An elaboration of the meaning of interaction involvement: Toward the development of a theoretical concept

The purpose of this research is to clarify and extend the meaning of interaction involvement. Three related studies are reported in this endeavor. The first study examines the factor structure of the interaction involvement scale and provides a reinterpretation of previously published results. The second study reports a correlational analysis of the newly interpreted involvement factors and several related concepts, including extraversion, neuroticism, self‐consciousness, communication apprehension, and five dimensions of interpersonal communication competence. The third study reports initial findings of the possible nonverbal manifestations of interaction involvement and provides directions for future research.