Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Factors Influencing the Usage of Social Networking Sites


Affiliations
1 Marketing, MIS & IT in School of Business, The Assam Kaziranga University, Jorhat, Assam, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


The purpose is to analyse the factors that affect social media usage of undergraduate students. In order to achieve the objectives, 115 undergraduate students were considered using convenience sampling technique. The data was collected using structured questionnaire based on 5 point Likert scale. The statistical analysis techniques namely, descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis were applied. The paper considers the use of top social networking sites with maximum users on Facebook. The study concludes that source of information is the most important factor followed by relationship and skill development factor that affects the use of social media usage among the undergraduate students. The study suggests that social media and networking sites should become transparent in sharing relevant information, and provide valuable content to enhance the users’ learning and skill development. The results may lack generalizability due to the use of convenience sampling technique. Therefore, it is suggested for upcoming researchers to test the proposed suggestions further.

Keywords

Social Media, Networking Sites, Users, Factor Analysis, Information.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Hagel, J., & Armstrong, A. G. (1997). Net gain: Expanding markets through virtual communities. Harvard Business School Press, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Trusov, M., Bucklin, R. E., & Pauwels, K. (2009). Effects of word-of-mouth versus traditional marketing: Findings from an internet social networking site. Journal of Marketing, 73(5), 90-102. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1509/jmkg.73.5.90
  • Akrimi, Y., & Khemakhem, R. (2012). What drives consumers to spread the word in social media?, Journal of Marketing Research & Case Studies, 20121-14. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.5171/2012.969979
  • Kord, J. I. (2008). Understanding the Facebook generation: a study of the relationship between online social networking and academic and social integration and intentions to enrol, PhD thesis, University of Kansas, USA.
  • Boyd, D. (2007). Why Youth Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life, In D. Buckingham (Ed.), Youth, Identity, and Digital Media, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Media and Learning (pp. 119-142), MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Available at doi: 10.1162/dmal.9780262524834.119
  • Gross, R., & Acquisti, A. (2005). Information Revelation and privacy in Online Social Networks (The Facebook case). In proceedings of Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Workshop on Privacy (pp. 71-80), Electronic Society, Alexandria.
  • Stutzman, F. (2006). An evaluation of identity-sharing behavior in social network communities. Journal of the International Digital Media and Arts Association, 3(1), 10-18
  • Tufekci, Z. (2008). Grooming, Gossip, Facebook and MySpace, Information, Communication & Society, 11(4), 544-564. Retrieved from Proquest data base UUM. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com.eserv.uum.edu.my/
  • Comrey, A. L. (1973). A first course in factor analysis. Academic Press, New York.
  • Nargundkar, R. (2002). Marketing research: Text and cases. Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi.
  • Malhotra, N. K. (2005). Marketing research: An applied orientation. Pearson Education, New Delhi.
  • Boogart, M. R. V. (2006). Uncovering the Social Impacts off Facebook on a College Campus, Master of Science thesis, Kansas State University, USA.
  • Nyland, R., Marvez R., & Beck, J. (2007 February). Myspace: Social Networking or Social Isolation?, Paper presented at the AEJMC Midwinter Conference, Reno, Nevada.
  • Nyland, R., & Near, C. (2007, February). Jesus is my friend: Religiosity as a mediating factor in the use of online social networks, Paper presented at the AEJMC Midwinter Conference, Reno, Nevada. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.168.4424&rep=rep1&type=pdf
  • Krisanic, K. (2008). Motivations and Impression Management: Predictors of Social Networking Site Use and User Behaviour. Master of Arts thesis, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA, Viewed 23 May 2014. Retrieved from https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10355/5772/research.pdf?sequence=3
  • Prestride, S. (2014). A focus on students’ use of Twitter- their interactions with each other, content and interface. Active Learning in Higher Education,15(2), 101-115.
  • Ivala, E., & Gachago, D. (2012). Social media for enhancing student engagement: the use of Facebook and blogs at a university of technology. South African Journal of Higher Education, 26(1), 152-167.
  • Buskens, V. W. (2002). Social networks and trust. Kluwer Academic, Boston, Massachusetts.

Abstract Views: 168

PDF Views: 0




  • Factors Influencing the Usage of Social Networking Sites

Abstract Views: 168  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Mokhalles Mohammad Mehdi
Marketing, MIS & IT in School of Business, The Assam Kaziranga University, Jorhat, Assam, India

Abstract


The purpose is to analyse the factors that affect social media usage of undergraduate students. In order to achieve the objectives, 115 undergraduate students were considered using convenience sampling technique. The data was collected using structured questionnaire based on 5 point Likert scale. The statistical analysis techniques namely, descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis were applied. The paper considers the use of top social networking sites with maximum users on Facebook. The study concludes that source of information is the most important factor followed by relationship and skill development factor that affects the use of social media usage among the undergraduate students. The study suggests that social media and networking sites should become transparent in sharing relevant information, and provide valuable content to enhance the users’ learning and skill development. The results may lack generalizability due to the use of convenience sampling technique. Therefore, it is suggested for upcoming researchers to test the proposed suggestions further.

Keywords


Social Media, Networking Sites, Users, Factor Analysis, Information.

References