Titre du document / Document title

Research on Gossip: Taxonomy, methods, and future directions

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

FOSTER Eric K. ⁽¹⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ University of Pennsylvania, ETATS-UNIS

Résumé / Abstract

A half century of gossip research from multiple disciplines is reviewed. Discussed are definitions of the construct; social, evolutionary, and personal functions of the practice; and data collection methods. Though people engage in the practice frequently, there has been relatively little psychological research on gossip. The layperson's understanding of the term is included in, but insufficient to encompass, definitions used by researchers. Most data are ethnographic and discursive, and few parametric data exist. The area could benefit from better experimental methods and instruments. Neurobiological and social network analysis methods are promising foundations for further study. There are real-world implications for understanding gossip. Strengthening gossip theory and research methods will beneficially inform the way we view the practice in context.

Revue / Journal Title

Review of general psychology   ISSN 1089-2680 

Source / Source

2004, vol. 8, n^o 2 (67 p.)  [Document : 22 p.] (2 p.3/4), pp. 78-99 [22 page(s) (article)]

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Educational Publishing Foundation, Washington, DC, ETATS-UNIS  (1997) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Human ; Review ; Methodology ; Classification ; Evaluation ; Social interaction ; Communication ; Social behavior ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Homme ; Article synthèse ; Méthodologie ; Classification ; Evaluation ; Interaction sociale ; Communication ; Comportement social ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Hombre ; Artículo síntesis ; Metodología ; Clasificación ; Evaluación ; Interacción social ; Comunicación ; Conducta social ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 27004, 35400011458917.0010