Conceptualization and Measurement of Social Connectedness

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Conceptualization and Measurement of Social
Connectedness
Daan van Bel, Karin Smolders, Wijnand
IJsselsteijn, and Yvonne de Kort

• Workshop
• Designing for Social Connectedness
• 26/03/2009

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Why?

• Need to belong is pervasive
• Its fulfillment ? social connectedness
• ?well-being
• Limitations in the affective quality of mediated
  communication
• Systematic research coinciding with design of
  communication technology
• Need for theory-based, generic and sensitive
  construct

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Theory Short-term experience of belonging and
relatedness, based on quantitative and
qualitative social appraisals, and social
awareness

• Comprehensive
• Recent framing
• Overall vs. specific

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Findings Structure
X
IOS?
I often think of X.
How close is your relationship with X?
I feel that X shares my interests and ideas.
I often know what X feels.
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Findings Validation ? Isharing Experiment
If Hillary Clinton were a writing implement, she
would be A) a chalk B) spray paint C) a
fountain pen D) a crayon.
In progress Closeness Induction Experiment
What are your important goals in life? vs.
What did you have for dinner last night?
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Whats next?

• Experiments on consequences
• ? vitality, self-regulation and self-esteem
• Field studies event-based sampling
• Eindhoven, 26/03/2009
• Dear Designers ,
• Do you have applications for field studies?

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Others at HTI working on connectedness

• Brian Gajadhar Social Gaming/Game Experience
• Joris Janssen - Connectedness and the mediated
  exchange of emotions