INFLUENCE OF WHATSAPP USAGE ON SOCIAL BEHAVIOURS AMONG STUDENTS IN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF KENYA, NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Maurice Okungu, Dr. Florence K’Okul

Abstract


The study is about the influence of Whatsapp usage on social behavior among students in Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was anchored on the problem behaviour theory. The study adopted mixed method research design. The study was conducted at Technical University of Kenya with a target population of 16000 students. Stratified random sampling was used to select a sample of 391 respondents. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data. The instruments were scrutinized by experts in the study area to judge the items’ validity.  There was a reliability statistics to test the internal consistency within items which were established using the Cronbach’s Alpha where a threshold of 0.7 was accepted. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected from the field. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically and reported in narrative form. Both descriptive (means and percentages) and inferential statistics (for testing research hypothesis) were applied through one-way analysis of variance at the level of significance of 0.05 for quantitative data collected. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26 was used for data analysis.  There was a statistically significant correlation between the use of WhatsApp and social behavior among students in Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi County (r= 0.654; sig. =.0125). The study recommended that the university management should establish mechanisms of limiting the internet access to students. The relevant authorities and stakeholders to develop and pass policies for banning some sites that “corrupt†students’ mind. The findings of this study may benefit university administrators, the government, particularly the education stakeholders, in formulating policies that may control the usage and consumption of social media content that negatively influence their social behavior.

Keywords: Whatsapp Usage, Social Behaviours, Students, Technical University


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