Frequently asked questions

1. Which communication service is more likely to make people feel equal in a meeting?
2. Which communication service is more likely to make people feel unequal in a meeting?
3. Is video communication better than audio communication for making people feel equal in a meeting?
4. What kind of psychological dimensions may effect participant status?

1. Which communication service is more likely to make people feel equal in a meeting?

Common Intermediate Format. There is little research on this topic and a definitive answer is not possible. However, there is evidence that loud-speaking audio communication may exaggerate the effect that higher status people in business meetings talk more. The amount of talking may increase and the amount of turn taking decrease compared with actual face-to-face communication. There is also evidence that video communication may make lower status persons feel more equal. It could therefore be possible that video communication has advantages over face-to-face communication and that audio communication has limitations for encouraging the participation of lower status communication partners.

2. Which communication service is more likely to make people feel unequal in a meeting?

There is little research on this topic and a definitive answer is not possible. However, there is evidence that loud-speaking audio communication may exaggerate the effect that higher status people in business meetings talk more. The amount of talking may increase and the amount of turn taking decrease compared with actual face-to-face communication. There is also evidence that video communication may make lower status persons feel more equal.

It could therefore be possible that audio communication has limitations for encouraging the participation of lower status communication partners and video communication has advantages over face-to-face communication.

3. Is video communication better than audio communication for making people feel equal in a meeting?

There is little research on this topic and a definitive answer is not possible. However, there is evidence to suggest that that video communication may have advantages over face-to-face communication and that audio communication may have limitations for encouraging the participation of lower status communication partners.

If video communication is chosen deliberately to make people feel more equal in a meeting it should be of high enough quality. For example, the asynchrony between the audio and video should be less than 200 ms. This is because video communication with 200 ms asynchrony may lead to communications similar to audio communication in terms of the numbers of turns and words spoken. Video communication with 200 ms asynchrony may therefore lead to communications similar to audio communication in terms of exaggerating the effect that higher status people talk more.

4. What kind of psychological dimensions may effect participant status?

Participant status is a multi-dimensional characteristic. It is probably influenced by at least one or more of the basic psychological dimensions:

• Symmetry – The extent to which the communicating parties are equal with respect to expertise or control of the interaction
• Role - whether the participant receives or gives information
• Involvement - The extent to which the participants feel that they are involved in the communication as individuals or performing some role
• Formality – The relative amount of ceremonious, conventional communication or casual, unconstrained communication.

For example, a senior communication partner may be perceived as dominating a communication because they assume a certain level of expertise and role. Another may dominate a communication by creating a sense of formality.