Open AccessCollege Students, Experiences on Smart Phone Technology Usage: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study
Author(s) -
Fatemeh Jafarzadeh-Kenarsari,
Parand Pourghane
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2783
Subject(s) - content analysis , nonprobability sampling , focus group , psychology , qualitative research , phone , psychosocial , medical education , applied psychology , pedagogy , multimedia , sociology , computer science , social science , medicine , population , linguistics , philosophy , demography , psychiatry , anthropology
Besides many benefits of the cell phone technology, numerous arguments are raised on the different and important negative effects of such a technology. This qualitative content analysis study explored the common usages of smart phone technology, its challenges, and benefits among Iranian college students. Participants were 32 bachelor degree students who were recruited using purposive sampling method with maximum variation. Data were collected through 11 individual semi-structured interviews and 3 focus group discussions (5-8 students in each group). Data analysis was done based on a conventional content analysis approach. Data analysis resulted in 3 main themes and 12 sub-themes. The main themes included “Easy life” (achieving information, handling school affairs, easy communication, and cheap communication); “Spending time” (virtual friendship, participation in various social networks, computer games, watching movies and cartoons, and reading stories and novels); and “The experience of challenges” (physical problems, psychosocial stress, and mood and behavioral problems). Based on the students' experiences about the smart phones technology usage, authorities, cultural institutions, and educational policy makers should encourage culture development using education through media and education during the early childhood and before using any software.