The Effect of Interactivity on Initial Interactions: The Influence of Information Seeking Role on Computer-Mediated Interaction

Predictions based on the principle of interactivity regarding the influence of structural affordances (information seeking role, information valence, communication format [study 2 only]) on experiences of interactivity (involvement, mutuality) and interaction outcomes (postinteraction uncertainty, predictions of future relational outcomes) were tested in 2 experimental studies. The overall results indicate that information seeking role and information valence significantly influenced the degree of interactivity experienced and positivity of relational outcomes forecasted. The communication format moderated the effect of information seeking role on uncertainty. Regression analyses indicated that the effect of the structural affordances on initial interaction outcomes was partially mediated by the experiential properties.

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