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First and Last Name

Professor Name

ENGL 1301 – XXXXX

01 Nov, 2023

Annotated Bibliography

Thesis: Within the realm of social interactions and well-being, small talk emerges as a complex

and significant factor, fostering connections, alleviating loneliness, and contributing to positive

mental health, thereby challenging the conventional perception of small talk as mere superficial

conversation.

Mannering, Lindsay. “The Awkward but Essential Art of Office Chitchat.” The New York

Times, 17 Sept. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/style/the-awkward-art-of-office-

small-talk.html.

The main focus of the article is to elaborate on the positive influence of having small

talks among coworkers on their workability. The article explores multiple strategies for avoiding

small talks with colleagues that are followed by 2.9 billion people out of the total 3 billion people

who go to work daily. Along with these strategies, different perspectives of working people are

also highlighted that justify their adopted strategies of avoiding interactions and conversations

with their colleagues at work. These justifications include the self-preservation attitude,

awkwardness, hesitation, lack of interest, fear of acting dumb, and considering small talk as

distractions in performing more smartly at work. In addition to this, the article has also explained

the alternative approach that suggests the benefits of connecting with your colleagues at work.

The author emphasizes that small talk, with its focus on building relationships, is a crucial

component of creating a supportive working environment and team-building (Mannering,

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Lindsay). Small talks among coworkers help build trust and reliance that is supportive to perform

more efficiently on different projects while working as a team.

This source will be a valuable contextual addition to my research paper as it addresses the

often-overlooked aspect of small talk in office settings, specifically focusing on the positive

outcomes of connecting among coworkers. It will provide a supportive argument for my research

and help the audience understand that small talk can have a significant effect on the performance

of employees in office settings. The findings in this article support the idea that small talk can

play a vital role in enhancing relationships among coworkers, which is a key theme in my

research paper. Furthermore, it provides specific examples and analysis of small talk exchanges,

which I can use to illustrate the points I make in my paper. All in all, this source offers valuable

insights into the significance of small talk in the office setting, which will broaden the

perspective of my research paper.

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Mehl, Matthias R et al. “Eavesdropping on happiness: well-being is related to having less

small talk and more substantive conversations.” Psychological science vol. 21,4

(2010): 539-41. doi:10.1177/0956797610362675

The research article titled "Eavesdropping on Happiness: Well-being is Related to Having

Less Small Talk and More Substantive Conversations" investigates the relationship between

well-being and the nature of daily social interactions, particularly the amount of small talk and

substantive conversations. The Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) was the main

equipment that was used in the research study for the purpose of measuring real-world behaviors

in a more objective manner. Ambient sounds were recorded effectively through EAR as

participants of the study went through their daily usual routine (Mehl et al). The findings

suggested that the individuals who were participating in conversations with others and spent time

alone in lesser quantity had better well-being compared to those who spent most of their time

alone. Furthermore, those with higher well-being had less small talk and more substantive

conversations, suggesting that a fulfilling and happy life is characterized by meaningful social

interactions.

This source provides insights into the link between well-being and the quality of daily

conversations. The findings support the idea that individuals with higher well-being are more

socially engaged and tend to have more meaningful interactions. This information is relevant to

my research on the importance of meaningful small talk and its impact on mental health and

social well-being. It suggests that fostering substantive conversations may contribute to increased

happiness, which aligns with the concept that meaningful social connections are essential for

mental and emotional well-being. I can use this source to emphasize the significance of quality

conversations in promoting happiness and to argue that small talk, while necessary at times,
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should not overshadow deeper and more meaningful interactions in daily life. Additionally, the

source highlights the need for further experimental research to explore the causal relationship

between well-being and conversation depth, which could be a valuable avenue for my paper.
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Mote, Jasmine, et al. "Skip the Small Talk" Virtual Event Intended to Promote Social

Connection During a Global Pandemic: Online Survey Study.” JMIR formative

research vol. 5,9 e28002. 23 Sep. 2021, doi:10.2196/28002

The main focus of this research article is on the Skip the Small Talk (STST) virtual

events, which were directed to reduce loneliness and enhance the mental health and well-being

of individuals during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic (Mote et al). In this study,

adult participants were included who were asked to complete a survey before and after attending

the STST virtual events. The survey comprised different questions regarding the mental well-

being of the participants, including symptoms related to depression, different levels of loneliness,

and their positive and negative effects. The survey also inquired about their expectations from

the attendance of these events. The results of the study concluded that these STST events

reduced the levels of depression, loneliness, and negative effects among the participants

significantly. Moreover, participants who aimed to reduce loneliness or social anxiety reported

accomplishing their goals after attending the events.

This source will provide valuable evidence-based information for my research paper on

the impact of social connection strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides insights

into the effectiveness of virtual events like STST in reducing loneliness and improving mental

well-being. The study's focus on the early months of the pandemic is particularly relevant to

understanding the immediate response to social distancing measures. Additionally, the source

highlights the importance of structured, meaningful conversations, which aligns with my

research interest in the role of communication in promoting social connections during times of

isolation. The findings from this study will help support the argument that innovative

approaches, such as virtual events, can address the loneliness crisis exacerbated by the pandemic.
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Roberts, David. “Why Small Talk Is so Excruciating.” Vox, 28 Oct. 2017, www.vox.com/

2015/7/7/8903123/small-talk.

This article selected from the resources provided is of special interest as it resonates with

my personal experience. The author has pointed out the innate behavior of people to avoid one-

on-one interactions with the people around them. The author has elaborated that these people are

confident enough to communicate with delegations, make presentations, and address the crowd

when they have to, but are naturally awkward towards making small talk with random people

they meet in their daily routine. The author has also elaborated many reasons for this behavior;

one of those reasons is the fact that small talk often leads to more detailed interactions in the long

run (Roberts, David). However, these small talks are an essential part of social interactions in

every culture and support the social binding of people at every level of human interaction.

This source offers valuable insights into the connection between cultural factors, social

interactions, and well-being, with a specific focus on small talk in daily routines. It underscores

the significance of substantive conversations in fostering behavioral comfort, which serves as a

starting point for building more meaningful interactions. These findings directly align with my

research on the impact of small talk and interpersonal interactions on daily routine and social

connections. The source reinforces the idea that even seemingly mundane small talk can play a

pivotal role in influencing well-being, aligning with my research's emphasis on the importance of

everyday communication in enhancing overall life satisfaction. Furthermore, this source

contributes a distinctive perspective to the broader discourse on resilience among cultural

communities, shedding light on the role of small talk in these contexts.

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Work Cited

Mannering, Lindsay. “The Awkward but Essential Art of Office Chitchat.” The New York Times,

17 Sept. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/style/the-awkward-art-of-office-small-

talk.html.

Mehl, Matthias R et al. “Eavesdropping on happiness: well-being is related to having less small

talk and more substantive conversations.” Psychological science vol. 21,4 (2010): 539-

41. doi:10.1177/0956797610362675

Mote, Jasmine, et al. "Skip the Small Talk" Virtual Event Intended to Promote Social

Connection During a Global Pandemic: Online Survey Study.” JMIR formative

research vol. 5,9 e28002. 23 Sep. 2021, doi:10.2196/28002

Roberts, David. “Why Small Talk Is so Excruciating.” Vox, 28 Oct. 2017, www.vox.com/

2015/7/7/8903123/small-talk.