Online dating interactions: a discursive look

The most important aspect of online dating is the messaging. Resting upon that argument, this project discursively analyzes naturally-occurring interactions between users on two online dating sites. Current facework, relationship initiation, and online dating research lacks a systematic understanding of the conversational processes involved in establishing a relationship online. This thesis addresses that deficit of understanding. Results show that there is a sequence and a set of resources that online dating users draw upon to get acquainted; suggesting a new typology of opening gambits based on technological affordances. Results also show that users openly negotiate the process of relationship initiation, discussing both the interaction situation and their performances. Overall, this investigation provides insights that give researchers and online dating users a deeper and more complete understanding of the work that is done on a turn-by-turn, conversational level in the online dance of courtship.