Effects of location-based service on psychological distance in computer-mediated communication

• Main Author: Shin, Mincheol
• Other Authors: Jung Younbo
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Communication::Communication theories and models
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/65991
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The current study aims to investigate the effects of location based services (LBS) on psychological distance. In the current study, I used Social Presence Theory and Construal Level Theory (CLT) as theoretical frameworks in order to investigate how people use location based-social network service (LB-SNS) in the form of computer-mediated communication (CMC). In particular, the concept of psychological distance is revisited to explain how social interaction may develop in the new context of communication technology. A total of 94 participants was recruited and I examined the effects of display type (i.e., Map-Based LB-SNS vs. Text-Based LB-SNS vs. Traditional SNS) and physical distance (i.e., short vs. long). Participants were asked to use the prototype of LB-SNS for 10 minutes, and then were asked to indicate their feelings of social presence, construal level, perceived quality of social interaction and enjoyment toward the others who appeared in the LB-SNS. The results showed significant main effects of LBS and display type on social presence, perceived quality of social interaction and enjoyment. In addition, the mediating role of social presence on perceived quality of social interaction and enjoyment was confirmed. This study sheds light on practical implications of how to increase the effectiveness of LBS for enhancing a meaningful CMC in the current market.