Effect of Text Messaging on Teen Age Students

SINHGAD TECHNICAL INSTITUTES CAMPUS SINHGAD INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT A Study on impact of text messaging on teen age students Prepared by Rambhu kumar(11) Komal jaiswal(15) Pankaj kakani(17) Sukirti keswani(18) Nitin maske(19) Introduction 1 See it? Hear it? Take it! This is still the mantra of many schools across the country that succinctly summarizes the policy concerning cell phones in schools; in essence, they are banned. Yet, most teenagers are nearly inseparable from their cell phones, not because they are constantly talking, but because they are connecting with their friends through text messaging.As a phenomenon, this was originally unprecedented and unpredicted, especially because text messaging capabilities were designed strictly for mobile phone companies to communicate with their customers. Teenagers, digital natives born into a world rich in technology who take ubiquitous computing for granted, tend to lead the way with most technologies, and text messaging is no differen t. The popularity of text messaging has placed people in positive and negative situations. On the positive side, text messaging is utilized as a source of information and reminders.Even the parents get to learn about it from their kids’ . Whereas on the negative side, teenagers are easily distracted at school. Instead of paying attention in classes, students are texting away. I've seen this happen a lot in college. Especially in high schools, this leads to falling grades, and poor report cards. Some kids are up late messaging their friends, which experts believe could have a significant impact on sleep. What are some of the effects that texting is having on teen age students?That is the question that our group explores in this paper. We conduct surveys and take a look at scholarly and periodical articles, looking to find some of the effects that the modern day texting phenomenon is causing. We examine the impacts that texting is making on our language and writing skills, the impacts on teenagers and their social lives, and the dangers of texting and driving. Review of Literature2,3 Through a review of literature from diverse disciplines and both scholarly and popular media, we examine two questions: 1.How are teenagers using text messaging in their everyday lives? 2. How can text messaging be used in educational settings? Mode of Inquiry Modern cellular phones have countless applications that allow them to act not only as mobile phones but also as music, video, and game players, cameras, global positioning systems, and devices that provide access to the Internet and a host of applications. For this particular analysis, the focus is strictly on teenagers and young adults (ages 11- 21) using the short message service (SMS), or text messaging capabilities.It does not include the use of SMS to post to Facebook, Twitter, or other social networking sites, as that would require the receiver to have access to Internet to read such messages or post replies. Teen Use of Text Messaging Reasons for Use Teenagers have adopted text messaging as their primary form of text-based communication, preferring it even over e-mail (Lenhart, 2009); there are several reasons for the popularity of text messaging. First, it is quicker; adolescents have found that by texting, they can forego the normal chit-chat involved in phone conversations.One teen stated that even for a quick question, you’d have to go through the niceties of greetings and spend time talking about other things (Faulkner ; Culwin, 2005). Text messaging is also cheaper, because messages are generally charged by the message, not the word count. In contrast, the cost of a phone conversation varies as it is charged by the minute. Also, the location of sender/receiver does not affect the charge. Many teenagers pay their own mobile phone bills, and pay-as-you-go plans allow them to budget more accurately (Faulkner ; Culwin, 2005). Finally, many teens state that text messaging is more co nvenient.Phones can be switched to silent mode, so they do not disturb others, and allows texting to be done surreptitiously and away from parents or teachers (Grinter ; Eldrige, 2001). E-mail is the preferred mode of communication for school or work, but when teenagers want something that is fast, immediate, and can be done anywhere – texting is preferred (Lev-Ram, 2006). For teenagers, the cell phone is almost always with the person, so it is constantly accessible. Being small and silent, the cell phone is easily transported and used furtively under the supervision of authority, as compared to email, which requires a computer (Thurlow, 2003).Many teenagers have reported that they share a computer with family members or that it is in a common area of the home so instant messaging and email can be observed (Faulkner ; Culwin, 2005). In addition, because the phone displays both text and sender, the user can choose when and if to respond to a message and has time to compose an appropriate response. Girls, in particular, often invite others to help them compose their responses (Faulkner ; Culwin, 2005).Reid and Reid (2004) have also theorized that another part of the attractiveness of texting is the visual anonymity it seems to afford, especially for socially anxious people, as the texter does not need to see/hear the recipient. In addition, it provides almost perpetual contact for those who are lonely. Lohnes Watulak (2010), drawing on the work of Thurlow (2003) and Clark (2005), sites the desire for constant contact as a significant reason for undergraduate students to text during class, even if they acknowledge that that texting is rude and the content is trivial. Need for studyWith general overview of today’s society, cell phones are becoming a modern day necessity among teenagers. The reason why they are in so much demand is because of text messaging which is the most popular mode of communication these days. The need to study this particular t opic is to find out the impact of this mode of communication on teenagers, both positive and negative. And also to see whether it is actually a necessity or just a trend which is followed because of its popularity. In this research we are also going analyse the future impacts of text messaging on teenagers.How mobile companies are using the increased use of text messaging to their advantage is also discussed in this research project. Statement of problem There have been many ill effects on education pattern of students, because of these text messaging phenomena. The institutions are finding it hard to cope with this habit of teenagers as it is leading to a lot of distraction and also parents are worried because of falling grades of their kids. The biggest issue of all is that student are not ready to detach themselves from their mobile phone.That’s why even if institutes and parents come up with a solution to the problem, it is next to impossible to implement it. Objectives 1 . To understand the habits of teenage students regarding text messaging. 2. The impact of text messaging on the text messaging on teenage students (positive and negative). 3. To understand and analyze the usage of mobile phones during class hours. 4. To understand the extent to mobile usage for communication among teen age students. 5. To understand whether prefer normal messaging or online messaging. Hypothesis . Teen age students knows about various applications used for messaging. 2. Text messaging has various effects on teen age groups. Research Design and Methodology4 Sampling Design Sampling is process of taking sample from large population. We have design questionnaire and on the basis of this questionnaire we have collected the data from school and colleges. Sources and Methods of Data collection We prepared a questionnaire containing total of 14 questions in definite order. The teenagers have to give answers of questions of questionnaire. 100 tudents from a Sinhgad Institut e were used as participants in this research. These participants were selected randomly. Methods of Analysis and Statistical Tools We have collected data from 100 samples and used chi-square method, SPSS software, excel. Facts and finings Q. 1) you communicate with your friends and known people by 1) Text messaging 2) Messaging through net 3) Messaging through landline 4) Call through mobile 1) 36% 2) 30% 3) 4% 4) 30% Q. 2) How frequently you communicate with mobile messaging? 1) Daily 2) Sometime 3) One’s in week 4) One’s in month 5) No ) 47% 2) 33% 3) 6% 4) 5% 6) 9% Q. 3) How often you recharge your message packs? 1) One’s in week 2) One’s in month 3) Twice in month 4 ) Others 5)No 1) 15% 2) 40% 3) 17% 4) 13% 5) 15% Q. 4) Are you satisfied with your mobile text messaging for effective communication with your friend circle? 1) Fully satisfied 2) Less satisfied 3) Moderate 4) No 1) 47% 2) 14% 3) 24% 4) 15% Q. 5) Do you enjoy text messaging communication t hrough mobile phone? 1) Sometimes 2) Every time 3) No 1) 54% 2) 8% 3) 38% Q. 6) Do you keep sending messaging even during class hours? ) Sometimes 2) Every time 3) No 4) Only in emergency 1) 54% 2) 8% 3) 38% Q. 7) Do you think it is good to use mobile phone during class hours? 1) Sometimes 2) Every time 3) No 1) 54% 2) 8% 3) 38% Q. 8) Does your school allow use of mobile phones generally? 1) Sometimes 2) Every time 3) No 1) 43% 2) 9% 3) 48% Q. 9) According to you what are the advantages of text messaging? 1) Sharing information 2) Cheaper way of communication 3) Quick way of communication 4) No effect 1) 26% 2) 30% 3) 40% 4) 4% Q. 10) According to you what are the disadvantages of text messaging? )Spelling mistakes ; Grammatical mistake 2) Copying 3) Morphing 4) Wastage of time due to messaging 5) Sometime effect on IQ level 6) No effect 7) Others if any(Specify)- 1) 34% 2) 27% 3) 15% 4) 7% 5) 7% 6) 10 Q. 11) Does it disturb your concentration during classrooms? 1) Fully 2) Partly 3 ) Not at all 1) 14% 2) 40% 3) 46% Q. 12) Does it affect your study after school hours 1) Fully 2) Partly 3) Not at all 1) 23% 2) 19% 3) 58% Q. 13) According to you which mobile operator is popular? 1) Vodafone 2) Airtel 3) Idea 4) Others (Specify)- 1) 41% 2) 20% 3) 18% 4)21 Q. 4) during which time you prefer to text? 1) Some specific time 2) Spare time 3) before class hours 4) After class hours 5) every time 1) 35% 2) 22% 3) 4% 4)7% 5)32% Scope and Limitation of the study Significant research has been conducted on text messaging among teen age students of SIT and how their personal as well as school life is affected because of it. We also analysed negative effect on teenagers and to what extent it has done bad to students. Further we studied about some positive effects of texting and how it helped them knowledge sharing and cost savings. 1. What role does and should text messaging have in school? . What impact does long term use of texting have on youth literacies? 3. Can text messa ging increases student’s reading and writing abilities in ways not currently addressed through traditional means? 4. Can text messaging reminders increases student participation and achievement without aggravating the already prevalent digital device and teacher workloads? 5. If cell phones become an accepted educational tool like calculators, will the dire predictions of increased distraction and poor language use come true or will cell phones become as common-place as overhead projectors and what are the implications of this? ConclusionCell phones have become a modern day necessity, to the point that they are a must have for every teenager. Teenagers are getting increasingly attached to these devices, depending on them more and more for their communication with their friends or family. About 80% of teenager’s text on a daily basis. Many of the people I surveyed  received their first phone between the ages 11- 15. They also started texting as  young as 11 and as o ld as 17. Teens have created a whole new language through  texting which researchers refer to as short message service (SMS) language or  texts. Everyday  students are adding words to the language.Some of the SMS language some believe texting has a negative effect, positive effect, or does not have an effect at  all. Through our research we analysed that texting had some impact like students could share information and other important notices. Also it has proved to be a less expensive mode of communication and parents also got to learn from their kids. Whereas there are numerous negative effects like the grammar of the students is affected to a great extent. Also students have started using short forms for words to save space and time. Another big risk is Morphing and sending unwanted pictures of girls which leads to big scandals.It has even lead to bad psychological impact on students. Irrespective of above mentioned effects students find it very important these days to hav e a cell phone and to them it is more of a blessing then a curse. Bibliography 1. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Teen_Age_Message 2. http://www. academia. edu/1156350/Text_Messaging_and_Teenagers_A_Review_of_the_Literature 3. http://www. studymode. com/subjects/literature-review-on-the-effect-of-text-messaging-on-literacy-skill-page1. html 4. C. R. Kothari Research methodology Methods and Techniques 2nd edition, New age international publishers.