The effects of social networking in the attitudes towards self-esteem of the UE-CAS students towards so

An action research

In partial fulfillment of the requirements

For EN 112 College Reading and Writing

Submitted by

Izar, Nikko Norman C.

Alfonso, Maryrose

Ygot, Ellaine

Galvez, Crisencio

Crescini, Francesca Dominique

Lagoras, Clarissa

Ji, Hyo

September 4, 2009

Prof. Alex Balcoba

First Semester 2009-2009University of the East- Manila

Introduction

The advent of technology in media has been changing dramatically. Its

pervasiveness and ubiquity made certain effects that are conspicuous nowadays. In this

generation, the internet; one of the new forms of media offers services that cater not only

dissemination of information. Moreover, the conventional use of media was incorporated

with more complex use. The transition of technology abducts the user to a “cyberspace”

or a simulated world created by the advent of internet. The mass audience seems to have

a separating meter on real from virtual world. It is not surprising that even socialization

was also an issue to the internet journey.

Socialization as defined is a human activity accord to people’s freewill to manage

them and to the other people without a need of control or governance. It is free, accord to

human rationality; it is neither a right nor a privileges. This means that this activity is

spontaneous and not insidious to a person. Youth’s, nowadays are enjoying the gift of

sociological capability because they benefit from it. And it seems like media on its

symbiotic relationship to the users seem to delegate and offer the new service which is

now called “social networking”. A structure made by individuals or organizations to

connect easily with another person. It is a way wherein people can socially interact

through the help of internet services. It provides an online community. Users of such

services can do different things as part of their prostheses and accord top their

demographics. Enjoy it without any hindrances and likewise in just a click, from analog

to digital signals, you can make a lot of friends on the empirical 4 sided CRT monitor. A

wide variety of individuals are connected by one or more specific types of

interdependency such as friendship, kinship, sexual relationship, knowledge and prestige.

Getting along with them will make a person learn cultures, social standing, moral values,

educational attainment and lifestyles.

Here in the University of the East, social networking is not a taboo. Students

conspicuously use this technology. Students do log in and check their respective account

checking up their friendster, myspace, facebook, and other networking sites that seem

like serving them well. It serves as a bridge way for having friends, keeping in touch with

them, expressing themselves through blogs, reviews and also learning cultures, ideologies

from other people. Studies shown that the student’s frequent use of such service develops

a phenomenon wherein users do create a social identity of themselves. They tend to

manipulate the configuration of their traits. Looking at in different way, there is an

existing relationship between social networking and the person who does it; internet and

other interplaying factors were perplexing the idea of how media works and enshapes

public opinion, interest and socio cultural aspects. It gives queries like how? Why?

Students use this service and moreover engage themselves on it.

It’s ambiguous since earlier, it has been stated that socialization is rationale

activity and we could acquire the needs for belongingness even without the use of

technology. Students might probably say that it gratifies them, and preserve them as a

primary objective for the use of such technology. According to Marshall McLuhan,

technology drives cultural change. It tends to create and cultivate new attitudes or triggers

pre-existing attitudes that human’s had it. It is a socio-psychological phenomenon since

student has their reason on using it and as they use it there is a noticeable effect that

occurs from them. Moreover, the social learning theory of Albert Bandura that people

learn through observing other’s behavior, attitudes, and outcomes of those behaviors.

“Most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing

others, one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions

this coded information serves as a guide for action.” (Bandura). Social learning theory

explains human behavior in terms of continuous reciprocal interaction between cognitive,

behavioral, and environmental influences. Here the usage of social networking seems to

be a bridge way for this theory. Therefore, what are the underlying answers from those

ambiguities?

In this research, it will carefully analyze the quantitative data to prevail the

queries that emerged from the usage of social networking of the students. What are the

attitudes of the students towards the use of social networking? How it gratifies the needs

of the students, specifically the sociological needs? Does the social networking have

conspicuous effects to the students? Does it really preserve personal identity of the

students?

Statement of the Problems:

The researchers have scrutinized the following problems that are needed to be answered

on the process.

1. What are the different social networking sites that the students frequently use?

How long the students spend time social networking?

2. Do the students have certain goals or purpose in socialization by using social

networking sites?

3. What are the attitudes of the students towards the usage of social networking?

4. Do they have certain gratifications from social networking? How social

networking does contributes to the social growth of students?

5. Does the social networking affects student’s self- preservation?

Hypotheses:

1. Students established certain habits accord to their needs of using the social

networking service.

2. Students have their aspirations and purpose for using the social networking

services.

3. Student’s time spent and frequent usage of the networking services; existing

attitudes occur to them. Student’s have certain issues they consider like

interpersonal skills so they use the social networking services.

4. The conspicuous and spontaneous usage of social networking sites acclaimed that

student’s social needs were gratified.

5. Habits and attitudes to the student’s niche were evident on how students preserve

their social identity. Students could adapt certain things like language and other

aspects from using social networking sites.

Solutions:

1. Students should utilize certain time for researching or advance study aside from

social networking.

2. The campus organizations were some of the peer groups that students could join

to mingle and enjoy interacting with different people.

3. Students would have certain restrictions on how will they use and view the usage

of social networking. For example, if they have spare time or they are on the time

of net researching they could visit their social networking sites.

4. Socializations are best to be done in person, a lot of things could be discovered,

and it has no barrier. Students could show who really they are. They could join

even an off campus activity and showcase their talent. In that way, they will not

only enhance their self-esteem but they could also form new group of friends.

5. Students should evaluate themselves; assess their aspirations in looking for

friends. They should not always seek attention, instead try to confide themselves

with those people who appreciate them.

Actions Taken:

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As part of the research paper, the researchers followed the method from enlisting

questions tabulating to analyzing of the facts gathered. The researchers have conducted a

number of comprehensive methods to obtain sufficient and correct information that will

ascertain the answers for the stated problems.

1. The researchers conducted a survey to know that established habits of students in

using the social networking sites.

2. The researchers issued survey questionnaire to distinguish the purpose of the

students why do they socialize using the internet.

3. Interviews were conducted by the researchers to recognize the attitudes of the

students towards the social networking.

4. The researchers asked the students certain queries that will decipher the needs and

their gratifications from using the social networking services.

5. The researchers analyze and interpret the data they gathered from the students to

decipher if the usage of social networking services has conspicuous effects on

student’s social identity and self-preservation.

Results:

The research has a potential to become a basis for everyone. The survey, interviews

and questionnaires proved the researches that his study is reliable. The students had

participated enthusiastically to the extent that they took this activity seriously. The

practicality of the topic triggered the student’s alertness and likeness to participate. This

helps the researchers to easily communicate and talk with them about the study.

Consequently to the actions that the researchers have taken, the gathered data were

analyzed to figure out the answers for the problem solved.

1. Students spend 2-5 hours on updating their profile, posting blogs and interviews

and chatting. Social networking has been part of the routine of the students. Most

of them were using the following social networking such as facebook, friendster,

twitter, multiply and MySpace. The students of today are much socially inclined

compare to the past generation of youth.

2. From the survey conducted, students of frequents users do use the social

networking sites of the following reasons:

Students use it as a past-time, just consume their free time.

Students use it to get in touch with their friends. They communicate and at

the same preserve it for their own good.

Students use it to discover friends, ideas and at the same time share

thoughts through blogging reviews and others.

Student’s use it establishes their prostheses and increases their confidence.

To have self-esteem and to achieve social belongingness.

3. Students consider this as part of their habit, spending time using it, enjoying using

it and moreover, maintain the usage of it. Students consider this as part of their

leisure activity. They spend allotted time using it after finishing all their

responsibilities in school.

4. Students use social networking to suffice their social needs like friendship. They

are motivated and goal oriented to preserve their self-confidence. They use is to

get in touch with some of their friends, to discover and establish a new friendship

at the same to achieve their social belongingness. As Abraham Maslow’s

Hierarchy of needs, people need belongingness and acceptance from the society.

That is the main reason why students are encouraged to use social networking.

Most of them have enhanced their self-confidence and self-esteem by meeting and

interacting people in online community.

5. Students were motivated and goal directed to use social networking sites to

preserve their self-confidence and self esteem. As to social identity, the social

belongingness is an achievement for those who use it.

Conclusion:

The effects of social networking to students of the University of the East came out

with an answer prior to the stated problem as the goal to achieve of the research.

Researchers as they conducted the survey and interview have emerged certain riposte.

Here, the methods and way of questioning were casted carefully to purge the respondents

to bestow their reactions.

Therefore, we conclude that there is an existing positive relationship between the

social networking services and the students who use it. The habitats and attitudes formed

accord to their aspirations were evidences that they have gratifications from the using the

social networking sites. It serves as their prostheses. It enhances their interpersonal skills

through frequent communication and expression. It preserves their pre-existing cultural

ideologies on society. They tend interact with different people and show their character.

Social belongingness was one of the motives and achievement of the students as they use

those social networking sites. Everyone may think that there are certain negative effects

or disadvantages that social networking implies. Social networking as a distraction and/or

misleading a person by putting up a false profile. Negative effects will be prevented as

long as there is moderation and safety precaution applied, the choice is yours here, what

you want is what you get. By studying the effects of social networking in student of the

University of the East, it came out with an answer prior to the stated problem as the goal

to achieve of the research. Researchers as they conducted the survey and interview have

emerged certain riposte. Undeniably the students of today are more socially inclined and

too adventurous that they want to try everything. Social networks provide youth the

opportunity to share their thoughts, ideas, and lives in a number of formats. By using the

social networking like facebook, friendster, multiply, hi5 and others, they have this

opportunity to discuss similar issues they know and are actually being talked about. More

and more, the media that everyday youth produce is having an influence on the way we

perceive our world in a sense, Fcebook and other similar social network sites turn youth

into semi-celebrities, as other youth flock to their profiles to exchange gossip and keep in

touch. Much like celebrities on the covers of the magazines, the youth display their

profiles to get recognized, post their everyday routine in their blog to caught attention.

Attention that sometimes they could not get from home. Remember that one of the

youth’s priorities is the thing that makes them happy and relieved. They feel relieved

when they open up their woes to their cyber friends that are apparently distance away

from them. That’s why in a manner where in the self-preservation of youth are slowly

changing in all means of social networking. Thus, it gains not only the self-confidence

but also it teaches the youth to become more outgoing and allows speaking for them.

Being hooked with social networking has nothing to do with becoming a bad person.

Hence, it could be a contribution to become better.

They paid attention to the fact that social networking now can still preserve the

values of every student and other people too. This brings enlightenment to us if we would

practice in a good way. They get to meet lot of people all kinds of them. And the main

point to be noticed here is what we look out from the social network. If you are looking

out for friends, learning new things, getting your doubts clarified and being more social,

then this is a good opening for you. And so we conclude that there is an existing positive

relationship between the social networking and the students who use it. The habits and

attitudes formed accord to their aspirations were evidences that they have gratifications

from using the social networking sites. It serves as their prostheses. It enhances their

interpersonal skills through frequent communication and expression. They tend to

interact with different people and show their character social belongingness was one of

the motives and achievement of the students as they use those social networking sites.

Recommendation:

After finishing the action paper the researchers come up with a recommendation for the

students that will help them realize how to use properly social networking,

recommendations for other researchers that will conduct related action paper to this topic,

and recommendations to the researchers of the study to help them improve the quality of

their research next time they will conduct an action research paper.

To the researchers of the studies:

1. To achieve a much accurate results, the researchers must increase the number of

respondents to their survey.

2. The researchers must delve on the goal-directed students. It must be a selective

way to distinguish the needs of the students.

3. Researchers must have a question not only to know the facts but to interpret the

data.

To other researchers:

1. The researchers should conduct surveys that will trigger the students to talk

about such personal issue like social identity.

2. The researchers should consider what was in the mainstream for them not only

to have an easy access to the information from the internet, information from

the students but also for them t enjoy doing the research since the researchers

themselves are possibly relate themselves to the topic.

University of the East – ManilaCollege of Arts and Sciences

Name: ________________________________ Date: ____________Course/year: ___________________________Gender: _______________________________College Department: _____________________

ABSTRACT: Social networking and its advent of being popular to the students has been an issue in different studies. The habits and the attitudes towards the usage of such service disclose an evident and conspicuous effect to the students who’s using it.

DIRECTIONS: Read the following questions carefully and answer it as honest as possible.

1. Do you have an access of internet at home? If NO please specify.

Yes _____ No_____________________

2. How much of your time you use the internet service?

1-2 hrs ___ 2-3hrs ___ 1 hours or less___ More than 3 hrs___

3. How frequent you use the internet service?

Per day: 1-2x a day___ 3x a day___ More than 3x a day____

Per week: once a week____ twice a week____ thrice a week____ Everyday____

4. What are your usual reasons for using the internet service?

Research or Academic use_________ Gaming______________Social Networking service______________ Chat/communication______Others: _______________

5. Are you familiar with social networking?

Yes_____ No______

6. How did you become familiar of the social networking? TV: ____

Internet: _____ Radio: ______ Prints: ______ Friends: _____ Others: _____

7. How long do you spend using this service?

1-2 hrs ___ 2-3hrs ___ 1 hours or less___ More than 3 hrs___

8. How frequent do you use the service?

Per day: 1-2x a day___ 3x a day___ More than 3x a day____

Per week: once a week____ twice a week____ thrice a week____ Everyday____

9. What are your goals or purpose on using the service?

Interpersonal skills:______Gaining friends:______Socialization:_______Knowledge:________Leisure:_______Extensions:________Past-time______Others:________

10. Have you developed a habit out of using the service?

Yes_____ No______

Agree Strongly Agree

Disagree Strongly Disagree

None

The social networking service gratifies the accord needs.It affects my personality in such way when it comes in interpersonal skills.

It is an extension of me; I do render my skills by using it.

The social networking sites change my views on socialization.I am satisfied with the service.

It enhances self-esteem.

It makes me gain an extra mile for enhancing my interpersonal skill.

"The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever."Psalm 119:160 (NLT)

Thanks and God Bless you!