College students' gender differences regarding e-mail

College Student Journal, Sept, 2006 by Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter, Charles O. Hemby

--One hundred and forty-five undergraduate students at a large southwestern university completed a questionnaire designed to assess college students' computer-mediated communication behaviors. Findings revealed that males and females have different perceptions and usages concerning their computer-mediate communication behaviors when e-mailing and using the Internet. Females reported that they were more likely to check their e-mail and use shorthand in e-mails directed to a superior (such as a boss or professor) compared to males. At the same time, males reported that they were more likely than females to use emoticons regularly in e-mails and preferred e-mailing when they couldn't meet someone in person. Results indicated that college students have specific communication behaviors when communicating via the Internet.

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Currently, the institutions of higher education are steadily increasing their usage of computer mediated communication (CMC) (Walther, 1992). Computer mediated communication is communication facilitated by computer technologies, and is defined as "synchronous or asynchronous electronic mail and computer conferencing, by which senders encode in text messages that are relayed from senders' computers to receivers' computers'" (Walther, 1992; p. 52). Electronic mail (e-mail) is another form of CMC (Jessmer & Anderson, 2001).

As such, most research on e-mail is fairly recent and limited. The majority of research has focused on a particular communicative aspect of e-mail (Walther, 1992). Researchers note that although communication technology is ubiquitous, the outcomes of such communication have yet to be assessed programmatically (Waldeck, Kearney, & Plax, 2001).

Also lacking in the area of CMC research is the amount of data recorded pertaining to gender differences. Research has consistently shown that there are gender differences in language use. It is conceivable that, just as research indicates differences in communication styles between the genders, there are differences in how and why CMC is used differently. Yet the tendency has been in CMC research to lump males and females together (e.g., Bonebrake, 2002; Jessmer and Anderson, 2001). In each case, it is apparent that the studies ignore gender differences regarding e-mail usage. Hence, the objective of this study was to understand college students' gender differences regarding e-mail. Based on the literature above, the following research question:

RQ1: Do males and females differ in their e-mail behavior?

Sample

Participants in the present study were 145 undergraduate students, enrolled in a basic communication course, from a large southwestern university. Of the 145 subjects, 63 (43.4%) were male, 81 (55.8%) were female; 71 (9%) were ages eighteen or below, 53 (71.5%) were between 19 to 22, 31 (6.3%) were 23-26, 12 (2.4%) were 27-32, 14 (2.8%) were 33-40, 11 (2.2%) were 41-50, 1 (.2%) was over 50. Students were told that their participation was voluntary and their answers would remain confidential. All participants received credit for their participation. After consenting to take part in the study, participants completed a questionnaire regarding their perceptions of their e-mail behaviors.

Findings & Discussion

The research question inquired about the gender differences regarding perceptions of e-mail. A one-tailed t-test was computed. Results indicated that there was a significant difference on specific perceptions of e-mail behaviors between males and females.

Overall, this study discovered that there are differences between college males and females regarding their e-mail behaviors. The importance of this study can not be overstated. Findings revealed that college males and females have different perceptions and usages concerning their computer-mediated communication behaviors when using e-mail. Females (M = 3.06) reported that they were more likely than males (M = 2.57) to check their email (p < .05). Also, females (M = 4.20) use shorthand in e-mails directed to a superior (such as a boss or professor) compared to males (M = 2.50, p < .001). At the same time, males (M = 1.78) reported that they were more likely than females (M = 1.58) to use emoticons regularly in e-mails (p < .001). In addition, males (M = 1.74) preferred e-mailing when they couldn't meet someone in person compared to females (M = 1.54, p < .001). Results indicated that college students have specific communication behaviors when communicating via the Internet.

Implications

The findings of this study have several implications for university student, faculty, and staff. For students, the study reemphasizes the enormous importance of e-mail and gender differences. Moreover, communication and relationship faculty and staff have additional data on college students' behaviors in e-mail. All and all, this present investigation helps to explain how college students' perceive their communication behaviors when using e-mail.

References

Bonebrake, K. (2002). College Students' Internet Use, Relationship Formation, and Personality Correlates. Cyber Psychology & Behavior. 6: 551-557.