Impression management in computer-mediated communication : an exploratory qualitative analysis

This study investigates the phenomenon of impression management in computer-mediated communication (CMC), particularly chat rooms. Past research has overlooked the occurrence of this phenomenon; however, connections can be drawn from the body of research on impression management in face-to-face communication as well as the body of research on CMC. Indeed, impression management is an integral part of chat room interaction.A screening survey was administered to 382 college students to identify those students who interacted in chat rooms regularly and admitted to engaging in impression management and misrepresenting their identities. Ten such students were interviewed. Their accounts were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the grounded theory methodology. The analysis revealed that a set of antecedent conditions influence the phenomenon of impression management, which is managed by two action/interactional strategies and results in an outcome.