balite devera chap 1

Chapter 1
1. In the advancement of technology, things were made convenient. One of these things that were made convenient is communication. (ideas closer; join)
2. Good intro
3. In the advancement of technology, things were made convenient. One of these things that were made convenient is communication. (referencing is problematic; A survey, it?)
4. give negative effect rather than positive effects. (weak, redundant.shorten)
5. amily members. (Bessiere, Kiesler, Kraut, & Boneva, 2004). (period placement?double)

Chapter I

Introduction

Rationale

In the advancement of technology, things were made convenient. One of these things that were made convenient is communication. There is an evolution of communication medium. It evolved from telegrams to letters and, now, to electronic mails. Communication through electronic was further developed when Social Networking Sites were created.

Social Network Sites are defined to be web-based services with a wide variety of technical features. These technical features include the informative profiles of users, instant messaging, private messaging and online games.

Globally, people find online communications more convenient than the traditional medium of communication. Thus, increasing number of people is already engaging themselves in Social Network Sites. Though these social network sites are still young technologically, these sites continuously attract people, especially teenagers, from using it. A survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project (2009) it found out that 73% of teens, 72% of young adults and some 40% of adults above the age of 30 engage themselves into social network sites.

Belonging to the teenage class, students of the University of the Philippines Cebu are not exempted from the Social Network trends of today. Many of the students are using these social network sites to communicate with their family, friends and classmates.

Social networks give advantages to users’ relationship (Rheingold, 2000; Robinson, et. al.,2000; Hampton & Wellman, 2003; Kruat as cited by Namsu, 2010). Shaw and Gant (2002) reported that Internet use may have some social and psychological benefits for many individuals. The authors, Shaw and Gant (2002), concluded that Internet usage really affects depression, loneliness and social support more quickly than it does in self-esteem. There are still many studies that support this assertion.

However, there is a hypothesis that says that these social networks give negative effect rather than positive effects. The social displacement hypothesis, also known as the “hydraulic” model, holds that the time used for communicating in the Internet decreases the time for more valuable face-to-face interaction with friends and family members. (Bessiere, Kiesler, Kraut, & Boneva, 2004). The hypothesis doesn’t agree that social network sites enhance personal social resource. The time used to use the Internet is taken away from a person’s activities such as face-to-face interactions (Nie & Erbring, 2000).

The researchers have chosen to study the actual interactive skill of the active Social Network users because the researchers, as confronted by the situations mentioned previously, are curious how these active users of these Social Networks interact in face-to-face conversations. Moreover, the researchers are able to put themselves in the situation for they are also engaging themselves to Social Network Sites.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to know the actual interactive skill of active social network user of the University of the Philippines Cebu students.

This study focuses on the following objectives:

1. Evaluate whether these active social network users of the University of the Philippines Cebu interact effectively or ineffectively in their face-to-face interactions.
2. Examine the responses of these active social network users of the University of the Philippines Cebu with regards to their being hesitant in opening face-to-face conversations.
3. Assess the answers by these active social network users of the University of the Philippines Cebu students considering their confidence while interacting face-to-face with their friends.
4. Check the responses of these active social network users of the University of the Philippines Cebu students whether they could speak their thoughts openly using their preferred language.
5. Evaluate whether these active social network users of the University of the Philippines Cebu students can express themselves while communicating with their friends in a face-to-face interaction.
6. Measure the social network usage frequency of these active social network users of the University of the Philippines Cebu students.

Significance of the Study

In the fulfillment of this study, there are people who would benefit from the findings and conclusion.

This study is beneficial to the University of the Philippines Cebu students themselves who are active users of Social Networks and to the people surrounding these students. This study will help the students and individuals assess their interactive skills towards others in face-to-face interaction. This would also help them in understanding why they interact in such manner.

The research will provide the actual interactive behavior of the active social network users of the University of the Philippines Cebu. Thus, people surrounding these active social network users inside or outside the school campus would understand why the individual has such interactive behavior and would help necessary changes to the negative aspects of the individual’s interactive skill, if there is.

Social Network Sites could also gain benefit in this study. This study will help them evaluate their effectiveness as a communication medium. With their evaluation process, they would determine points for improvement and improve them.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

The respondents of this study were limited only to the University of the Philippines Cebu students who are using social network sites daily. Though the researchers aimed to survey students with various courses and years, the questionnaires were mostly given to a certain course and year.

The number of the respondents was only 10. The researchers have disregarded the gender ratios because most males are not qualified to be the respondents for they do not use social network sites daily.

The survey questionnaires distributed contained few brief questions and was not able to attain in-depth information that could be more useful for this study.