Deck 13: Media Multiplexity Theory

Question 1

Which of the following approaches was originally taken by media multiplexity theory to understand how and why people use different communication channels?

A) a rhetorical approach
B) an interpretive approach
C) a feminist approach
D) a cybernetic approach

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In the context of media multiplexity theory, identify a true statement about strong ties.

A) They usually consume little time and energy.
B) They usually refer to relationships between acquaintances or classmates.
C) They demand that people make a significant investment in the relationship.
D) They refer to relationships in which people know each other well without being emotionally close.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Sean and Kyra are close friends and invest a great amount of time and emotional energy in their relationship. In the context of media multiplexity theory, their relationship most likely illustrates a(n) ________.

A) asymmetrical relationship
B) strong tie
C) disturbed relationship
D) latent tie

Answer 3

B

Question 4

In the context of media multiplexity theory, which of the following is defined as a relationship involving a small investment of time and emotional energy?

A) a symmetrical relationship
B) a latent tie
C) a weak tie
D) a disturbed relationship

Question 5

According to Stanford sociologist Mark Granovetter, which of the following is a major weakness of strong ties?

A) They are redundant when it comes to accessing information and resources.
B) They are devoid of acceptance, intimacy, and enjoyment.
C) They fail to provide a sense of purpose or well-being.
D) They tend to exhibit a restricted use of available media during communication.

Question 6

According to Stanford sociologist Mark Granovetter, which of the following is a strength of weak ties?

A) They involve experiences of acceptance, intimacy, and enjoyment.
B) They give people a sense of purpose.
C) They are important for understanding one's identity.
D) They provide quick and uncanny access to diverse information.

Question 7

Identify a true statement about media multiplexity.

A) Weak ties are uncomplicated and do not need many channels to sustain them.
B) The choice of medium is primarily important in determining the strength of relationships.
C) Tie strength plays an insignificant role in determining the number of media employed by pairs.
D) Strong ties require less media than weak ties to orchestrate their varied and interdependent connection.

Question 8

The technical possibility of connection between two people who do not currently have a relationship is referred to as a(n) ________.

A) I-Thou relationship
B) I-It relationship
C) strong tie
D) latent tie

Question 9

Keith, a 44-year-old professor, found his school friend, Simone, on Facebook and sent her a friend request. They last met 25 years back on the day of their high school graduation and went to different universities for their majors. By accepting Keith's friend request, Simone is most likely to convert their relationship into a(n) ________.

A) I-Thou relationship
B) I-It relationship
C) weak tie
D) strong tie

Question 10

In the context of strong and weak ties, which of the following statements is true about adding and subtracting media access?

A) The shape of one's interpersonal ties is rarely changed by adding and subtracting access to a medium.
B) The addition of a medium exerts a greater effect on weak ties than on strong ties.
C) Strong ties are significantly affected by the loss of a medium.
D) Weak ties tend to have built-in redundancy that can withstand the loss of a channel.

Question 11

To date, which of the following theories represents the most comprehensive and systematic attempt to explain how the multimodality of social life influences, and is influenced by, the characteristics of interpersonal relationships?

A) social information processing (SIP) theory
B) media multiplexity theory
C) cognitive dissonance theory
D) social judgment theory

Question 12

Art Ramirez used media multiplexity to explain how people can effectively rekindle old friendships on social media. Which of the following criteria of a good theory is illustrated in this statement?

A) practical utility
B) relative simplicity
C) quantifiable research
D) testability

Question 13

According to media multiplexity scholars, the number of media used between people is inversely proportional to their relationship strength.

Question 14

Bridging ties are the ties that connect several weak ties to one another to create one strong tie group.

Question 15

Media multiplexity and social information processing (SIP) agree that people can and do maintain close ties online.

Question 16

Media multiplexity theorists have been most interested in the getting-to-know-you phase of relationship initiation through online communication.

Question 17

Social information processing (SIP) researchers have been most interested in the maintenance of ongoing online relationships.

Question 18

University of Illinois professor John Caughlin noted that media multiplexity theory has much to say on what media interpersonal partners use, but not how they link all those media together.

Question 19

A central thesis of media multiplexity theory is that changes to the media landscape alter weak ties only minimally, but may change the nature of strong ties considerably.

Question 20

Effective media choice does not match medium to message so much as medium to person.

Question 21

Research suggests that patterns of media multiplexity depend not just on enjoyment, but also on a person's level of communication competence.

Question 22

One of media multiplexity theory's greatest strengths is its relative simplicity.

Question 23

"Explanation of the data" is an area in which media multiplexity theory falters.

Question 24

Media multiplexity theory has failed to demonstrate its practical utility.

Question 25

In the context of media multiplexity theory, the degree of connection between people, determined by amount of time spent together, emotional intensity and intimacy, and willingness to exchange resources is referred to as ________.

Question 26

Weak tie relationships that enable information and resources to pass between groups of people are referred to as ________.

Question 27

A phenomenon in which strongly tied pairs make use of more of the available media to sustain their relationships than do weakly tied pairs is termed ________.

Question 28

According to multiplexity scholars, group norms that guide which media are used with all ties and which are reserved for strong ties create a(n) ________.

Question 29

A preference for a specific medium, driven by the belief that it is fun and convenient, is called ________.

Question 30

Explain how the structure of a social network shapes the flow of information and resources between people using a visual example.

Question 31

Bridging ties serve a particularly powerful role. Discuss this statement with the help of a personal experience.

Question 32

The basic claim of media multiplexity theory is "Tie strength drives use of multiple media." Explain this claim with relevant examples.

Question 33

In a free world of interpersonal relationships, norms for media use are not explicit. Samuel Hardman Taylor investigated this statement in the context of extended family members. Explain his findings with reference to expectancy violations theory.

Question 34

Briefly describe the three claims of media multiplexity theory that demonstrate how Caroline Haythornthwaite's unexpected finding has grown into an insightful new theory.

Question 35

Media multiplexity theory has gained a sizable following among scholars within and outside the communication discipline. Explain the statement with respect to the criteria that are met for being a good objective theory.