Identifier

etd-07032012-125234

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication Studies

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

In troubles talk conversations, problems are disclosed and discussed. When responding to problem disclosures, advice is one common response where the respondent recommends how to think, feel or act in response to a problem. This thesis focuses on extending our understanding of advice messages, with a main research question focused on determining if advice occurs in initial interactions between strangers. Through an analysis of 125 transcribed conversations, advice was present in 38.4% (n = 44) of the conversations. Advice was offered in response to less serious problems, supporting the first hypothesis. There was no support found for the positive association between the presence of advice and positive evaluations of helpfulness; additionally, there was no support found for a negative association between the presence of advice and negative evaluations of supportiveness or sensitivity. Finally, no difference was found supporting a decreased desire to interact further with an advice giver. While advice occurs in initial interactions, there may be additional influences beyond the provision of advice messages influencing helper evaluations of supportiveness and the desire for future interactions.

Date

2012

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Bodie, Graham D.

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.1725

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Communication Commons

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