into communication
or cooperation depresses the defence activity of mentioned motivational
structures. In a situation of direct contact absence the effect of personal freedom
from external control appears.
In consequence of this process individual motives and sets become actual. Socialstandard communicative barriers lower, and individual and personal components
of communication display.
There are some negative consequences, too. The personal responsibility becomes
lower. Some users practice sending unreliable information using computer
networks. The anonymity of the users is a negative effect of this way of computer
mediated communication. The application of computer networks leads to the high
level of communication mediation: the information sent is actively “rejected” by
the receiver. The feeling of personal “authority” becomes much lower that in faceto-face dialogues. This communicative illusion makes the problem of information
reliability control extremely actual in computer network communication.
Therefore we can conclude that CMC essentially transforms motivation regulation
sphere of human activity. This transformation is concerned not only with
communication but also with thinking, motivation and emotional regulation of
human activity.
Finally, the next important feature of CMC is concerned with the transformation
of time and space parameters of interpersonal interaction. The direct dialogue
between partners on different continents engenders numerous psychological
phenomena in communication.
Some factors that are very impoetant in face-to-face communication (for example,
partners appearance, gase directions, distance between partners and so on) loose
11
their significance in situation of computer mediated communication. In opposite,
the most
significant aspects of human communication ( concent
of
communicative and motivational sets of partners, coincidence of their personal
intensions and so on) play a principal role.
The psychological (subjective) compactness of communicative time and space
could also be an example. Let’s compare the situation of writing an ordinary letter
or telegram and composing a computer network message. Composing an ordinary
letter the author usually takes into account that it will be received some time later.
During this period (between writing and reading of the letter) the information is
partly obsolete (objectively and subjectively). According to this simple idea the
writing subject prefers most stable, constant information. Therefore some
situatively actual details are omitted, have not been reflected in the message and
verbalized. A part of actual information is lost.
In case of computer mediated communication the delay between writing and
reading is extremely insignificant. There are possibilities of real exchange of
situatively actual information between communicative partners. The impossible in
ordinary distant communication psychological intimacy of communication
partners becomes also available. Computer mediated communication allows to
transfer situatively actual subjective information, situative emotional sets and
moods of information transfer.
Having been a new mental tool, computer networks ensure a new functional level
of communication development. Mental tools are directed to overcome the
physical and mental resources limitations, the human dependence on the
peculiarities and relations of external physical world. Therefore computer means
significantly transform the subjective communication sphere.
This transformation is concerned not only with the communication but also with
thinking, with motivational and emotional sphere of subject activity. The fast
distant communicative means transform subjective perception and
conceptualization of timing and distance relations of communicative spaces. The
possibility of instantaneous information transportation through large distances.
The most significant determinants of communication (needs, motivation, interests
and goals of partners) having been independent of time and distance circumstances
get priority. They acquire real significance impelling and directing the computer
mediated communication.
The communicative access of partners contacts is also an important effect of
computer mediated communication. Communicative activity increases as a result
of psychological safety of computer mediated communication. Therefore the
personally significant aspects of communication are strengthened (motivational,
personality, emotional, cognitive). Using computer mediated communication the
person realizes real but not demonstrated, intimate communicative patterns,
satisfies deep individual communicative needs.
12
Thus, the higher level of instrumental mediation leads to the higher psychological
opening and spontaneous expression in human communication in computer
networks.
5. CONCLUSIONS
The data obtained show that the computer technologies usage transformes human
activity structure and functioning. Computer technologies seem to be a new level
of human activity mediation. CMC transforms and develops orientation and
operational components of activity, time and space parameters of interpersonal
interaction, motivational regulation of human activity. The CMC becomes an
important source of new mental formations, appeared in the different activity
spheres - personal, cognitive, operational.
These facts allow to conclude that CMC transforms the most inportant aspects of
subjective activity. Thus we can define the
interaction with computer
technologies as a new specific kind of human activity. This kind of activity could
not be reduced to any already known kind of activity (thinking, cognitive,
playing, creative, productive and communicative). CMC combenes thees kinds of
activity in its own structure.
Computer mediated communicationC has the specific pecularities and
development and functioning regularilies. The appearance of this new kind of
human activity is a result of new activity means development.
6. TRENDS OF THE FUTURE RESEARCH
The ongoing work in the CMC field includes both applied and research work. The
applied work is to further in several directions. First of all, teaching the ways to
connect to Internet should be greatly improved. To acquire this goal, the didactic
principles worked out in the educational psychology should be adequately used to
construct instructional courses (printed handbooks, video and multymedia
courses) teaching all the interested people to get access to Internet facilities and to
use them productively. These instructional courses are to be subdivided for kids
and for grown-ups. The special courses for kids are necessary to introduce the idea
of open society to the younger generations. Internet navigation seems to be a
possible way to acquire some habits of using information sources worked out in
the world community. These habits are to be essential for overcoming the
psychological barriers toward the open society.
Another directions of applied work in the CMC field include the construction of
psychologically relevant sources and keeping them as remote access Internet
facilities. These sources might contain bibliographical and reference data. Applied
work might include as well the establishing of the psychological service for
consulting and managerial duties performing related to the computer networking
field. Both the users and the administrators of global networks are to have easy
13
access to the representatives of the psychological service to get recommendations
and the data needed. The service representatives might work out the research
instruments (questionnaires, etc.) and carry on applied work. It might include a
monitoring of netters, i.e. checking the dynamics of their changes and fixations,
getting data of any special samples of users, controlling the demographic
characteristics of changing populations of networks’ users, trying to interfere with
possible corrections when the message’s exchange gets aggressive or at least nonfriendly tone and style.
The purely research work might consist of seeking the psychologically relevant
peculiarities of the CMC, being a relatively new mediator in human-to-human
contacts. The transformed mediators (remediators) usually influence both the
activity performed and the inner mental processes. This is close to the Vygotskian
paradigm, that proved to be perhaps the most productive to study the CMC
research field. The new external tools (both sign systems and material objects)
being internalized modify the mental functioning. The CMC research has been
already compared to the “dialogue with the future” (Griffin & Cole, 1988). Thus,
the research in the CMC field acquires a slightly futurological connotation.
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