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.

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

Download

COinS