Ronald L. Rice

Ronald L. Rice is an American scholar renowned for his foundational work at the intersection of communication theory, information technology, and organizational behavior. His research has profoundly shaped understanding of how media systems and communication networks influence the adoption and social implications of new technologies within institutions. A prolific author and esteemed professor, his career has been dedicated to examining the co-evolution of technology and social practice, earning him recognition as a leading figure in social informatics and organizational communication.

Early life and education

Rice completed his undergraduate education at Stanford University, where he developed an early interest in the social dimensions of information processing. He then pursued graduate studies at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, earning his Master's and Ph.D. degrees. His doctoral work, influenced by seminal thinkers like Everett Rogers and foundational theories such as the social construction of technology, laid the groundwork for his future interdisciplinary research bridging mass communication and management information systems.

Academic career

Rice began his academic career with a faculty position at the University of Kentucky, contributing to the growth of its communication studies program. He later joined the faculty at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where he held a professorship in the Department of Communication and affiliated with the Center for Information Technology and Society. At UCSB, he mentored numerous doctoral students and collaborated with scholars like James E. Katz and Sandra J. Ball-Rokeach, further solidifying the university's reputation in media research. He has also held visiting positions at institutions including the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University.

Research and contributions

Rice's research is characterized by its empirical examination of how organizations and individuals adapt to computer-mediated communication and information systems. He is widely cited for his development and testing of the dual-capacity model, which explains how communication channels possess both data-carrying and social-relational capacities. His extensive work on the diffusion of innovations, building upon the framework of Everett Rogers, has explored adoption patterns of technologies from electronic mail to collaborative software. He has made significant contributions to the field of social informatics, investigating topics such as Internet use, knowledge management, and network analysis, often publishing in top journals like Communication Research and Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology.

Awards and honors

In recognition of his scholarly impact, Rice has been elected a Fellow of the International Communication Association (ICA), one of the highest honors in the field. He is a recipient of the prestigious Steven H. Chaffee Career Achievement Award from the ICA's Information Systems Division. His influential edited volume, *The New Media: Communication, Research, and Technology*, is considered a classic text. Furthermore, his research has been supported by grants from agencies like the National Science Foundation and he has served in leadership roles for major academic associations including the International Communication Association and the American Society for Information Science and Technology.

Selected publications

* *The New Media: Communication, Research, and Technology* (1984) * *Managing Organizational Innovation* (1987) * *The Internet and Health Communication: Experiences and Expectations* (2001, with J.E. Katz) * *Social Consequences of Internet Use: Access, Involvement, and Interaction* (2002, with J.E. Katz) * *The Oxford Handbook of Information and Communication Technologies* (2007, co-editor) * Numerous articles in journals such as Human Communication Research, Management Science, MIS Quarterly, and Journal of Communication.

Category:American communication scholars Category:Information scientists Category:University of California, Santa Barbara faculty Category:University of Kentucky faculty Category:Stanford University alumni Category:University of Southern California alumni