In a two-part field study, we studied the communication tool use of 29 college students and 20 recent college graduates. In comparing the two groups' communication choices, we explored how transitioning from attending college to working full time impacts communication. We discuss how communication changes for recent college graduates in terms of both the content of their conversations, as well as the communication methods they use. We found that convenience plays a major role in the adoption and usage of communication tools, with participants preferring methods that were easily accessible at work, at home and in transit. We identify life changes recent graduates experience as they transition into emerging adulthood: the effect of being on a computer at work all day, changing social circles and scenes, being geographically distant from friends and family, and the desire for a professional persona. We discuss the impact of these changes on communication

1. From Dorms to Cubicles:
How Recent Graduates Communicate
David Choi, Facebook (@dachoi)
Judy Chen, Google
Debra Kumar, Google
Stephanie Wu, Google
Aruna Balakrishnan, Google
HICSS
January 10, 2015

2. Background and Motivation
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3. Background and Motivation
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4. 4
Previous work
• Smith et al. (2012) - College freshman & their
parents preferred using text messaging. Perceived
email as formal, impersonal
• Grinter & Palen (2002) - Teen use of instant
messaging changed as they transitioned to college
after high school
• Birnholtz (2010) - Teens found more utility in IM
than college students.

5. What happens after graduation?
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6. • What lifestyle changes do recent graduates
experience?
• How does communication change as recent
graduates move into the workforce as emerging
adults?
• How do lifestyle changes impact communication
behavior?
Research Questions
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7. • Two sets of field visits
- 29 college students
- 20 recent college graduates
• Social communication map
• Communication history from the past 24 hours
• Analysis: affinity diagram and open coding
Methodology
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8. • Adapting a more structured schedule
• Reduction in the density of one’s immediate social
network
• Adopting a professional persona
Lifestyle Changes
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9. Communication Breakdown
% of conversations conducted over each communication method
in past 24 hours, across all participants
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10. • Recent grads experience a restructuring of their
daily schedules and routines
• Often sitting at a computer, at the same location, or
extended periods of time.
• Less time being on the go, doing different activities,
less flexibility in their schedules.
Adapting to a
structured schedule
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11. • Text-based communication [e.g., email, IM, text
messaging] became more convenient.
• Text messaging was non-disruptive and did not
require an immediate response
• Email no longer considered as “slow.”
• In college, IM was infrequently used. Now it
became a place to catch up
- ongoing, open stream of communication
- most conversations took place during the workday
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Adapting to a
structured schedule

12. • Recent graduates reported their social circles becoming
less dense, compared to college
- Smaller number of contacts
- Geographically distributed instead of centered around a college
campus
• Social planning was less spontaneous, often taking place
over email.
• Texting for social planning is more common with
people who are close by/more available.
Now, I just communicate with the home people, as opposed to college people.
People who are around New York... I don't see [my friends from college] everyday
anymore, so [there is] less of a reason for me to talk to them. –Vance, recent
graduate
Shrinking social circles
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13. Recent Grads
Close
ties
Close
ties
Weak
ties
Weak
ties
College Students
Email became more personal
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14. • In college & post-graduation, Facebook is used as a
lightweight way of keeping in touch through likes,
comments, statuses photos, video links.
• Concerns about how Facebook profiles shaped their
public personas
- More selective about shared content
- Restricting access to profiles
- “Guilty by association”
• Sharing meaningful content via broadcast
- Email was reserved for small, select audiences
Desire for a professional persona
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15. • Changes in communication behavior are the result
of lifestyle changes.
- Lightweight ways of keeping in touch is consistent.
• Other lifestyle changes that potentially could change
communication behavior
- Marriage
- Having children
- Divorce
- Retirement
• New tools/products: ex. WhatsApp, Instagram,
SnapChat, Viber
Implications & Future Research
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16. Questions?
@dachoi
Thanks
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17. Appendix
Appendix
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18. • myriad of communication devices and products that
support multiple communication methods
- should anticipate lifestyle changes
- promote different methods or previously underutilized
features
implications for design [cont’d]
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19. Communication Distribution
23%
10%
15%
30%
21%
Phone
Text/SMS
Email
Instant Messaging
Facebook
how college students communicated
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20. • texting is casual, non-
interruptive and more likely to
generate a quicker response
• majority of conversations over
SMS were with close contacts
• conversation topics
- updates on personal life
- organizing get togethers
texting/SMS was the preferred method
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21. • 73% phone conversations with with close contacts
• half of all phone conversations were organizing in
person activities, usually urgent status notifications
• catching up with people
phone calls were for close contacts
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22. • primarily used for school or professional-related
purposes
• media sharing
Most of my friends reserve email for more official or professional
conversations... Communicating with my professors about an
assignment or someone at work. Or... People I don't know... Adults.
–Katie, college student
email was considered formal
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23. • college students reported low IM use
• often mobile
• mostly used for organizing in-person activities; less
for catching up
instant messaging was rarely used
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24. • broadcast sharing
• lightweight way of staying in touch
• discussing media: photos, videos, news articles,
links
facebook was the most casual method
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25. • lifestyle changes are not exclusive to the emerging
adulthood transition
• opportunities to investigate how other lifestyle
transitions impact communication practices
future work
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