Date of Award
12-1-2000
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Communication
First Advisor
Dr. Randall Rose
Abstract
Examination of workplace friendship development is currently an important emerging research area. This study investigated the factors and communication changes that impacted workplace friendship development in an information technology organization. Additionally, the level to which relationship partners agreed about the factors and communication changes their relationship had experienced was also examined. Findings suggested proximity, shared tasks, perceived similarity, and increased openness were important in early friendship development. Further sharingof personal information, such as life experiences and spending time together outside of work, brought friends even closer. Increased closeness over time lead relationship partners to be considered almost best friends. The reported level of agreement regarding the communication changes that impacted relationships was not as high as the levels of agreement for the factors that impacted relationships.
Recommended Citation
Fristoe, Courtney E., "The Ties That Bind: Friendship Development in an Information Technology Work Environment" (2000). Student Work. 1695.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork/1695
Comments
A Thesis Presented to the Department of Communication and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts University of Nebraska at Omaha. Copyright Courtney E. Fristoe December, 2000