Grounding needs: Achieving common ground via lightweight chat in large, distributed, ad-hoc groups

Jeremy P. Birnholtz*, Thomas A. Finholt, Daniel B. Horn, Sung Joo Bae

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper reports on the emergent use of lightweight text chat to provide important grounding and facilitation information in a large, distributed, ad-hoc group of researchers participating in a live experiment. The success of chat in this setting suggests a critical re-examination and extension of Clark and Brennan's work on grounding in communication. Specifically, it is argued that there are some settings characterized by reduced information and clarification needs, where the use of extremely lightweight tools (such as basic text chat) can be sufficient for achieving common ground - even when conversational participants are unknown to each other. Theoretical and design implications are then presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationCHI 2005
Subtitle of host publicationTechnology, Safety, Community: Conference Proceedings - Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
Pages21-30
Number of pages10
ISBN (Print)1581139985, 9781581139983
StatePublished - 2005
EventCHI 2005: Technology, Safety, Community - Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Portland, OR, United States
Duration: Apr 2 2005Apr 7 2005

Publication series

NameConference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings
ISSN (Print)0274-9696

Other

OtherCHI 2005: Technology, Safety, Community - Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPortland, OR
Period4/2/054/7/05

Keywords

  • Chat
  • Collaboratories
  • Common ground
  • Cyberinfrastructure
  • Cyberscience
  • Distributed groups
  • Instant messaging

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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