text messaging and conflict resolution
DESCRIPTION
A research project, presented in Newsweek style, on the correlations that affect the ability of individuals to use text messaging as a means of conflict resolution. This was for a freshman English class.TRANSCRIPT
Daniel Sullivan
hat is the question. In my daily life, text messaging
is a core component of my communications with oth-
ers. I use it for everything from planning events, to casual
conversation and getting help on homework; but I also
use it to flesh out issues with my partner and others close
to me. Recently, I have wondered why we have turned to
text messaging for the majority of our conflicts. Prior to
doing outside research, I created a few theories as to
why, for some, text messaging is a more assessable
means of conflict resolution. Due to text messaging‘s limit
of 160 characters, people have to make their arguments
concise and to the point. It might also be easier for peo-
ple who are shy, since they have time to formulate what
they want to say, instead of feeling intimidated by a face-
to-face conversation.
To see how texting can be used, we must first
look at how it has been used. A 2004 study at London
South Bank examined who used texting, and why. Their
results showed that those who are younger tend to send
and receive a greater number of messages that those
who are older (Faulkner). The study also looked at what
kinds of messages were sent and found that the majority
of texts were asking questions, sending farewells, and
sending personal information.
In order to gain a broader perspective, I conduct-
ed my own study, in the form of an online survey. There
were a total of 389 responses. After analyzing the data,
and comparing it to Faulkner's survey, there are drastic
differences. The first is the percentage who text. Accord-
ing to their collected data, 16% of their result set said they
did not text. In my data, only 8% did not text, a reduction
of half. Figure 1 shows a comparison between the age
groups analyzed and the percentage of each who text.
Another extrapolated comparison to Faulkner's data is
that texting activity declines when age increases, a fact
that remains true.
When looking at the types of messages sent, we
see a contrast. The two most popular uses for texting are
event planning and casual conversation. The key distinc-
tion is “conversation”— not simply reminders or single
questions. So text messaging has become more of a dia-
logue between people, rather than “fire and forget.”
Dan: What do you think; is text messaging a viable
means for conflict resolution?
World: No, text messaging is for short messages only,
not confrontations or debate.
Dan: I agree that was the intended purpose, but it has
progressed over time. What are people using it
for now?
World: According to a survey in 2004, people are asking
questions and sending reminders, not having
conversations. (Faulkner)
Dan: From my research in 2010, I've found the most
common uses to be event planning and gossip/
casual conversation, categories with a “back and
forth.”
World: Argh, I'll give you that. But what about people
using texting as a safety blanket? It's destroying
the closeness of mankind! (Pressner)
Dan: What about people using texting for “romantic
interactions?” And who's to say people can't be
close over non-verbal communications?
World: Or what about the fact that it's difficult for people
to get their meaning across in text? (Pressner)
Dan: Actually, people think they get their meaning
across.
World: Wah? But whole relationships have fallen apart
from misunderstandings! (Pressner)
Dan: Then maybe it depends on other factors?
World: Well, like what?
Text Messaging and Conflict Resolution
T
Figure 1
Armed with
the information that a
sizeable percentage
of people have text
message conversa-
tions, the next step is
to see who has argu-
ments over text mes-
saging. Of the 360
people who use tex-
ting, 51% have had
arguments. They all
say it happens rarely
or very infrequently.
Due to the non-
confrontational na-
ture of the medium,
an assumption could
be made that people
who are less outgoing
might prefer texting,
to other means of
communication. A
study at the University
of Plymouth by Reid
examined the general
use of text messaging
vs. other mediums,
looking to see if those
persons who are shy
and social anxious
would prefer it more.
The results of the study coincided with their hypothesis;
social anxious individuals are more likely to resort to text
messaging. I looked at this idea more deeply, seeing if
their conclusion correlated with arguments over text as
well.
Figure 2 shows the results of this comparison. We
see that there is no real correlation between someone's
personality, and whether or not they have an argument
over text. Returning to Faulkner's study however, and
looking at the ages instead, there is a trend. As age in-
creases, the amount of people who say they have argu-
ments over text decreases. This agrees with Faulkner's
thoughts, “It might be that the teenage users having grown
up with text messaging are far more comfortable with it
and therefore see it as just another means of communi-
cating with their circle” (14).
The rea-
sons for the argu-
ments differ, but a
consensus among
analysts seems to
be that misunder-
stands due to the
medium are a large
cause. Etiquette
expert Ceri Marsh,
in an interview for
USAToday, had the
following to say:
"Couples have ar-
guments over text
because of a sim-
ple misunderstand-
ing in wording or
tone. They'll say
'What exactly did
you mean by that
emoti-
con?'" (Pressner).
From my research,
it appears that
those who say
they've been in an
argument agree
that it is usually a
misunderstanding.
However, if we look
at how often peo-
ple feel that they got their meaning across; we see that
51% of people feel that nine out of ten times they do in-
deed transmute their thoughts effectively into text. Despite
this however, there is no correlation between getting their
meaning across and how often they have arguments. This
goes against Marsh's thoughts and texters' own thoughts
as well.
Let's take a step back and look over what we've
examined so far. Texters are nowadays comprised of a
broad range of ages. They primarily have conversations
and plan events. Only half of them have arguments. This
half is comprised of a variety of people though, only barely
separated by age The next step is—are these arguments
being solved, and by whom?
Figure 2
Figure 3
The short answer is—generally not. If we look at
figure 4, we can see most people find that their arguments
go unresolved. Past “rarely,” there is a slowly decreasing
trend, but it is minimal.
“But what about people who effectively use texting,” I
thought. Looking at the data from my survey, there is once
again no correlation. Those who rarely get their meaning
into text solve conflicts at the same rate as those who con-
stantly articulate their thoughts accurately. This is interest-
ing, because if someone can get their meaning across,
what is preventing them from using the same tools they
use verbally in text effectively?
With these results, I was compelled to look at my
own experience again. Text messaging works for me as a
means of conflict resolution, but why? With the prior ques-
tion in mind, I thought about what I know about solving
conflicts. My experience is rather unique; I spent the ma-
jority of my youth volunteering at an organization called
The Peace Center, in Langhorne, PA. There I learned (and
subsequently taught) the tools needed to effectively re-
solve conflicts. The major points are to be clear about
your own feelings, listen to the other(s), and to be open to
compromise. Is applying these guidelines to text argu-
ments the difference in their success or not? The research
conducted did not look at this, but future research should
consider it, as it might just be the magic factor for resolv-
ing text arguments. With the collected data, however, it
almost seems as though the medium has no effect on peo-
ple's ability to solve conflicts. There is however, one more
factor to consider; does the “disconnect” of the situation
aid people in solving conflicts?
Reid's study, which looked at social anxiety, con-
cluded “SMS [allows] users to disengage from the de-
mands of immediate interactive involvement, releasing
time and attentional resources to compose and edit mes-
sages” (11). Meg Hallissy, a student from Fairfield Univer-
sity, thought similarly, “[We] are constructing our argu-
ments, or manipulating them. We rough-draft what we real-
ly mean to say; then edit, cut, paste, or fit it into 160 char-
acters. The final draft is often the nicer version of our origi-
nal statements, without the swearing and name-
calling” (Hallissy). This was one of my hypotheses, and
even after all of the data showing that there are a very
small number of conflicts resolved over text messaging, I
still think it is true.
Based off my own positive experience, there must
be a set of factors that allow someone to effective use text
messaging as a means of conflict resolution, but I have not
narrowed them down. If anything, this exploration of the
subject shows that it requires a significantly deeper insight
into the individual than a quick survey could possibly hope
to show. More questions have been raised, and their an-
swerers might hold the key to a better understanding of
how we can effectively resolve arguments.
Figure 4
Works Cited
"Conflict Resolution - Resolving Conflict Rationally and Effectively." Mind Tools. 10 June 2010. Web. 28 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_81.htm>.
Faulkner, Xristine, and Fintan Culwin Culwin. "When Fingers Do the Talking: a Study of Text Messaging." Interacting
with Computers 17.2 (2005): 167-85. 25 Dec. 2004. Web. 1 Nov. 2010.
Hallissy, Meg. "Y R U Mad? Mediated Conflict Resolution | The Fairfield Mirror." The Fairfield Mirror. 21 Oct. 2009.
Web. 01 Nov. 2010. <http://fairfieldmirror.com/2009/10/21/y-r-u-mad-mediated-conflict-resolution/>.
Kasallis, Theresa. "Text Messaging Affects Student Relationships." Universe. 5 July 2005. Web. 27 Oct. 2010.
<http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/60307>.
Pressner, Amanda. "Can Love Blossom in a Text Message?" USATODAY.com. 29 Jan. 2006. Web. 28 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2006-01-29-love-texting_x.htm>.
Reid, Donna J., and Fraser J.M. Reid. "Text or Talk? Social Anxiety, Loneliness, and Divergent Preferences for Cell
Phone Use." CyberPsychology & Behavior 10.3 (2007): 424-435. Business Source Premier. EBSCO. Web. 1
Nov. 2010.
Sullivan, Daniel. “Text messaging and Conflict Resolution.” Web Survey. 07 November 2010.