The Flip Side: An Investigation into the Depersonalization of Communication

Abstract

The author investigated the depersonalization of student communication in grades six through twelve. The Flip Side Survey was run to focus in on whether or not the use of instant message programs and text messages via cellular telephones is depersonalizing communication between 6th through 12th grade students (N=213). Depersonalization was broken down in to five constructs: empathy, compassion, conversational cue usage, personal communication skills, and consequence recognition. Each construct was measured in relationship to face-to-face communication and each question was repeated in relationship to text message and instant message communication. The results showed little evidence to support the depersonalization of communication due to the use of text/instant messaging.