Michael J. Gournaris, Psychology

Telecommunications media, such as telephones and videoconference systems are increasingly replacing face-to-face communication. The implications for mental health care are only now beginning to be evident. Video-mediated communication (VMC) potentially offers us the benefits of face-to-face communication over long distances. Researchers need to develop more studies to assess the effectiveness of the VMC process with deaf individuals. The aim of this proposed study is to compare performance and effects on communication in face-to-face and VMC situations for deaf individuals, The evaluation of task performance will be based on video and face-to-face modalities using a Map Task in which a deaf instructor using American Sign Language describes map directions to deaf subjects who mark routes as instructed. The Map Task assesses the performance of subjects on two collaborative problem-solving tasks. The purpose of the Map Task is to elicit natural, spontaneous, and yet content-controlled dialogues. The conversations between deaf speakers in different rooms linked by high-quality analogue video will be compared to face-to-face communication to see if VMC will deliver the same efficiency benefits as face-to-face situations. The results may have profound implications for mental health service delivery to deaf individuals in areas that lack mental health service providers who can communicate effectively with this population.