PP. 110 – 124 EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ͳͳͲ European Journal of Business and Social Sciences, Vol. ʹ, No. ͳ, pp ͳͳͲ‐ͳʹͶ, April 2013. URL: http://www.ejbss.com/recent.aspx )SSN: ʹʹ͵ͷ ‐͹͸͹X FACEWORK, GENDER, AND ONLINE DISCUSSION: A NEGOTIATION PERSPECTIVE Jesus Canelon University of )llinois Springfield, USA jcane͵@uis.edu Terry Ryan Claremont Graduate University, USA terry.ryan@cgu.edu ABSTRACT he purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between facework behavior ȋDzthe communicative strategies one uses to enact self‐face and to uphold, support, or challenge another person's facedz [Oetzel et al. ʹͲͲͲ, p. ͵ͻͺ]Ȍ and online discussion outcomes, and to determine the effect gender may have on the relationship. )n an empirical study of facework behaviors and online discussion outcomes, ͳͲ͵ participants used an online discussion board to discuss a controversial topic. Over a two‐week period, participants interacted through a discussion board. Study results show that for males the facework behaviors that affect discussion outcomes are more direct and confrontational, while for females the facework behaviors that affect discussion outcomes are less direct and confrontational—gender and facework behavior interact in influencing discussion outcomes. The study of facework behaviors during online discussion is in its infancy. Keywords: Face, Facework, Gender, Online Discussion, Conflict, Negotiation Previous studies have focused on participants’ recollections of face‐to‐face (FtF) discussions. This research analyzed the influence of facework behaviors in an online setting. Applications of this study’s findings to negotiations are explained. T