Italian Undergraduates Join Facebook, but Keep a Critical Distance

2014 ◽  
pp. 1349-1359
Author(s):  
Paolo Ferri ◽  
Nicola Cavalli ◽  
Andrea Mangiatordi ◽  
Marina Micheli ◽  
Andrea Pozzali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
University Students ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Critical Distance ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Critical Attitude ◽  
Network Site ◽  
Privacy Issues

Facebook is the most popular social network site in Italy, and its usage is particularly spread among younger generations. This paper explores how undergraduate students use Facebook, and what meanings they attach to it. Research was performed in 2008 and in 2009 at a Italian university, with a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative methodology. The authors' survey data show the quick adoption of Facebook. In 2008 half of the students were completely unfamiliar with Facebook, while in 2009 59% of them were using it on a regular basis. Evidence coming from semi-structured interviews with randomly selected university students show that the massive adoption of Facebook goes hand in hand with a general critical attitude. Concerns about privacy issues were common, and they can also lead to a kind of detachment from this site. Implications on the perspective use of Facebook as an educational tool are discussed in the paper.

Italian Undergraduates Join Facebook, but Keep a Critical Distance

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-24
Author(s):  
Paolo Ferri ◽  
Nicola Cavalli ◽  
Andrea Mangiatordi ◽  
Marina Micheli ◽  
Andrea Pozzali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
University Students ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Critical Distance ◽  
Educational Tool ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Critical Attitude ◽  
Privacy Issues

Facebook is the most popular social network site in Italy, and its usage is particularly spread among younger generations. This paper explores how undergraduate students use Facebook, and what meanings they attach to it. Research was performed in 2008 and in 2009 at a Italian university, with a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative methodology. The authors’ survey data show the quick adoption of Facebook. In 2008 half of the students were completely unfamiliar with Facebook, while in 2009 59% of them were using it on a regular basis. Evidence coming from semi-structured interviews with randomly selected university students show that the massive adoption of Facebook goes hand in hand with a general critical attitude. Concerns about privacy issues were common, and they can also lead to a kind of detachment from this site. Implications on the perspective use of Facebook as an educational tool are discussed in the paper.

Are Teachers Approachable or Unapproachable: Insights From Undergraduate University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-58
Author(s):  
Fizza Sabir ◽  
Robert Matthews ◽  
Poulomee Datta
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Undergraduate University Students ◽  
University Setting

This research examines the student perceived characteristics informing a student’s choice in deciding to approach or not to approach a teacher in a university setting. Semi-structured interviews gathered perceptions from 10 final semester undergraduate students at a Pakistani university. 12 teachers were discussed in the data clearly demarcating 7 approachable and 5 unapproachable teachers. Thematic analysis identified substantial number of previously unreported characteristics of approachability in addition to those already existing in the literature and a comparatively large number of new unapproachable characteristics. The results of this research will inform discussion of approachability by teachers at universities within Pakistan and beyond.

A poststructural discourse analysis of the attitudes, beliefs, and values of undergraduate Canadian university students regarding sexual orientation

2021 ◽  
pp. e20200053
Author(s):  
Phillip Joy ◽  
Zac Crawford ◽  
Jad Sinno ◽  
Jared Walters ◽  
Matthew Numer
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Human Sexuality ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Beliefs And Values ◽  
Changing Attitudes

The socio-politico-cultural context of sexual orientation often influences the attitudes, beliefs, and values produced in a given society. This study employed a qualitative methodology to explore the current attitudes, beliefs, and values of Canadian undergraduate students about sexual orientation. Students in a large human sexuality course at a Canadian university completed open-ended questions on the educational platform Top Hat. The data were analyzed using discourse analysis and four threads of discourse emerged: 1) The Nature of Sexual Orientation, 2) Gender Norms and Bisexuality, 3) Shared Connections, and 4) Foundations of Friendships. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge relating to changing attitudes, beliefs, and values about sexual orientation of Canadian university students.

scholarly journals Smartphone Addiction in Undergraduate Athletes: Reasons and Effects of Using Instagram Intensively

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-202
Author(s):  
Deniz Mertkan Gezgin ◽  
Can Mihci
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Physical Education Teachers ◽  
Smartphone Addiction ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
State University ◽  
Young Athletes ◽  
Use Patterns

Instagram has become a popular social network software based primarily on the concept of sharing visual content. As the most popular mobile application among university students, it is thought to be a major component of excessive smartphone use cases due to the need of its users for frequently checking updates. As a result, heavy Instagram-use for both sharing personally generated content and checking on others’ updates is thought to be a contributor to smartphone addiction. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of Instagram social network usage characteristics upon smartphone addiction levels of university students, specifically those enrolled in the Athletics Departments, in order to examine the particular case of young athletes that use Instagram extensively. Therefore, the study group consists of 97 undergraduate students enrolled in the Athletics Department of a state university located in the Thrace regions of Turkey during the 2017-2018 academic year, who were also taking up a pedagogical formation certification course for becoming prospective K12 physical education teachers. Adopting a mixed method research model, the study has shown that, as far as young athletes who report Instagram as their favorite smartphone application is concerned, heavy Instagram use statistically predicts smartphone addiction. Moreover, according to qualitative data, the Occam’s Razor rule applies with these young athletes’ interaction with Instagram. Problematic use patterns are more easily explained by passive-observant behavior associated with a certain Fear of Missing Out, rather than a strong desire to exhibit their body image and sports success.

scholarly journals Banter Versus Bullying: a University Student Perspective

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Buglass ◽  
Loren Abell ◽  
Lucy R. Betts ◽  
Rowena Hill ◽  
Jessica Saunders
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Relational Aggression ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Student Perspective ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Rules ◽  
Social Exchanges ◽  
Survey Responses

AbstractBanter, a form of social communication, is perceived to enhance social cohesion between friends in online and offline contexts. A fine line between banter and bullying behaviours exists however, with some instances of banter perceived as bullying, cyberbullying, and relational aggression. Two qualitative studies explored university students’ understanding and experiences of banter. Study 1 reports the findings from a content analysis of open-ended survey responses obtained from 190 UK-based psychology undergraduate students (18–35 years; 24 male, 166 female). Results suggested that students perceived banter to be indicative of humorous, positively intentioned social exchanges between friends, with few inferring potential links to negative behaviours. Study 2 data was generated from four focus groups (n = 21; 18–26 years; 15 female, 5 male, and 1 non-binary) guided by semi-structured interviews and banter/bullying vignettes. Interpretative phenomenological analysis identified four key themes: characteristics, social context, intent, and self-preservation. Discussions highlighted how students’ evaluations of banter were more complex than the results of study 1 had inferred. Students differentiate social interactions, using numerous verbal and text-based communication cues, and social rules of engagement to appraise and interpret intent. The study contributes to the currently sparse literature concerning university students’ use and experience of banter in offline and digital settings.

scholarly journals Exploring the Experience of Anxiety Among Final Year Students at University: A Thematic Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catroina Keane ◽  
Daniel Waldeck ◽  
Andrew Holliman ◽  
Simon Goodman ◽  
Kubra Choudhry
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Female Undergraduate ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Shared Experience ◽  
Undergraduate Study ◽  
Perceived Pressure

The transition from undergraduate study to a postgraduate career can be an anxiety provoking experience for many students. In this study, we explore the shared experience of five “anxious” undergraduate students as they transition from higher education towards their postgraduate careers. Using a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five female undergraduate students from different courses at a UK university. A thematic analysis revealed two overarching themes: perceived pressure without sufficient support, and concerns about next steps. The findings suggested the final year is emotionally demanding, and students felt as though there was a lack of provision to manage their transition to postgraduate work or study. Possible implications for policymakers are detailed and areas for research are discussed.

scholarly journals The Roles of English Language and Imagined Communities of a Facebook Group

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Latisha Asmaak Shafie ◽  
Aizan Yaacob ◽  
Paramjit Kaur Karpal Singh
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
University Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Imagined Communities ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Electronic File ◽  
L2 Learners ◽  
Global And Local ◽  
Esl Learners

Social network sites are the networked public places for university students. The most famous social network site in Malaysia for university students is Facebook. University students spend a lot of their time navigating collapsed contexts with global and local audience. Thus, Facebook is the most appropriate site to investigate ESL learning acquisition through L2 learners’ interactions and digital footprints. The study investigates the roles of English language and the types of imagined communities of ten L2 learners at a public university. Transcripts of a Facebook group’s online discussion and semi-structured interviews were analysed using qualitative data software Atlas.ti 7. The findings reveal that the key informants are invested to learn English due to its roles in Malaysia. English language has four dominant roles such as the language for their future employment, the language of instruction, the lingua franca and a tool of empowerment. The research also indicates the imagined communities of the key participants are fluent local speakers, fluent non-native speakers and native speakers. The results of the study provide present needs of ESL learners that will enable insights to language instructors, course designers and curriculum designers in facilitating effective language acquisition. instructions give you basic guidelines for preparing camera-ready papers for conference proceedings. Use this document as a template if you are using Microsoft Word 6.0 or later. Otherwise, use this document as an instruction set. The electronic file of your paper will be formatted further. Define all symbols used in the abstract. Do not cite references in the abstract.

Education and contact strategies to reduce stigmatising attitudes towards anorexia nervosa among university students

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (8) ◽  
pp. 906-922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Sebastian ◽  
Deborah Richards ◽  
Ayse Bilgin
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Social Network ◽  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Medical Professional ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Repeated Measures Anova

Objective: As a strategy for the identification and treatment of individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN), we sought to reduce stigmatising attitudes concerning AN among members of their potential social network. Design: Three forms of stigma were focused upon: traditional, positive volitional and negative volitional. Stigmatising attitudes were captured at baseline, and after the first and second interventions. Setting: Male and female undergraduates at a university in Australia. Method: In all, 122 undergraduate students were randomly allocated into two groups where via videos one group received information about AN from a medical professional (education) followed by a person who has recovered from AN presenting her experiences (contact). The second group received a contact then education intervention. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA showed that participants’ volitional stigma was lesser than at baseline following the presentation of the first intervention for both education and contact. However, levels of traditional stigma did not significantly differ. Contact was more effective in reducing positive volitional stigma than education for men, but both were equally effective for women. Conclusion: Study findings provides support for the value of using video-based interventions to change attitudes to stigmatised conditions and demonstrated that education and contact intervention strategies were effective in reducing stigmatising attitudes towards AN in university students.

Identity theft and university students: do they know, do they care?

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludek Seda
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Identity Theft ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Limited Knowledge ◽  
Vested Interests

Purpose – This study aims to explain what factors influence the relationship between the university students’ knowledge of the risk of identity theft and the preventive measures they take. Design/methodology/approach – A series of semi-structured interviews was used as the primary data collection tool. The sample for this study comprised 12 undergraduate students (six males and six females) from the Flinders Business School. The interviews were designed as face-to-face interviews. Findings – The current findings indicate that, despite the fact that students were reasonably knowledgeable regarding the general risk of identity theft, many of the students had only limited knowledge about specific issues related to identity theft. It was found that the limited knowledge or misunderstanding of specific issues prevented students from using appropriate measures that could reduce the risk of identity theft. The students demonstrated a significant misunderstanding of who perpetrators typically were targeting when stealing personal information or what perpetrators of identity theft were looking for. Originality/value – The results of the study contribute to a better understanding of the students’ knowledge about the risks associated with identity crime. They may also assist governments and other stakeholders with vested interests, such as financial institutions and educational providers, to educate individuals about the circumstances where they are potentially vulnerable to identity theft.

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