Influence of Modern Information Technology Devices Usage on Family Interaction in Adamawa State
Chapter One
Objectives of Study
The overview of the study was to determine the influence of modern information technology devices on family interactions in Adamawa State.
The specific objectives are to:
- identify the types and reasons for which families use modern information technology devices in their homes in Adamawa
- determine the time family members spend inside and outside the home using MIT
- establish the influence of MIT devices used on family
- determine the influence of MIT on family communication and time spent together.
- access the influence of MIT device usage on the socialization of children by parents.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
In this chapter the researcher reviewed related literature under the following sub-headings:
Concept of Family
The family is the most remarkable of all man’s social institutions. No other social institution is older, and none is more universal than the family in all times and in all places. It has been found that certain societal imperatives can most effectively be met through the institutionalization of marriage and family. Family institution concerns itself with love, sexual relationships, marriage, reproduction and childbearing, socialization of the child, status and roles involved in the kinship organization (William, 1991).
The word ‘family’, according to Balaba (1999) differs from place to place. In industrialized countries the family is constituted of a man, a wife and their children, while in developing countries, particularly in Africa, the family is made up of a man, his wife or wives, children and a number of their close blood relations in the same household. The author further ascertains that the family is aimed at ensuring the survival, protection and development of children, and to support each other morally, socially and economically.
Burges and Locke as cited by Olaitan (2003) defined family as a group of person united by ties of marriage, blood, adoption, constituting a single household; interacting and communicating with each other in their respective social roles and creating and maintaining a common culture. Duval (1971) defines family as a unit of interacting persons related by ties of marriage, birth or adoption, whose central purpose is to maintain a common culture, which promotes physical, mental, emotional and social development of each of its members. This definition of family agrees with Hildebrand (1997) and Cherlin (2002) who stated in the U.S. Bureau of census: “that a family is two or more persons, living in the same household, and related by blood, marriage, or adoption”. Relationship by blood they explain, means sharing a common ancestor, including cross-generational kinship ties such as parents and child (whose common ancestors are parents’ parents) or same-generation ties such as brother and sister (whose common ancestors are their parents). The above definitions include a married couple with or without children as well as an unmarried mother and her child (who are related by blood or adoption).
American Heritage Dictionary (2006) crowns up the definition of family in the following four ways:
- A fundamental social group in a society consisting of a man and woman and their
- A group of people sharing common
- Lineage, especially distinguished lineage.
- All members of household under one
Family Relationship
Family relationships are relationships that exist between family members, these relationships are long and lasting. There are different forms of relationship within the family. Anyakoha and Eluwa (1991) classified family relationship into: –
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
This chapter deals with the procedure used in this study. It includes: –
Research Design
The study was survey design. A survey design is descriptive in nature. According to Ary (2002), a survey design is used to obtained information concerning the current position of a phenomena. The design was therefore considered suitable since the study will seek for information from a sample that was drawn from a population using questionnaire.
Population for the Study
The total population for this study comprised all academic and non academic staff of eleven tertiary institutions in Adamawa State. These are literates, married and with children. Tertiary Institutions were chosen to draw the population for this study, due to their enlightenment about MIT devices. The total population for study was five thousand and forty nine (5,049) from eleven tertiary institutions. As shown in Table 3.1.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
This research work titled “Influence of modern information technology devices on family interaction in Adamawa State” comprises 500 selected respondents categorized into three distinct groups according to the size of their family. Their responses form the basis of this analysis. Research questions as well as result hypothesis were answered and tested respectively. Discussions of findings including summary of major findings are all contained in this chapter.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter contains the summary conclusion and recommendations for the research under the following subheadings:
Summary
The study examined the relationship between modern information technology devices usage and family interaction, communication, family togetherness and parents’ actions towards child socialization. The major objective was to determine the influence of modern information technology usage on family interaction in Adamawa State. While the specific objectives examined MIT influence on communication, family time together and child socialization.
The review of literature highlighted among others: Concept of family, concept and components of modern information technology devices, and influence of modern information. Survey research design was adopted in carrying out this study, with a population of six thousand nine hundred and five (5,049) obtained from seven (7) tertiary institutions, which gave a sample size of five hundred (500) respondents from one hundred and twenty five (125) households constituting of four members; parents and children. A questionnaire was developed.
Five research questions were formulated and four null hypotheses were postulated. The four null hypotheses were tested at 0.01 (.000) level of significance. The statistical technique used was Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC).
The findings revealed that:
- Significant relationship exist between modern information technology usage and family interaction. This implies that MIT devices usage could be considered as a factor that influences family interaction.
- The study also showed that there is significant relationship between MIT devices usage and time family members spend together as they watch cabled television, and use the computer or surf the
- On the issue of communication, result reveals that the use of MIT devices and family communication are significantly related as cell- phone had improved the quality of family
- Findings showed the existence of significant relationship between the use of MIT devices and parents’ action towards socialization of their children. This implies that parents discussed every information on cabled television and internet to suit the moral upbringing of their children and their religious beliefs.
Conclusion
Based on the findings in this study and the interpretation of tables, it was concluded that significant relationship exist between the use of modern information technology devices such as computers, television, internet, cell phones and family interactions, family time together, family communication and parents attitudes towards children socialization. The findings also revealed that families in Adamawa State have strong bonds and are not adversely affected by the presence of modern information technology devices. Rather the modern information technology in homes, facilitate family interactions by increasing the level of togetherness, communication and child socialization.
Recommendations
- Families should not allow the use of MIT devices by individuals, rather devices should be placed centrally for collective use within the
- Parents should teach children to watch television programmes which encourage pro-social behaviours, such as sharing and helping with others.
- Limits should be set on the use of cyber café on family members in order to reduce the amount of time used outside the home.
- Family members should have more of face-to-face communication rather than encouraging the use of cell-phones and internet.
By implication, the findings of this research will be of vital importance to education and family life. If effectively used, modern information technology devices,
in the area of education will bring awareness in every level of education (Nursery to tertiary education), as they offer opportunities for direct communications and promote social interactions previously limited by location of participating learners. Young children can interact with children in other classrooms, cities, states and even countries. The study has revealed the influence of the use of modern information technology devices by families. The study will go a long way to improve and strengthen family interactions.
Suggestions for Further Study
- Influence of modern information technology devices usage on family interaction in other states of
- Influence of modern information technology usage on domestic activities among working mothers and none working
- Influence of MIT devices on economic productivity of civil servant, private establishment and personal businesses.
- Influence of MIT on consumer behaviour on the purchase of household articles.
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- American Heritage Dictionary (2006). Dictionary of the English language (4th ed). Published by Houston Mifflin Company. http://dictionary.reference com/help/and/4.htm.
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