Home Alone: Home-Based Business People and Their Communication Needs

Date of Graduation

Fall 1995

Degree

Master of Arts in Communication

Department

Communication

Committee Chair

Gloria Galanes

Abstract

This study focuses on the communication needs of home-based business people and the strategies they use to satisfy those needs. Members of the Missouri Home-based Business Association were surveyed to obtain results. The results described the communication motives of home-based business people, as well as what strategies they used and how effective those strategies were. Home-based business poeple were found to communicate for affection, pleasure and control. Significant correlations were found between specific communication motives and the perceived effectiveness of specific strategies, such as having breakfast or lunch with someone in one's field and talking on the phone. In addition, serveral significant differences were found in communication motives and effectiveness ratings of strategies of men and women. For examples, women are more likely to communicate for pleasure, affection and inclusion than men. This quantitative study shows interesting and practical results which can be applied by future researchers as well as by home-based business people.

Subject Categories

Communication

Copyright

© Jeanne A Austin

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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