Gebremariam Hailay Tesfay, Dea Paulos, Gonta Metasebya
Department of Ethiopian Languages and Literature (Amharic), College of Social Science and Humanities, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
Department of Psychology, College of Education and Behavioral Studies, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia.
Heliyon. 2024 Oct 19;10(20):e39507. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39507. eCollection 2024 Oct 30.
Social interactions and communication between individuals have been completely transformed by digital technology (DT). People from all around the world can now communicate with each other thanks to social media platforms. The main focus of this study is on interpersonal communication motives (ICM) in social networks (SNs), aiming to examine how Ethiopian undergraduate students socialize in relation to digital technologies (DTs). A concurrent design with a mixed approach was utilized, including self-administered questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGD) during the data collection process. The students' ICM were used to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and perspectives towards digital socialization (DS) in SNs. A total of 312 undergraduates aged 18 to 27 participated in the study, with 202 being male and 110 female. The results of the investigation highlighted the significance of SNs in shaping undergraduate students' ICM. The findings demonstrate the benefits of SNs in facilitating students' socialization process by providing a platform for interaction, communication, and relationship-building. Interestingly, there were no significant variations in ICM in DS using SNs based on gender. By exploring how students socialize within SNs, this study aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on the subject. Educational institutions and policymakers could leverage these findings to understand the advantages of incorporating SNs into students' academic experiences, ultimately enhancing their socialization process and overall well-being.
个人之间的社交互动和交流已被数字技术（DT）彻底改变。借助社交媒体平台，现在世界各地的人们都可以相互交流。本研究的主要重点是社交网络（SNs）中的人际交流动机（ICM），旨在考察埃塞俄比亚本科生在数字技术（DTs）方面的社交方式。在数据收集过程中采用了混合方法的并发设计，包括自填式问卷和焦点小组讨论（FGD）。学生的人际交流动机被用于更深入地了解他们在社交网络中对数字社交（DS）的体验和看法。共有312名年龄在18至27岁之间的本科生参与了该研究，其中男性202名，女性110名。调查结果突出了社交网络在塑造本科生人际交流动机方面的重要性。研究结果表明，社交网络通过提供互动、交流和建立关系的平台，在促进学生社交过程中具有益处。有趣的是，基于性别的数字社交中使用社交网络的人际交流动机没有显著差异。通过探索学生在社交网络中的社交方式，本研究旨在为该主题的现有知识体系做出贡献。教育机构和政策制定者可以利用这些发现来了解将社交网络纳入学生学术体验的优势，最终增强他们的社交过程和整体幸福感。
