Research Methodology

For this paper I was hoping to use both primary and secondary research, from history and more current data to help me to form a good conclusion on the topic "Mobile phones and their effect on Teenage Society.

Ideally primary research would of been performed using questionnaires, surveys and maybe even interviews. However, due to the time constraints on this paper, I do not think that I have enough time to gather a sufficient volume of primary research to use in the paper. To compensate I have decided to use more secondary sources, using both qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data should help me gather opinions and deeper thoughts on the topic while the quantitative data should provide the statistics and facts. I will be inputting my own opinions, but this will be kept to a minimum and my opinions, same as all opinions are subjective and are harder to back up. However I still think that my opinion is worth something as I was and still kind of a teenager so I have first hand experience which can provide a unique perception on the topic.

The main pieces of information that I would like to gather are:

• Statistics on the volume of teenagers owning mobile phones.
• Statistics on the percentage of teenagers that bring their mobile phones into school.
• Statistics on the amount of mobile phones confiscated from students.
• Views on the symbolism of mobile phones.
• Views on the effect of mobile phones on teenage social life.
• Views on the use of mobile phones and use in education.

There may be more pieces of information that I may dig up to use in this paper, but at the moment this is what I am thinking of. These pieces of information should allow me to construct a good conclusion using both views and opinions and hopefully a non-biased view on the topic.

Literature Review for Mobile Essay

Literature Review

Libbenga 2003 says that mobile phones have impacted the quality of sleep in the teenage society. This is because most teenagers leave their mobile phones on during the night resulting in texts or phone calls in the middle of the night, thus waking up the teenager. Niles 2006 talks about how most teenagers over the UK, Germany and North America have hardly any restrictions on their mobile phone usage and this results in them using their phones in school. He also states that teenagers that have mobiles tend to download music and games and play them in school as well as texting and talking on their mobiles. Chan 2006 states that mobile phones are the key to making friends and accessing the various social networks. The mobile phones are also seen as an icon and symbolises a person’s social level so to speak. Martin 2007 takes a different view, talking about how teenagers do have some morals when it comes to using mobile phones, such as how 2 in 3 teens would not break up with someone over the phone…

References:

Libbenga, J. 2003 “Mobile phones disrupt teenagers' sleep” [Internet]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/17/mobile_phones_disrupt_teenagers_sleep/ [22-10-09]

Miles, S. 2006 “1 in 5 teenagers use mobiles to talk to people their parents wouldn’t approve of according to a new survey” [Internet]

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/2518/mobile-phone-teenagers-parent-patrol [22-10-09]

Chan, S. 2006 “Teenagers & mobile phones” [Internet]

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/dmsblog/index.php/2006/03/21/teenagers-mobile-phone/ [22-10-09]

Martin, S. 2007 “Technology Has Tremendous Impact on How Teens Communicate” [Internet]

http://www.cellular-news.com/story/22146.php [22-10-09]

Edit: Referenced Properly

Mind Map for Mobile Essay

Mobile phones and their effect on Teenage Education in the modern Society

• Mind Map
• Mobiles:
• Form of communication technology
• Incorporation of music, camera, internet and video functions over the years
• Bluetooth, Infrared and 3G technology for increased communication and data transfers
• Portable form of communication
• Touch technology being incorporated more and more
• Been getting smaller and smaller over the years to make more portable
• Very practical
• Being used as organisers more and more

• Society:
• Teenagers practically fully dependent on mobile phones
• Adults becoming more and more dependent
• Work on the go
• Planning on the go
• Improved communication
• Phones and driving problems
• Social form of communication
• Texting can be seen as an easy form breaking up relationships
• Hands free
• Driving on the phone
• Privacy
• Texting
• Public disturbance e.g. texting in cinema
• RSI- Repetitive Strain Injury
• Students using phones to take photos, videos and even voice recordings for study work
  Distractions is education due to mobile phones

VARK Questionnaire

The VARK Questionnaire evaluated me to have a Kinesthetic learning style.

I kind of agree with this as I do like actually doing the things I am supposed to be learning. I am pretty hopeless at surface learning and it only really helps for exams when I just need to remember the information for the one exam. I end up forgetting the information I learnt for the exam straight after the exam because the information does not stick in my head.

When I actually practice and apply what I have learnt I actually learn and remember what I have. If I practice creating computer graphics, I will be able to get faster and faster at creating those graphics, its like a form of experience. If I just kept reading tutorials on how to create computer graphics I would not remember how to create it and it would be very slow. I would have to keep looking back at the tutorial tog et the work done.

Although I like the evaluation on the VARK Questionnaire because it suits my learning style, I do not like the idea of the questionnaire. This is because it could alter someone's already mastered learning style of their own. People who take the questionnaire could start questioning their own learning style and maybe change to the learning style that the VARK Questionnaire is telling them. However, this questionnaire can help a student is they are not fully aware of their learning style, or even confirm what a person is already sure of. People just need to trust their gut and rely on previous learning experiences and reflect on them to find their own perfect learning style.

My SWOT Analysis of University

Strengths:

• Good team player
• Helpful
• Punctual
• Computer enthusiast
• Affinity for technology
• Getting faster at typing
• Determined
• Intellectual
• Patient
• Enthusiastic

Weaknesses:

• Bad at note taking
• Slow hand writer
• Bad hand writing
• Find it hard to play "catch up"
• Lack of self confidence

Opportunities:

• Learn about programming
• Computing experience
• Develop maturity
• Preparation for working life
• Independence
• Budget control
• Time management
• Higher education skills

Threats:

• Student finance
• Falling behind
• Bad weather (Cycling)
• Credit crunch
• Social integration

My Learning Line

My learning shows what stages in my life taught me certain lessons or helped me to acquire certain skills. Pre-school up to junior school taught me the basics, like simple math and spelling, handwriting (still need to work on) etc. High school was when I really started to learn and acquire certain skill sets. These include analysing skills from science, mathematical and English skills. It was not until 6th form that I started to build up on these skills to a more advanced level. A-level Biology helped me to develop my analysing skills, conclusion and evaluation writing skills. Information and Communications Technology as well as Economics and Business Studies helped me to develop my innovative thinking to come up with solutions to certain problems, as well as enhance my computer and information technology skills. Work experience provided me with knowledge and an insight into what working life would be life. My job at Argos taught me many things, such as customer service skills and teamwork as well as improving my social skills and becoming more intuitive. Anglia Ruskin University will hopefully provide me with more specific skill sets as well as help me to build up on existing skills.