Internal Consistency and Reliability of the Networked Minds Measure of Social Presence

Abstract

This study sought to develop and test a measure of social presence. Based on review of current definitions and measures, a synthesis of the theoretical construct that meets the criteria and dimensions [1] is proposed for a broad successful measure of social presence. An experiment was conducted to test the internal consistency and criterion validity of the measures as determined by theory, specifically the ability of the measure to distinguish levels of social presence that almost all theories suggest exist between (1) face-to-face interaction and mediated interaction, and (2) different levels of mediated interaction.