research notes
Prof duz rsch on txt msging
 What would prompt a communication studies professor to research the text messaging habits of young people? His 25-year-old son, of course. Dr. Robert Shuter is studying how 18- to 22-year olds use new wireless technology, mainly text messaging. “There really is no research into how people are using this technology,” Shuter says. “Existing research is predominantly business-focused. I’m interested in the behavior, particularly in public places: protocol, etiquette, what people are talking about.”
Shuter’s academic specialty is international communication, not human behavior and certainly not new technology. His son, Jeff, however, launched a company that develops content for digital platforms, such as PDAs and cell phones. The younger Shuter’s California-based upstart has already inked deals with Marvel Comics and MTV Entertainment. His son’s success was a light bulb for Shuter. It was clear that wireless technology had become an invaluable communication tool — one worth studying further.
To collect data, Shuter developed a text messaging log (think Nielsen television ratings’ books). “Bribing” them with extra credit, Shuter distributed the booklets to a sample of Marquette students. During one week, each student answered questions about his or her messaging habits, such as, “Were you with someone when you read the text message?”
Shuter is compiling the data and his early findings are interesting. “I was particularly curious about text message etiquette,” he says. “That is, is there an etiquette?”
According to the data, respondents perceive a proper etiquette. In fact an overwhelming number of them deemed it impolite to text when someone is close by. Conversely a nearly equal percentage admitted to doing just that.
The pervasiveness of text messaging begs the question: Has it replaced the phone or face-to-face conversation among young people?
Shuter says no. “For personal conversations or sensitive topics, they still prefer to talk on the phone or in person,” he says. “They really only text for brief, unimportant items.”
Shuter plans to find out whether these practices are consistent with young people outside of the United States by gathering data from a similar-aged group in India. — CS
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