Implication of Smartphone towards Social Interaction

Faculty of Communication and Media Studies

Broadcasting

Academic Writing

Shazreen Bin Ibrahim

2010825506

Acknowledgements
Syukur Alhamdulillah. With

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Introduction............................................................................................................................. 3
1.1

Background of the Study ........................................................................................................... 3

1.2

Problem Statement .................................................................................................................... 3

1.3

Research Questions .................................................................................................................. 4

1.4

Framework................................................................................................................................... 4

1.5

Scope and Rationale of the Study ........................................................................................... 4

1.6

Significance of the Study........................................................................................................... 5

Chapter 2 Literature Review .................................................................................................................. 6

2.1

Review of Previous Studies ..................................................................................................... 6

2.2

Discussion on Concept .............................................................................................................. 7

Chapter 3 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 8

3.1

Research Design ........................................................................................................................ 8

3.2

Sampling Technique .................................................................................................................. 8

3.3

Data Measurement..................................................................................................................... 9

3.4

Method of Data Analysis ........................................................................................................... 9

Chapter 4 Data Analysis & Finding ...................................................................................................... 9

4.1

Data Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 9

4.2

Findings ....................................................................................................................................... 9

Chapter 5 - Conclusion............................................................................................................................ 10
5.1

Summary ................................................................................................................................... 10

5.2

Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 10

5.3

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 10

5.4

Limitation ................................................................................................................................... 10

5.5

Recommendation for Future Studies .................................................................................... 10

Chapter 1 - Introduction
1.1

Background of the Study

Communication is a vital part of a civilized society. Since the advent of smartphone,
communication has been a blessing especially after the rise and common use of
smartphones namely Android, iOS and Windows. The availability, cost and functionality
of these phones brought a new age of reliability, ease of communication as well as few
negative impacts commonly involved with social interactions, privacy, less control over a
certain data and a number of defamation could easily be thrown.

Without a doubt, smartphones has changed peoples lives over the course of a few
years. Along with it the positives and negatives factors as described above. The paper
aims to to investigate the effects of smartphones on humans social interactions and
personal lives.

1.2

Problem Statement
Recently, smartphones has been a part of our daily life especially after they were made
cheap and affordable as well more common than it used to be. Since the smartphones
were made common, it causes a sharp rise in terms of effects which mainly consists of
reliability, ease of communication as well as few negative impacts commonly involved
with social interactions, privacy, and less control over a certain data.

Due to the number of obvious reasons, the researcher would like to investigate the
positives and negatives impact of smartphones. However, this paper will focus more on
the negatives impact mainly in these factors social interaction, privacy and data control.

1.3

Research Questions

What are the significant functions of a smartphone against actual utilization by user?

How long does a user spent using smartphone on average?

Does smartphone affect human social interaction?

Research Objectives
In this paper, the researcher is studying the effects of smartphones be it postitives or
negatives regarding their personal daily life as well as social interactions and privacy.

To explore the awareness of the general public regarding the positive and negative
effects of smartphones

To study the level of use and knowledge regarding smartphones and their ways to
prevent or minimize any threats or dangers.

1.4

Framework

1.5

Scope and Rationale of the Study

The respondents in this study are 40 randomly selected residence of Klang Valley which
consists of 20 males and 20 females. This group of participants will be between the age

of 18 years old to 27 years old.

The researcher will conduct the study at, Klang Valley. The study will be between 10am
to 10pm. The research will be conducted on weekend. This is because they will likely to
be around at home- resting after many days at work or classes. The study will focus only
on use of smartphones and its affects towards daily life as well as social interaction so
that all the questionnaires will only cover the angel of this area to get the accurate
findings.

The researcher will ask the participants to answer a set of questionnaires that consists of
20 questions. These questions are related to using use of smartphones and its affects
towards daily life as well as social interaction.

This research is rationale because this research is inter-related to how we are going to
perfect the communication skills and how we can determine or improve social interaction
as smartphones has easily affected social interactions of its users.

1.6

Significance of the Study

In this study, the researcher will try to find the actual situation regarding the effects of
smartphones towards its users in terms of social interaction, privacy and data control.
Since the world today where information can be easily collected, used and interpreted in
both good and wrong ways thus, leading a improper way of information distribution and

possibly a downfall of society where slander and defamation can be found anywhere and
everywhere.

To make matters worse, almost anything can be accessed using the Internet and this
also contribute to a widespread that could affects the society as a whole. Furthermore, it
is also a driving factor to decide which models to buy (meaning costs are no longer be
accounted for; in other words some people willing to burden themselves with
unnecessary payments).

Chapter 2 Literature Review

2.1

Review of Previous Studies

With the introduction of smartphone and its practicality in todays world; it seems a waste
not to utilize it properly. However, due to fact that it is too effective in its application
(education, social, lifestyle, travelling and health) some has backfired creating a culture
mainly based on smartphones and it is now a tool one cannot live without. According to
Lisa Donnely, smartphones definitely changes a persons or a societys way of life as
well as their social interaction. As such, this paper mainly aims to explore whether
smartphone actually affects their social interaction in their daily life and if so in what way
does it affects; be it time spent on smartphone or their social interaction.

Furthermore, Lisa Donnely concluded the principle losses or affects are erosion of work,
personal time as well as social interaction. She also concluded that it is personal choice

to stay connected all the time because they are happy with it since most people
nowadays are constantly on the move.

According to Arlene, 2014, in which she states technology has been an integral part of a
modern society since it features are far too convenient to be left alone and thus should
be maximized in usage but at the cost of interpersonal communication, focus, and time.
Thus, creating a new form of danger where the users are addicted to smartphone and
seemingly gave the term connectedness as a show or excuse for the said behavior.

Moreover, Arlene also concluded the need for immediacy or intimateness through the
use of smartphone and claimed that the excessive use of smartphone could backfire
exponentially.

2.2

Discussion on Concept
In a research conducted by Arlene, which based on undergraduate students at Utica
College which employed a Qualitative Analysis and moderated by an experienced
teacher of 20 years The research mainly about the addiction to smartphone and how it
affects the users in terms of communication, lifestyle and preferences. Whereas, Lisa
Donnelys research, which focuses on the importance of maintaining the balance in life
with smartphone.

This paper aims to investigate the amount of time spent of smartphone and its
relationship or affects towards interpersonal communication among the users.

Chapter 3 Methodology
3.1

Research Design
The research aims to make use of Quantitative Analysis by implementing close-ended
questions. Basically, a set of 20 Questions is prepared for the respondents and will
implement random sampling method; which will be then distributed across roughly even
to the students, teachers and staff of S.M.K. Taman Seraya.

The questions comprised of demographic questions and those related to the Research
Questions. The questionnaire will be in physical distribution and later on be calculated
manually.

3.2

Sampling Technique
For the research, the school strength (total students, teachers and staff) is about 1000
people and about 10% (100 respondents) will be chosen at random. The respondents
will also be broken into students and staff (teachers included) with 3:2 ratios (60
questionnaires for students and 40 for the staff).

3.3

Data Measurement
The questionnaire will be divided into 3 Sections; Demographic, Section B and Section
C. Furthermore, the questionnaire will not stress a heavy focus on the demographic
section and thus only a few questions will be asked. Whereas Section B contains mostly
Likert Scale questions to investigate or figure out the number of hours (mostly) regarding
the respondents lifestyle.

The questionnaire will also be in bilingual with English as the main and Malay Language
considering the respondents consists of students.

3.4

Method of Data Analysis

The data taken will be analyzed manually after the questionnaires have been collected.
The data will be focused and aims on answering the research questions as stated
earlier.

Chapter 4 Data Analysis & Finding

4.1

Data Analysis

4.2

Findings

Chapter 5 - Conclusion
5.1

Summary

5.2

Discussion

5.3

Conclusion

5.4

Limitation

5.5

Recommendation for Future Studies