The absence of nonverbal cues in instant messaging: The effect of (high context) implicit messages on the perceived degree of conflict

The purpose of the present paper is to study the absence of nonverbal cues in instant messaging and its implications for effective communication among international students. Specifically this research project aims to examine the effect that implicit (high context) messages have on the perceived degree of conflict, when used by international students via instant messaging. Implicit messages are hereby described as entailing only a few words and mostly conveying meaning through nonverbal communication. In instant messaging nonverbal communication is missing. Hence it is assumed that the actual meaning of the message cannot be transmitted. The study is hereby following the main claim that misunderstandings are more likely to evolve in instant messaging and further leading to conflict due to the absence of nonverbal communication. In order to test what effect implicit messages actually have on the perceived degree of conflict an online experiment is administered. The sample consists of 170 international students recruited at an international University in the Netherlands. The theoretical frameworks of high context/low context and facework are used for the further operationalization of the concepts. The findings however show no significant results and no effect of implicit messages on the perceived degree of conflict is detected.