Computer-Mediated Communication
Approaches and Perspectives
(Second Edition)
©2025, 294 pages
Paperback list price: $77.95
Cognella Direct Ebook: $66.95
You save $11 (14%)
Learn about all formats available for adoption
Bookstore Managers: contact orders@cognella.com to place an order
Cognella Active Learning
is available with this title.
Learn More
Computer-Mediated Communication: Approaches and Perspectives describes five approaches to understanding the influences of technologically mediated communication on our interpersonal and social relationships.
These five approaches examine the constraints, experience, relationships, interactions, and implications of CMC. The book describes the constraints through the perspectives of media richness, naturalness, synchronicity, and affordances. Experience focuses on the personal, presence, and propinquity of CMC. Relationship influences include social information processing, hyperpersonal, and deindividuation effects. The interactions approach considers individuals, groups, and communities. Implications discuss the Proteus effect and actor-networks.
The second edition substantially updates each perspective. Every chapter includes a description of the perspective, its multiple applications, analysis and critique, in practice examples, illustration of concepts, ethics challenge, and a set of discussion questions.
John C. Sherblom is a professor emeritus of communication and journalism at the University of Maine. He is past editor of The Journal of Business Communication and of Communication Research Reports. He has published numerous journal articles on interpersonal and computer-mediated communication.
Judith E. Rosenbaum is an associate professor of media studies and the chair of the Department of Communication and Journalism at the University of Maine. Her research focuses on media and news literacy; spoilers and the enjoyment of media narratives; and the role social media play in individual relationships and society at large.
Cognella Active Learning is available for this title! Adopting instructors can provide students with dynamic online learning activities that reinforce key concepts from the text, provide engaging educational experiences, and support various learning styles.
Please note: Cognella Active Learning can be bundled for purchase with the text or posted separately. Contact us to learn about bundle discounts.
The Cognella Active Learning content for Computer-Mediated Communication includes:
To see a full demo, please email us and one of our adoption specialists will follow up with you.
Please note: Cognella Active Learning can be bundled for purchase with the text or posted separately. Contact us to learn about bundle discounts.
The Cognella Active Learning content for Computer-Mediated Communication includes:
- 15 decks of digital flashcards
- 14 discussion questions
- 3 quizzes per chapter
- 14 chapter reflection assignments
To see a full demo, please email us and one of our adoption specialists will follow up with you.
Formats and Bulk Order Pricing for Confirmed Adoptions
Publisher Direct Versions — Available through the Cognella Student Store for confirmed adoptions |
||
|
$66.95
Best Value! |
Publisher Direct Ebook | Publisher Direct ebooks are available in your Cognella account immediately after purchase and provide access for 180 days. Our ebooks run on VitalSource and RedShelf with perpetual/annual options available. |
|
$73.95
Shipping Included! |
Publisher Direct Paperback | These special, discounted paperback editions are sold exclusively through the Cognella Student Store (store.cognella.com) for confirmed adoptions. They are not available through other retailers. The books are printed on demand, do not have an ISBN, and are not intended for resale, which results in savings we pass along to students. Most Publisher Direct Paperbacks also come with free, immediate access to the first 30% of the ebook and shipping included. |
| $24.95 | Standalone Cognella Active Learning | Cognella Active Learning provides dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Free with purchase of textbook or ebook. |
Higher Education Bookstore Pricing — These suggested retail prices include a total projected mark-up of 25% |
||
|
Inclusive Access Available!
|
Ebook 979-8-8233-6021-0 |
We partner with VitalSource, Kortext, and RedShelf to provide day-one access to students through campus bookstores. Bookstores and these vendors share in the total projected mark-up. Learn more about Inclusive Access at cognella.com/inclusive-access. Contact us for details. |
| $77.95 | Paperback 979-8-8233-0798-7 |
Standard paperback version. Contact us for course adoptions; also available for individual purchase through national wholesalers and retailers — and from our website directly — see Purchase button above. |
| $77.95 | Paperback + Cognella Active Learning Code 979-8-8233-5462-2 |
Cognella Active Learning provides students with dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Access codes are available with print books or ebooks. Contact us for course adoptions; not available for individual purchase. |
| See more options | ||
| Other Formats Talk to a rep for details |
Other formats (perforated, hardcover, etc.) may be available. Contact us for course adoptions; specialty formats are not available for individual purchase. | |
| $24.95 | Standalone Cognella Active Learning Talk to a rep for ISBN details |
Cognella Active Learning provides dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Does not include the ebook. Contact us for course adoptions; not available for individual purchase. |
Adopting instructors will receive PowerPoints, sample activities, an instructor's manual, and a sample syllabus.
"The book is extremely straightforward and avoids being too dense when approaching the theoretical aspects CMC theory and yet still manages to provide examples of practice or theory. Additionally, it is important to point out that I developed and taught the course as a Computer Science & Technology faculty member as the Communications department was short a faculty member. While having significant experience at the undergraduate level and professional level, I had been looking for material that facilitated approaching it from that perspective. This text was at the right level for both the students and myself in that capacity. [...] [The second edition balances] very well the introduction of potentially complex communication theory while avoiding becoming a thick reference manual or simply a collection of research articles. That approachability, while still containing enough material to cover a topic, is a difficult point to hit and the book [does] that well."
Jakob E. Barnard, University of Jamestown
"[T]he text is not overly complicated; it is very appropriate for an undergrad level course. In particular, it does not read as “theory heavy” and when theories are discussed, their components are clearly articulated in an orderly way. I am currently using a different text that I’ve found to be more jumbled/less clear in some ways. [...] Part of what attracted me is that it is available! Seriously though, there are not many CMC texts out there or at least ones that are newer/relevant. Upon initially reviewing [the first edition], I found it to include some topics that I wanted to address in class, present a nice blend of theory and practical info, have clear organization, and was written at the appropriate level (would not be overly confusing to students)."
Traci L. Anderson, St. Cloud State University
"The text has been most valuable as a well-organized compilation of theories and research. I supplement a lot but Sherblom has covered a lot of ground that I did not have strong reading in. I think it is a very strong book – it has allowed me to spend more time with facilitating understanding and less time on simply finding and sharing the relevant information. [...] [The first edition’s] coherence and content is what initially attracted me to the book]. I needed that as a foundation for the students. It also helped me rethink how I was approaching CMC as a topic area."
John W. Howard, III, East Carolina University
"A clear and concise summary of computer-mediated communication. If you plan on discussing how technology has affected the field of communication, this is the book for you."
Scott Christen, Tennessee Tech University
"The most recent book on an important topic. This is highly valuable because the field moves quickly. The textbook feels like it is trying to be comprehensive. This is valuable because other books on CMC usually just specialize on discussing less topics. The book is well-organized, with good previews, transitions, and summaries—and discussion questions. This is valuable because it is focuses on pedagogy in addition to research."
Scott Haden Church, Brigham Young University
"The textbook helps frame theoretic perspectives that students may learn more about through their research projects and presentation."
Jeremy Harris Lipschultz, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Reviews from the First Edition
“[Sherblom] offers a fresh take on a dynamic field. I particularly appreciate how the topics are examined through a theoretical lens and the breadth of subject matter. The text covers a tremendous range of CMC dimensions, from the technological, to the societal, to the group/network, to the individual. There is something in here for everyone, which is important for facilitating discussion in an undergraduate class.”
Scott W. Campbell, Constance F. and Arnold C. Pohs Professor of Telecommunications, University of Michigan
“The book is a valuable resource in terms of the theories covered and the critiques/analysis offered. … The most impressive part is the reflection on ethics in each chapter. … [This book] is much needed in our field.”
Lesley A. Withers, Professor of Communication and Director of the Presentation Skills Center, Central Michigan University
“The theoretical approach will make the findings relevant for longer than some other CMC textbooks. It is clearly and firmly grounded in human communication concepts and research, which can also be very difficult to find in CMC textbooks.”
Erin K. Ruppel, Associate Professor of Communications and Graduate Program Director, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Jakob E. Barnard, University of Jamestown
"[T]he text is not overly complicated; it is very appropriate for an undergrad level course. In particular, it does not read as “theory heavy” and when theories are discussed, their components are clearly articulated in an orderly way. I am currently using a different text that I’ve found to be more jumbled/less clear in some ways. [...] Part of what attracted me is that it is available! Seriously though, there are not many CMC texts out there or at least ones that are newer/relevant. Upon initially reviewing [the first edition], I found it to include some topics that I wanted to address in class, present a nice blend of theory and practical info, have clear organization, and was written at the appropriate level (would not be overly confusing to students)."
Traci L. Anderson, St. Cloud State University
"The text has been most valuable as a well-organized compilation of theories and research. I supplement a lot but Sherblom has covered a lot of ground that I did not have strong reading in. I think it is a very strong book – it has allowed me to spend more time with facilitating understanding and less time on simply finding and sharing the relevant information. [...] [The first edition’s] coherence and content is what initially attracted me to the book]. I needed that as a foundation for the students. It also helped me rethink how I was approaching CMC as a topic area."
John W. Howard, III, East Carolina University
"A clear and concise summary of computer-mediated communication. If you plan on discussing how technology has affected the field of communication, this is the book for you."
Scott Christen, Tennessee Tech University
"The most recent book on an important topic. This is highly valuable because the field moves quickly. The textbook feels like it is trying to be comprehensive. This is valuable because other books on CMC usually just specialize on discussing less topics. The book is well-organized, with good previews, transitions, and summaries—and discussion questions. This is valuable because it is focuses on pedagogy in addition to research."
Scott Haden Church, Brigham Young University
"The textbook helps frame theoretic perspectives that students may learn more about through their research projects and presentation."
Jeremy Harris Lipschultz, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Reviews from the First Edition
“[Sherblom] offers a fresh take on a dynamic field. I particularly appreciate how the topics are examined through a theoretical lens and the breadth of subject matter. The text covers a tremendous range of CMC dimensions, from the technological, to the societal, to the group/network, to the individual. There is something in here for everyone, which is important for facilitating discussion in an undergraduate class.”
Scott W. Campbell, Constance F. and Arnold C. Pohs Professor of Telecommunications, University of Michigan
“The book is a valuable resource in terms of the theories covered and the critiques/analysis offered. … The most impressive part is the reflection on ethics in each chapter. … [This book] is much needed in our field.”
Lesley A. Withers, Professor of Communication and Director of the Presentation Skills Center, Central Michigan University
“The theoretical approach will make the findings relevant for longer than some other CMC textbooks. It is clearly and firmly grounded in human communication concepts and research, which can also be very difficult to find in CMC textbooks.”
Erin K. Ruppel, Associate Professor of Communications and Graduate Program Director, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
