3.2 Uncertainty Management Theory

Uncertainty Management (UM)

  • Based on two post-positivist sources:
    • Uncertainty reduction theory (BERGER and CALABRESE 1975): managing uncertainty
    • Cognitive theory of uncertainty in illness (Mishel 1990): depending on context, uncertainty can be either good or bad
  • Uncertainty must be appraised.
  • Notion of management = control

Research and practical application (e.g., health, education, )
Evaluation: not achievable under post-positivist because of its blurry boundary conditions. But under interpretivist, it can make more sense due to its contextual meanings.

Application:
Taking Control: The Efficacy and Durability of a Peer-Led Uncertainty Management Intervention for People Recently Diagnosed With HIV (Brashers et al. 2016): Uncertainty management need to be adaptable. Due to the changing nature of HIV skills and information for patients need to be communicated continuously. Supported by the theories of social support, uncertainty management can be facilitated with peer support. participant report less illness-related uncertainty, greater access to social support, and more satisfaction with the social support compared to the control group. Illness uncertainty was assessed with (MISHEL 1981).

Example

(SHARABI and CAUGHLIN 2017) Effects of the first FtF date on romantic relationship development:

  • Relational choice models of romantic relationships: Choosing partners that make the most sense to you (fit an image of an ideal mates).
  • Disillusionment models of romantic relationship: When you see other’s aspects (e.g., personality, behaviors) of your partner, you might no longer be interested in your partner.

Predicting first date success in online dating

  • Similarity and uncertainty as predictors: users want to reduce uncertainty before meeting offline.
  • Communication as moderating role.

Interestingly, people disclose more deeply online compared to offline (Tidwell and Walther 2002)

References

BERGER, CHARLES R., and RICHARD J. CALABRESE. 1975. “SOME EXPLORATIONS IN INITIAL INTERACTION AND BEYOND: TOWARD a DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION.” Human Communication Research 1 (2): 99–112. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.1975.tb00258.x.

Brashers, Dale E., Erin D. Basinger, Lance S. Rintamaki, John P. Caughlin, and Michael Para. 2016. “Taking Control: The Efficacy and Durability of a Peer-Led Uncertainty Management Intervention for People Recently Diagnosed with HIV.” Health Communication 32 (1): 11–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2015.1089469.

Mishel, Merle H. 1990. “Reconceptualization of the Uncertainty in Illness Theory.” Image: The Journal of Nursing Scholarship 22 (4): 256–62. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.1990.tb00225.x.

MISHEL, MERLE H. 1981. “The Measurement of Uncertainty in Illness.” Nursing Research 30 (5): 258???263. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006199-198109000-00002.

SHARABI, LIESEL L., and JOHN P. CAUGHLIN. 2017. “What Predicts First Date Success? A Longitudinal Study of Modality Switching in Online Dating.” Personal Relationships 24 (2): 370–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12188.

Tidwell, Lisa Collins, and Joseph B. Walther. 2002. “Computer-Mediated Communication Effects on Disclosure, Impressions, and Interpersonal Evaluations: Getting to Know One Another a Bit at a Time.” Human Communication Research 28 (3): 317–48. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.2002.tb00811.x.