Chapter 5

Chapter 5

 

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 

 

Summary

 

 

            This study was conducted to determine the life changes brought about by the use of text messaging and the corresponding coping mechanisms used by college students of De La Salle University to adapt to these life changes.

            The study presented various literatures ranging from text messaging in the Philippines, the social phenomenon of text messaging and articles on text messaging.  The researchers also presented literature regarding psycho-social, financial and academic aspects and the corresponding coping mechanisms with regard to human behavior.  The information gathered could help society understand how text messaging has affected today’s college students.  The research study was descriptive in nature wherein an in-depth interview was utilized to gather data.  Twenty (20) participants from De La Salle University were interviewed within the university premises.  The interviews were conducted from 3 December 2001 to 4 December of the same year.  Purposive sampling was used in acquiring the twenty (20) participants.

            The findings were outlined according to the life changes brought about by text messaging upon the lives of selected De La Salle University students in terms of the benefits and advantages gained; problems and disadvantages encountered; and the coping mechanisms they adopted to such changes.  Findings were also sub-categorized into its social, psychological. financial, academic, and other qualities, as this were drawn from the raw data.

            In the course of this study, the researchers were also able to determine specific benefits and advantages, problems and disadvantages, and coping mechanisms that are brought about by text messaging, on the lives of the twenty (20) respondents from De La Salle University.

The advent of text messaging technology has become a totally new method of communication for most of DLSU students.   Unsurprisingly, the social aspect was the most evident among the answers.  Students have gained more friends and developed further relationships with other people they like.  Moreover, some professors make themselves available through their cellular phones text messaging capability to facilitate consultation schedules and other class related matters.  Because of these, students develop a sense of responsibility because they are made to maintain for their cellular phone’s continued use, which is why most college students prefer to text rather than call because it is cheaper.  Students therefore are made to adjust their allowance to have allocations for their cellular phone use. 

            For the benefits, the researchers found out that text messaging does affect the lives of people greatly on the social level since it is used now days as the primary means of communication.  The desire for keeping in touch with other people is answered with the development of this technology.  Text messaging has made the following activities of the participants much easier: meeting new people and maintaining deeper associations with friends; coping with the demands of academic life; school enrollment; finding out about school events; adjusting their personal schedules and keeping in touch with people especially during emergencies.  Moreover, text messaging also helps in developing a sense of responsibility within the participants especially when it came to dealing with life events and other people. 

            For the advantages of text messaging it was stated that this technology has brought about greater convenience since people can take the phone with them anywhere they go.  It is used to make communication easier.  Personal activities can be kept organized using the features that come with the cellular phone.  Safety concerns are lessened since people can reach anyone they need to faster and easier.

            The following disadvantages were mentioned about text messaging: participants can be reached by anyone even by the people they are trying to avoid; part of their privacy is taken away from them; regular routines are affected;  development of addiction to it; the tendency to be preoccupied by it leading to wanton disregard of pressing duties and responsibilities; getting into trouble with authority; make adjustments with regards to their use of their allowance in order to pay the maintenance bills as well as the phone bills and putting their life at risk.

            For the problems brought about by text messaging, it was found out that text messaging becomes a cause for negative publicity.  Although information is relayed via text, not all messages received are true.  In line with this, there is also the spread of lewd messages, which may sometimes be offensive to the receiver without the sender’s knowledge.  Text messaging is indeed a faster means of communication because of this, there is a greater risk of sending the wrong messages to the wrong person.  There is miscommunication.  Crimes such as theft and robbery even killing have happened because of the increased patronage of this technology.  As much as text messaging can be used for emergency purposes, it becomes a cause of threat to a person’s life.  Because of this, the respondents develop fear.  Dishonesty also happens when this technology is used to cheat during exams.  People also develop bad relations with other people because with other careless users of cellular phones, other people’s lives are disturbed.  The study also found out that because of texting, the presence of a person could be disregarded.  Proper social communication is no longer put into practice.  Vanity is also seen when people want to by the latest models of cellular phones and when they dress up their phones. 

            With regards to the coping mechanisms, the respondents gave practical suggestions to deal with the problems brought about by the development of text messaging.  With regards to the privacy of the respondents, they suggested that it was best to turn the unit off. This can also be done when dealing with social events such as meetings.  This is in order to respect the physical presence of a person. People have the responsibility to be aware of the messages and information they send to make the best use of this technology.  For security and safety purposes, again, proper use of the cellular phone is needed.  Just in the case of refraining from texting while driving.  The study also found out that the respondents found other ways to support their financial expenses and not relying solely on their allowance.   

Conclusion

            With the advent of text messaging, the lives of the students of De La Salle University were affected primarily in four different aspects: social, academic, financial, and psychological.

            In terms of the social aspect, text messaging was beneficial and advantageous to the students since they are able to use this technology when dealing with social and academic activities, it makes communication easier, it enables the students to keep track of their appointments, it gives a sense of responsibility.  Although there are many advantages and benefits that text messaging can offer to the students of De La Salle University, some disadvantages and problems arise.  These problems deal with the lack of privacy, miscommunication, tendency to become irresponsible, financial problems and life threats.  Given the disadvantages and problems, the respondents stated practical ways to solve these problems and disadvantages.  This was to ensure that the cellular technology could be used properly and effectively.

Recommendation

             Even though the researchers were able to accomplish the main purpose of this study, there are still some areas that could be further improved on.

1.                  Even if this would take more time and effort, the researchers believe that this study would have been better if the sample size of the respondents were bigger and covered a wider variety of people from different schools, not only De La Salle students so the results would be more generalized.

2.                  The future researchers should find time to personally seek out participants who have the luxury of time and availability to participate in interview sessions.  In addition, the researchers suggest that future studies be given ample importance and concentration so as to identify with the research.  It is also suggested that future researchers sacrifice more time, sweat and financial resources to come up with a comprehensive and in-depth research.

3.                  Another recommendation for future researchers doing the same topic is to incorporate with the interview method a different method of data gathering such as the focused group discussion method and additional interviews to people at the other end of the study, which are the tele-communications companies and service providers.  This may serve as a better alternative because this will enable them to get first hand responses and be able to clarify their answers.  This will make the discussion more credible.

 

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