An interactional view of social presence: Making the virtual other “real”
Authors: Schultze, Ulrike; Brooks, Jo Ann M.
Journal: Information Systems Journal (2019)
DOI: 10.1111/isj.12230
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>In IS research, social presence is generally defined as the perceived capacity of a communication medium to convey contextual cues normally available in face‐to‐face settings. However, theorizing social presence as a property of the technology has been challenged for decades. The objective of this paper is to develop a more contemporary, interactional view of social presence. To this end, this paper develops a new conceptualization of how participants form the sense that each other is present. We characterize the development of this sense as a skilful accomplishment that entails interactants' joint construction of each other as “real.” Viewing social presence as contingent on social practice, we seek to answer the following research question: “How is social presence accomplished in virtual environments?” To explicate how virtual others are perceived as becoming socially present, that is, emotionally and psychologically “real” to someone interacting with them, we draw from Goffman's work, particularly his concepts of <jats:italic>involvement</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>involvement obligation</jats:italic>. Detailing two examples of social…