Media Richness Theory: Testing E-mail vs. V-mail for Conveying Student Feedback
Roy D. Johnson, MarkKeil
Using Media Richness Theory (MRT) as the theoreticalframework, this study compared the effects ofusing electronic mail (e-mail) to voice mail (v-mail) over the Internet toprovide studentfeedback. MRTwouldpredict that v-matl would be perceived as higher than e-mail in media richness. Results indicate, however, that the two media were not significantly different in terms ofperceived media richness. Both e-mail and v-mail were perceived as capable of providing a reasonably high quality offeedback. Implications ofthese findings are discussed.
Roy D. Johnson is an assistant professor of computer information systems (CIS) in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. His research interests include creativity, business ethics, critical thinking, andpedagogical issues in information systems. Dr. Johnson earned his bachelor and master degrees from Appalachian State University, his doctorate from the University ofOregon, and has completed postdoctoral work at the University of Minnesota andIndiana University.
MarkKeil is a professor of computer information systems (CIS) in the 1.Mack Robinson College ofBusiness at Georgia State University. His research focuses on software project management and his work has appeared in MIS Quarterly, Sloan Management Review, Journal of Management Information Systems, and many others. Dr. Keil earned his bachelor degree from Princeton University, his master from MIT's Sloan School of Management, and his doctorate from the Harvard Business School.
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