[Communication Technologies Reshaping Individual Relationships among University Undergraduates]

by

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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ABSTRACT

Interpersonal communication and the resulting relationships are changing with the influx of communication technology. In this various approaches of interpersonal communication and communication technology are reviewed. Specifically the impact of communication technology on the methods of communication and reshaping the relationships among undergraduate students is studied through a survey of students. This qualitative study explored the responses of undergraduate students about the effectiveness of communication technology in the education and in developing relations through online communication in comparison with face-to-face communication.

ABSTRACTIII

LIST OF TABLESV

LIST OF FIGURESVI

LIST OF APPENDICESVII

CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION1

Background1

Problem Statement5

Aims and Objectives5

Research Questions6

Significance6

CHAPTER 02: LITERATURE REVIEW7

Theoretical Framework7

Theory of Social Information Process8

Theory of Uncertain Reduction9

Theory of Social Penetration10

Interpersonal Communication11

Online Communication13

Interpersonal Communication via Communication Technology15

CHAPTER 03: METHODOLOGY18

Overview18

Setting of Participants18

Procedure of Data Analysis18

CHAPTER 04: RESULTS AND ANALYSIS19

Demographic Characteristics and Background of Participants19

Responses about Communication Technology22

CHAPTER 05: CONCLUSION36

REFERENCES38

APPENDICES41

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Gender of Participants18

Table 2: Age of Participants18

Table 3: Marital Status of Paticipants19

Table 4: Participnatt's level of Undergraduate Study19

Table 5: Income groups of Participants20

Table 6: Time Spent Online Daily21

Table 7: Participants'' Source of Communication22

Table 8: Types of Mobile that Participants Use22

Table 9: Participants' Mobile Server23

Table 10: Participants' Email Server24

Table 11: Participants'' Reason to Choose the Selected Server24

Table 12: Participants'' Chosen Social Networking Sites25

Table 13: Duration of Using Social Networking Sites Daily26

Table 14: Participants' Reason to Use Communication Technology27

Table 15: Person that Participants Mostly Communicate Online27

Table 16: If There is a University that Participant found Online28

Table 17: Comparison of Online Relationship and Face-to-Face Relationship29

Table 18: Comparison of Ease in Communication Online Versus Face-to-Face30

Table 19: Advancement in Communication Technology30

Table 20: Impact of Communication Technology on Relationships31

Table 21: Most Used Online Features32

Table 22: Reason to Choose the Selected Feature32

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Metrics of Average Online Bullying Worldwide2

Figure 2: Control over Personal Information Shared Online3

Figure 3: Impacts of One's Online Activities4

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A: Survey Questionnaire on Communication Technologies40

CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION

Background

In order to fulfil the interpersonal needs, undergraduate students are found to overuse the communication technology due to the fact that Twitter, MySpace, Facebook and other social networking sites' influx have become a ubiquitous aspect of student life. There might be a misconception that the students are being too social or perhaps wasting their time if this situation is observed from a distance. Generally, face-to-face communication help in identifying the nonverbal communication, active listening, conflict management and other interpersonal skills as frowning, smiling, or nodding might are apparent immediately in the feedback provided face-to-face. However, anonymous messaging, multitasking, and other activities that is possible in online interactions while these less obvious skills through online ...