Use Of Social Networking Sites And Instant Messaging Applications For University-Related Work And Studying

Authors

  • Joan-Francesc Fondevila-Gascón Universitat de Girona (UdG), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), CECABLE
  • Pedro Mir-Bernal Universidad de Navarra (Unav)
  • Javier L.-Crespo Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
  • Marta Carreras-Alcalde CECABLE
  • Lluís Feliu-Roé Universitat de Girona (UdG)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15847/obsOBS1132017877

Keywords:

Facebook, Social Networking Sites, Instant Messaging applications, education, university students, WhatsApp

Abstract

Social Networking Sites (SNS) and Instant Messaging (IM) applications have become very popular in the last decade. This article aims to investigate to what extent university students make use of SNS and IM in relation with learning and university-related work. In order to do so, a survey was conducted among 115 university students. Results show that answering surveys posted by other students (for their university work), being part of groups created for doing university work or studying and sharing university-related links are some of the education-related activities that students most perform on Facebook. Alongside Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and LinkedIn are the most popular SNS or IM applications when it comes to studying, doing and organizing university-related work. Some differences among male and female students can be inferred from the data though, although it was not the aim of this study to explore such differences and further research would be needed. The paper concludes that university students make good and ample use of SNS and IM applications for education-related purposes and a recommendation for lecturers to adopt these tools is made.

Author Biographies

Joan-Francesc Fondevila-Gascón, Universitat de Girona (UdG), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), CECABLE

-Professor in the Economics Department in the UdG -Professor in the Journalism and Communication Sciences in the UAB -Professor in the Observatory of the Scientific Communication in the UPF -Professor of Doctorate and Master in Information and Knowledge Society in the UOC -Director of CECABLE

Pedro Mir-Bernal, Universidad de Navarra (Unav)

-Professor in the Economics Department in the Unav

Javier L.-Crespo, Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

-Professor in the Social Psicology Department in the UB.

Marta Carreras-Alcalde, CECABLE

Research member of CECABLE

Lluís Feliu-Roé, Universitat de Girona (UdG)

-Professor in the Economics Department in the UdG

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Published

2017-09-28

How to Cite

Fondevila-Gascón, J.-F., Mir-Bernal, P., L.-Crespo, J., Carreras-Alcalde, M., & Feliu-Roé, L. (2017). Use Of Social Networking Sites And Instant Messaging Applications For University-Related Work And Studying. Observatorio (OBS*), 11(3). https://doi.org/10.15847/obsOBS1132017877

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2017)

Section

Articles

License

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