Open AccessAn Exploratory Study on Adolescents Experiences of Using ICQ (I Seek You)
Author(s) -
Zenobia C.Y. Chan,
Wilson Cheuk
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2009.1390
Subject(s) - psychology , nonprobability sampling , social psychology , qualitative research , exploratory research , curiosity , friendship , sociology , population , social science , demography , anthropology
Little research exists into adolescents rationales for using ICQ (I Seek You) and these adolescents relationships with their peers, families, and strangers in ICQ communication. Our curiosity about these subjects led us to adopt a qualitative inquiry, a multiple case study of ten adolescents via purposive sampling. Three major results were discerned: (1) rationales for using ICQ as a major communication tool and for its entertainment functions, (2) contents of ICQ included the participants school lives, peer relationships, family issues, and playing games, and (3) the participants relationships with their peers, family, and strangers like female adolescents are more protective than males. Finally, adolescents voices should be amplified in order to let adults respond to their contextual practices such as ICQ.