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Article Abstract

Title: Portable social groups: willingness to communicate, interpersonal communication gratifications, and cell phone use among young adults
  Author: Philip J. Auter   Email author(s)
  Address: Department of Communication, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Burke-Hawthorne 107, P.O. Box 43650, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
  Journal: International Journal of Mobile Communications 2007 - Vol. 5, No.2  pp. 139 - 156
  Abstract: This study looked at young adult cell phone usage patterns. Results of a survey of 182 students at a large southern university revealed that respondents typically used their phones an average of 10.5 hours per week – the overwhelming majority of that with traditional calling. Features and services that were regularly utilised related to interpersonal communication. Limited support was found for the hypothesis that cell phone use may be utilised to avoid communication apprehension events. Stronger support was found for the hypothesis that interpersonal communication motives are positively correlated with cell phone usage gratifications.
  Keywords: cell phones; mobile services; young adults; willingness to communicate; phone usage; mobile technology use; m-services; mobile communications; interpersonal communication; social groups; usage gratification; mobile phones.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2007.011813
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