UTS Reading Club: Meeting Summary

Here's a quick summary of the reading club's last meeting on 12 April 2012.

Reading: 

The finer points of lying online: e-mail versus pen and paper
Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol 95 (2), March 2010, pp 387-394
By: Charles E Naquin, Terri R. Kurtzberg, and Liuba Y. Belkin



In this article, the authors presented the results of 3 experimental studies to prove that people lie more online than they do via paper. What do you think? Is it easier, or are we more likely to lie when using online communication methods?

Vocabulary: 

• empirical research: Systematic study of observable, recurring behavior yielding measurable results. (definition from McGraw-Hill)
  e.g. Empirical research findings can give more weight to your arguments.
• to transgress / transgression: An act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offense
  e.g. Is it a moral transgression to lie in order to protect someone's feelings?
• to deviate / deviation: The action of departing from an established course or accepted standard
  e.g. At our meeting today, we discussed why people deviate from social norms in regards to deceptive behaviour.
• mechanism: A natural or established process by which something takes place or is brought about
  e.g. The article discussed several mechanisms people use to justify lying or deceptive behaviour.
• self-regulatory: (for individuals) The process of consciously managing different internal states
  e.g. Some people would argue that self-regulatory moral codes are insufficient in ensuring moral behaviour.
• moral disengagement: Rationalizing immoral behavior as legitimate, as a way of justifying one's own bad acts (definition from McGraw-Hill)
  e.g. The authors argue that moral disengagement is more likely to occur when communicating online.

Next meeting: 

• Thursday 26 April in Room 4G (Level 4 Lecture Room) 2.00-3.30 pm