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Mobile music technology, communication isolation and community building: an analysis of college students' use of digital entertainment
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Mobile music technology, communication isolation and community building: an analysis of college students' use of digital entertainment
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Analysis of college students' use of digital entertainment
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Lever
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Katie Marie
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Katie Marie Lever
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author
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Katz
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James
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Advisory Committee
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James E. Katz
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chair
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Pavlik
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John
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Advisory Committee
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John Pavlik
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internal member
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Scott
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Craig
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Advisory Committee
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Craig R. Scott
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internal member
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Connaughton
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Stacey
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Advisory Committee
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Stacey Connaughton
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Rutgers University
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Graduate School - New Brunswick
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theses
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2007
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2007
Language
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English
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electronic
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vi, 174 pages
Abstract
This dissertation explores the social implications of MP3 use, and particularly focuses on the ways in which these technologies have the major effect of isolating users and the ways in which they facilitate sharing practices and social interaction.
This dissertation asks: why do students adopt MP3 devices, what are the social implications of use, what goals do students have in mind when using them, and do other factors such as personality, perceived technological aptitude and gender play a role in how individuals adopt and use these technologies?
A total of 43 students participated in three focus groups which were conducted at various points in February and March of 2006. A survey of 200 students was conducted during the month of April of 2007. Based on these data, it appears that social influence, in addition to pure personal utility, play a role in adoption decisions. Dimensions affecting consumption behavior are the environmental isolation and personal entertainment factors which can be provided by the mobile players. However, a substantial minority of students also use the device not to isolate themselves but rather, to engage with other students. Additionally, the research confirmed prior studies indicating that males perceive themselves as having higher levels of proficiency in MP3 use and operation, but also more generally with technologies. The personality dimension of sociability was found to play a role in whether or not individuals physically share their devices with others. In terms of behavior and management of access to others, 87% of respondents indicated that they had, through their use, ignored someone else. A statistical relationship was also found to exist between the variables of dependency and having engaged in socially isolating behaviors. In terms of the theoretical implications of this research, it seems that Apparatgeist Theory (Katz & Aakhus, 2002), Domestication Theory (Silverstone & Haddon, 1996), and Uses and Gratifications (Katz et al., 1974) can all be applied to the MP3 dynamic.
In sum, this research found that students use their music technologies not only for solitary listening activities, but for sharing interactions as well.
This dissertation asks: why do students adopt MP3 devices, what are the social implications of use, what goals do students have in mind when using them, and do other factors such as personality, perceived technological aptitude and gender play a role in how individuals adopt and use these technologies?
A total of 43 students participated in three focus groups which were conducted at various points in February and March of 2006. A survey of 200 students was conducted during the month of April of 2007. Based on these data, it appears that social influence, in addition to pure personal utility, play a role in adoption decisions. Dimensions affecting consumption behavior are the environmental isolation and personal entertainment factors which can be provided by the mobile players. However, a substantial minority of students also use the device not to isolate themselves but rather, to engage with other students. Additionally, the research confirmed prior studies indicating that males perceive themselves as having higher levels of proficiency in MP3 use and operation, but also more generally with technologies. The personality dimension of sociability was found to play a role in whether or not individuals physically share their devices with others. In terms of behavior and management of access to others, 87% of respondents indicated that they had, through their use, ignored someone else. A statistical relationship was also found to exist between the variables of dependency and having engaged in socially isolating behaviors. In terms of the theoretical implications of this research, it seems that Apparatgeist Theory (Katz & Aakhus, 2002), Domestication Theory (Silverstone & Haddon, 1996), and Uses and Gratifications (Katz et al., 1974) can all be applied to the MP3 dynamic.
In sum, this research found that students use their music technologies not only for solitary listening activities, but for sharing interactions as well.
Note
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Ph.D.
Note
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Includes bibliographical references (p. 149-158).
Subject
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Topic
Communication, Information and Library Studies
Subject
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Topic
MP3 players--Social aspects
Subject
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Topic
Digital music players--Social aspects
Subject
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Topic
Portable media players--Social aspects
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Graduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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rucore19991600001
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http://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10001600001.ETD.16720
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doi:10.7282/T3P84C95
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ETD doctoral
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The author owns the copyright to this work.
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Open
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Katie Lever
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Rutgers University. Graduate School - New Brunswick
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Author Agreement License
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I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.
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