The heat is here and I am feeling it: two great courses in Performance and Argumentation to teach at the Summer University and plenty of research to do. The interview material for my dissertation will see a thorough stirring and digging during the hot days and bright nights of Finnish summer.
The reason for vacationless summer months is that I have FOUR international conferences that I am priviledged to attend to in autumn: ECREA's ICSI Autumn Conference & Why Gender? in Finland in October, and IARR & NCA in the USA in November. My aim is to get two articles published and two new ones under way. In return, I will be taking a long winter holiday in December!
6/01/2009
2/26/2009
Details on Dissertation
My PhD research is conducted with semi-structured interviews (N = 25) and episode interviews (N = 25). The respondents are Finnish males from South of Finland between the ages of 21 and 67.
The research questions ask: What type of support do men provide to their friends in interpersonal communication situations? What influences the quality of support provision? What type of emotional comforting do men provide to their friends? What role does friendship context and facework play in males’ supportive interaction? What is the role of effectance motivation, goal motivation, and normative motivation in males’ supportive communication?
At this time, I have written two articles discussing the results of the episode interviews. The four episodes that were used dealt with two different causes of upset: 1) Sudden unemployment (professional issue) and 2) Deterioration of romantic relationship (personal issue). The responsibility variable used in the distressing scenarios was extensive alcohol usage. The responsibility variable was crossed with each of the situational variables, thus generating four conditions (i.e., high/no drinking x unemployment and high/no drinking x break up).
You can hear about the results in NCA Conference in Chicago, November 2009!
The research questions ask: What type of support do men provide to their friends in interpersonal communication situations? What influences the quality of support provision? What type of emotional comforting do men provide to their friends? What role does friendship context and facework play in males’ supportive interaction? What is the role of effectance motivation, goal motivation, and normative motivation in males’ supportive communication?
At this time, I have written two articles discussing the results of the episode interviews. The four episodes that were used dealt with two different causes of upset: 1) Sudden unemployment (professional issue) and 2) Deterioration of romantic relationship (personal issue). The responsibility variable used in the distressing scenarios was extensive alcohol usage. The responsibility variable was crossed with each of the situational variables, thus generating four conditions (i.e., high/no drinking x unemployment and high/no drinking x break up).
You can hear about the results in NCA Conference in Chicago, November 2009!
2/16/2009
The 1st Autumn Conference of Interpersonal Communication and Social Interaction
The 1st Autumn Conference of Interpersonal Communication and Social Interaction is being held at Tampere University and our department is part of the team of hosts (ECREA's Section for Interpersonal Communication and Social Interaction). It is on 21st - 23rd of October 2009 Tampere, Finland, Deadline for abstract submission: 30th of April 2009
The autumn conference centers around three themes:
- Interpersonal communication and social interaction in close relationships,
- Interpersonal communication and social interaction in professional context
- Mediated interpersonal communication
Remember to submit! It is going to be a great conference with excellent key note speakers such as professor Brant Burleson!!
The autumn conference centers around three themes:
- Interpersonal communication and social interaction in close relationships,
- Interpersonal communication and social interaction in professional context
- Mediated interpersonal communication
Remember to submit! It is going to be a great conference with excellent key note speakers such as professor Brant Burleson!!
12/24/2008
Finnish Speech Culture
A new book Speech Culture in Finland (Wilkins & Isotalus (Eds.), 2009) is out in which I discuss some of the detected elements of supportive communication. My data of semi-structured and episode interviews both indicate strong cultural impact on males' supportive comunication in friendships. Quietude as a natural way of being (Carbaugh), and listening are major topics that will be discussed in my dissertation.
The choice of methods surely favours depictions of behavior. However, the aim of the dissertation is to depict and understand the nature of social support in friendships and the enactment of that support by Finnish men.
The choice of methods surely favours depictions of behavior. However, the aim of the dissertation is to depict and understand the nature of social support in friendships and the enactment of that support by Finnish men.
12/11/2008
Review
The Year 2008 is coming to an end and it is time to report what has been accomplished so far.
ECREA 2008 Conference in Barcelona went well and the new Interpersonal Communication and Social Interaction Section decided to hold a workshop in Tampere 2009. I will be part of the organizing committee.
My first article is almost ready to be sent to a journal. In addition to the support behaviors, I want to analyze the data for different motivations. The episode interview method that I have used has proven to be a good way to capture the intentions and motivation behind support approaches.
Have a great Xmas break and a Jolly New Year!
ECREA 2008 Conference in Barcelona went well and the new Interpersonal Communication and Social Interaction Section decided to hold a workshop in Tampere 2009. I will be part of the organizing committee.
My first article is almost ready to be sent to a journal. In addition to the support behaviors, I want to analyze the data for different motivations. The episode interview method that I have used has proven to be a good way to capture the intentions and motivation behind support approaches.
Have a great Xmas break and a Jolly New Year!
7/02/2008
Articles in Progress
I was accepted to the ECREA Barcelona 2008 Conference to present my first official research results. The title of my presentation is Males Serving Comfort: Warm or Cold? A Qualitative Study of Episode Interviews. It is based on my up-coming article, which I am hoping to publish early next year.
Additionally, I am writing an article to a book called Ero, vanhemmuus ja tukeminen [Divorce, parenting, and support]. I will take on male friendships and discuss how and what kind of support is provided to a friend going through separation, divorce, or a break up. Very exciting! The book is published by University of Kuopio and Central Union for Child Welfare in Finland.
Additionally, I am writing an article to a book called Ero, vanhemmuus ja tukeminen [Divorce, parenting, and support]. I will take on male friendships and discuss how and what kind of support is provided to a friend going through separation, divorce, or a break up. Very exciting! The book is published by University of Kuopio and Central Union for Child Welfare in Finland.
Birth of Blog
Welcome to my new blog. I will present some of my research results and ideas here in the future. Also, I shall keep you posted on the work I am currently doing (e.g. articles and projects). I hope you will enjoy and comment on the things I create on the blog and on the dissertation!
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