Communication ETDs

Publication Date

7-13-1977

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to isolate psycho­logical, sociological and environmental variables which interact with proximity in determining friendship formation and communication behaviors for a particular subpopulation, the elderly. Subjects were residents of four architectur­ally different, low-income, elderly apartment complexes in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

A two-part questionnaire was distributed to the door­steps of the 338 residents of the four apartment complexes. Part I of the questionnaire consisted of multiple-choice questions related to personal factors and participation in social activities. Part II of the questionnaire was a com­munication survey. Residents were asked to name five friends in the complex and recall their communication activities with those friends during the previous week. Information was re­quested on location of contacts, subjects discussed, fre­quency of contacts, and prior friendship. Statistical signi­ficance of frequency differences was determined by means of Chi2 tests.

From a questionnaire return rate of 57.7 percent, findings indicated that residents were comparable in terms of sex, mobility, living arrangements, and community activ­ities. Discrepancies between apartment complexes were noted in age distribution, educational levels, and participation in complex activities. Former friendship was a potent determinant of current friendship regardless of geographical or architectural factors.

Proximity affected friendship formation in that approx­imately half of the friends listed resided in nearby apart­ments. Communication activity was higher for nearby neighbors only in the high-rise complexes. Central location was not related to the highest levels of communication activity. The most striking architectural finding was the degree to which residents of the two-building complex were building-bound in their choice of friends.

Confounding factors related to ethnic background, educational levels, and degree of government sponsorship were discussed. Selection of a more homogeneous or matching heterogeneous populations was recommended for future studies to facilitate more definitive architectural conclusions.

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Communication

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Department of Communication and Journalism

First Committee Member (Chair)

Ralph Wayne Pace

Second Committee Member

Timothy Gary Plax

Third Committee Member

Melvin Lawrence De Fleur

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