ABSTRACT
Framing is a complex concept that functions as root metaphor about the symbolic representation of social reality. Commutation refers to a social constructive mechanism for differentiating between the intersubjective experience of everyday, or routine, social reality and other meaningfully interpretable embedded senses of reality contexts in which individuals also interact. This chapter investigates how participants in groups that use computer-mediated communication (CMC) technology overtly employ technologically implemented framing devices through message construction and editing features in the software supporting group communication. Online groups are formed to satisfy various objectives. In the chapter, these objectives were assessed by researchers involved in message coding. Message sampling terminated when a target of 100 messages was reached. The expressive content of online messages, dependent variables in this study, is defined according to McKelton, Mabry, and Katzman's (1997) investigation of sincerity affectations in online groups. Thus, it seems essential for communication scholars to continue developing insights about communication practices like textual framing in mediated contexts.
