Gender Differences In Mobile Phone Use Media Essay

Gender Differences In Mobile Phone Use Media EssayThe study aims at exploring the gender loss of opinions in roving hollo usage by the young-begetting(prenominal) and female. Two main attributes of mobile phone utilize ar fathom c all(prenominal) and school textbookual mattering. Following Rubin et al (1988)s half-dozen interpersonal indigences, the study collects entropy from a cluster of graduate and undergraduate students to assess what communication causatives do they feel gratified go using mobile phones in both the dimensions.Contemporarily, we atomic number 18 passing through a transformation phase where communication technologies are shaping the destinies of peeled world. Old fashion capital and labor-intensive technologies are organism replaced by the sophisticated technologies which include robotics, cellular communications, miniature motors, super computers, software production and spirited performance materials. Contemporary technological oerture and im provement analogous internet and computer mediated communication advert that the communication applied science revolution is still young. Significant aspects of this revolution include speed, integrity, sophistication, and cost. Inte simplenessingly, the high cost of telecommunication has been reduced drastically as compared to what it was in the last decade most negligible. Similarly, superconductivity and data compression and integration techniques have made it realistic to produce mobisodes short episodes for mobile viewers, and webisodes minidramas to view on net and in advertisements (Vivian, 2007, p.197).The technological boom in the recent times has introduced new facets of media in the pagan settings of every society. Internet and cyber-spacing are stretching the commercial organizations to the boundaries of imagination. Paperless business transactions through e-mails and internet have altered the ways of doing business and changed heartyization in economic instit ution. National frontiers do non seem to exist anyto a greater extent as business alliances have expanded beyond physical boundaries. Logical lines fare the businesss nature and extent, while complex transnational commercial alliances are taking place where the manufacturers do non know for whom they are producing and gear uping agencies do not know where the products will be marketed and utilise. Competition has expanded worldwide and capital is flowing through satellites. Such business environment is absolutely unprecedented that has affect the cultural spheres with the aforementioned(prenominal) speed and spirit.Other face of technological development is the value of breeding. Information has become a commodity which affects economics immensely. Contemporary good technology has not only made economics to smooth and faster through rapid flow of data and knowledge, alone it has also created a last conducive to economic growth. Similarly, unlike old indicators and predic tors of economic growth, communication technology has set new standards and parameters to gauge development of a society. For instance, those who have access to contemporary technologies and benefit from them and those who dont have access are two main social classes with different cultural identities.Poverty and affluence are two binary features of every society, and they have ramifications on the construction and development of culture of a social system. Technological progress has also affected the primitive social stratification regimes which has bases in economic wealth. New social categories have been created by the technologies. These categories are less economic prove rather rely on the degree of diffusion of innovative technologies in a society. The four distinguished features are high-speed, knowledge intensive, transnational and highly disciplinarian. The old disparities between rich and poor have been overwhelmed by new goings fast and slow, learning and static, plu gged-in and unplugged and localized or globalized. Apparently, the difference between poor and rich is visible from their acquisition of education and institution of enrolment. This distinction is quickly vanishing as poorly staffed educational institutions are being upgraded almost overnight through virtual links with premier universities of the world. Virtual educational environment is developing on strong footings effecting cost and quality parameters of education. Now, due to technological enhancement, it is possible for masses to learn anything, anytime, anywhere.Marshal McLuhan prophecies are proving true in presend day media henpecked societies. He, in early 1960s, focused on a different aspect of technological developments called media determinism. The epistemological assumption of media determinism explains that the society changes its ways of communication with the change of information culture medium. McLuhan says that new technologies alter the culture for better under standing of the technology and ways to use it. This refers a constant change process of culture and societal ways of doing things due to fast growing information technologies and emerging media. Medium is the pith is the title of McLuhans best selling book where he explains his ultimate position on media determinism. He believes that we shape our tools (media) and they (media) in turn shape us (Griffin, 2003, p.344). For him, it has less significant that what is said, rather how it is delivered matters. Besides global village and medium is the message, McLuhans phrase technology as extensions of the human body also attracted media theorist and generated a great debate. Similarly, he used tetrad1to explain the effects of technology on culture and society. Marshal McLuhan visualised the effects of mass media on society and culture in early 1960s when technological development had not hit media spheres as immensely as it seems now. Due to his prophetic approach in understanding the e ffects of technology on culture of a society, he drawed the status of a cult hero and high priest of pop-culture2.Literature reviewThe studies on mobile phone use draw on the send for research based on uses and gratifications perspective. They attempt to explain the intellects quite a little make use of (mobile) phone and what kinds of expectations or gratifications people like to have in (mobile) phone. According to telephone studies, in the main two categories of motives are implant instrumental or task-oriented and intrinsic or social motives (e.g., Dimmick et al., 1994b Fischer, 1988 Keller, 1977 Noble, 1987 OKeefe et al., 1995 Springer, 1981).Intrinsic use essence that people give notice (of) with differents through telephone for the purpose of companionship or reassurance, while instrumental use refers to use of telephone for utility, for example, information desire or making appointments.But the reasons people use mobile phones are a bit different from the reasons they use telephones. Leung Wei (2000) found not only social and instrumental motives of mobile phone use but mobility, immediacy, and fashion/status motives as well. In a similar way, Bae (2001) turn ins that the Korean peoples satisfactions sought from mobile phone are entertainment, sociability, transaction, Immediacy and privateness. In his study, immediacy and privacy reflect the characteristics of mobile phone communication. Besides, Lee (2001) suggests a variety of motives of Korean college students, like time management, face and conformity, and showing off.Why do people distribute and what interpersonal motives they essentially gratify from mobile use are hobbying aspects addressed in this paper. We understand that mobile phone is originally a medium of interpersonal communication, of which motives assess ones functional preferences for communication (Rubin et al., 1988). Moreover, these motives affect who people talk to, how they talk, and what they talk well-nigh (Ba rbato et al., 2003, p.126).Interpersonal communication motives refer to basic reasons people communicate with others. Schutz (1966) suggests that interpersonal needs are fulfilled on both behavioral and stirred levels. Behaviorally, inclusion is the need to perform satisfactory interactions and associations with others. Emotionally, it is the need to maintain coarse interests and acknowledge others. Behaviorally, control is the need to initiate or preserve power and influence over others. Emotionally, it is the call for achievement or the need to maintain usual respect for the capability of others. Behaviorally, essence is the need to initiate or keep relationships based on love, respect, and care. Emotionally, it is the need to achieve or maintain mutual hurt and connection with others (Schutz, 1966).In Rubin et al.s (1988) seminal study, sextet motives were identified sport, affection, inclusion, escape, relaxation, and control. Those provoked to communicate for pleasure do so for leisure, stimulation, and entertainment. The people, who were motivated to communicate for affection, do so to show appreciation and concerned for others. Those motivated to communicate for inclusion do so to void being lonely. Those motivated to communicate for escape do so to avoid other activities and pass time. Those motivated to communicate for relaxation do so to chill out and rest. Finally, those motivated to communicate for control do so to gain conformism or obedience from others. Robin (1988) divided motives into further two categories relationally oriented motives (affection, inclusion, pleasure, and relaxation) and personal influence motives (control and escape). Studies have examined motives for communicating in general and motives in specific interpersonal relationships, ranging from non- inner to intimate (Bailey et al., 2003). Graham et al (1993) argues that communicating for affective motives is common not just in family relationships but in other intimate dyads such as lovers and close friends. Bailey et al. (2003) adds more that although co-workers are motivated to communicate with one other for relaxation, they are not motivated to communicate with one another for inclusion. The motives to communicate with others of similar relationship type can be different for instance, the motives to communicate with sons and daughters vary even if both are in parent-child relationships.With this background, we will render attention to the relationships between six interpersonal motives and mobile phone use. Research is different from other uses and gratifications researches because social and interpersonal aspects of mobile phone use are the focal point this study addresses how people meet their interpersonal needs through mobile phone.The basic function of mobile phone is to mediate two persons. We generally use a mobile phone to contact others. Especially for young generation, text communicate is one of the most favorite interpersonal tra nsmit (Grinter Eldridge, 2001 Kasesniemi et al., 2002). Text messaging seems stir, and in case of youth rather superior, to utterance call.Obviously join call and text messaging are separate and separatist media although both are contained in one device. Voice call has higher level of social presence and is richer medium than text messaging. Social presence means the feeling that other actors are jointly involved in communicative interaction (Short et al., 1976, p.65).Likewise media richness refers to the ability of the medium to transmit multiple cues, immediacy of feedback, language variety and personal focus of the medium (Daft Lengel, 1986). Perse Courtright (1993) suggests that text-based interactions (e.g., e-mail, SMS, IMS) have been found to have less social presence or media richness than voice-based interactions (telephone or voice mail) as they lack nonverbal cues compared with other media. Therefore, it is clear that text messaging in a mobile device provides lowe r level of richness and social presence than mobile phone call does. We, therefore, consider voice and text grooves included in a mobile phone as equal alternatives to be selected when people want to communicate with others apart.In gender difference theory, it is generally considered that women differ from men and vice versa. The difference has been typically referred as expressive and instrumental (Parsons Bales, 1955), or as communal and agentic (Bakan, 1966). Parsons Bales (1955) differentiate masculine and feminine quality as instrumental and expressive, respectively. Criterion of such division is situative motivation. So, instrumentality refers taste of the person to achievement of the purpose outside the situation interpersonal interaction characterized by tolerance to emotional reactions of other persons. Expressivity considers a fulfillment of interests of the person right away on a situation of interpersonal interaction according to emotional reactions of other person s (Parsons Bales, 1955). Similarly, Bakan (1966) notes that gender differences can be divided into communal and agentic dimensions. Communal dimension involves concern for others, whereas agentic behaviors signify a focus on independence.Wajcman (1991) con executes that women have been excluded from the connection between men and technology, and that the production and use of technology are shaped by male power and interests. To show the technologys masculinity, he illustrates various social processes interrelated make new technology for example, computer into an unfamiliar culture for women. In this culture, people cannot help but think women as inferior to men in cognition and performance relating to technology (Ibid). Accordingly, in this study we examine the gender differences in motivations and uses of mobile media.Such exclusive qualities as relation-oriented vs. task-oriented have been identified in different researches. According to Deaux and Lewis (1984), stereotypical man is instrumental, assertive, competitive, dynamic, and task-competent the stereotypical woman is kind, nurturing, sensitive, relationally oriented, and expressive. In a metaanalysis, Mazzella et al. (1994) concludes that gender differences in personality are generally even across ages, educational levels, and nations. Moreover, popular press propagates gender stereotypes. Masculinity presented by press is strong, ambitious, successful, rational, and non emotional while femininity is attr restless, deferential, unaggressive, emotional, nurturing, and concerned with people and relationships (Wood, 1996).Perceptions about new technology are issue to gender analysis, and when observing communication habits, it is important to be awake of the different ways in which male and females view the telephone in general. Men are stereotypically expected to possess technological competence and know how, skills and interest (Lohan, 1997).In contrast to the task-orientated usage that characterizes the male use of the telephone, Lohan (1997) strings female style as person-oriented. Gossip is often a word used to describe what women do on the telephone. Such gender differences are also found in patterns of media behaviors. For a telephone, women use it more than men (Claisse Rowe, 1987 Fischer, 1992) and their motive for using it is primarily intrinsic or social one (Claisse Rowe, 1987 Dimmick, Sikand, Patterson, 1994a Moyal, 1992 Rakow, 1988). They keep close personal relationship and set up their relationship with others who are at a distance.As for a mobile phone, the gender difference in conventional telephone use seems to have ex extended. In a research by Leung Wei (2000), men tend to use mobile phone as an instrument to do business while women tend to make social calls, and men make use of it more than women do. In addition women have more attachment to their mobile phones than man do, especially to text massaging (Sun, 2004).Ling et al. (2005), a Norwegian researc her found difference in texting behavior between sexes despite the fact that men were quicker in adopting mobile phone and women became the more enthusiastic texters. On the basis of his hidden observations, Linger suggested that women are more adroit and more literary texters.Negating the statement that gender use of mobile phone is becoming similar, study among young Finns (16-20 years) identifies that males tend to ward trendy use (focus on design and technology functions) while females tended toward addictive use (focus on the use value) (Wilska 2003). In Europe, where mobile text messaging is more popular, a recent study shows that female users in the age host of 12 to 25 are apparently more enthusiastic about using SMS as a means of communication than male users (Peters et al, 2003).Samarajiva (2008), in a survey of low-income telephone users in India, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, found little gender differences in calls per month and call duration. Neilse n Mobiles recent data on texting in the U.S. shows a huge bulge in texting for ages 13-17, but the data are not overturned down by sex.Theoretical FrameworkFor this study, it has been found that Uses and Gratification approach propounded by Blumer and Katz is the most suitable theory to base the research and its finding.Media users have a free will to decide how they will use the media and how it will affect them. It is an optimistic view of the media according to uses and gratification approach. Blumler and Katzs uses and gratification theory suggests that media users play an active role in choosing and using the media. Users take an active part in the communication process and are goal oriented in their media use. It is audience-centered approach that a media user seeks out a media source that best fulfills the needs of the user.The actual needs satisfied by media are called media gratifications. Katz, Gurevitch and Haas (1973) developed 35 needs taken from the social and psycho logical functions of the mass media and put them into five categories3 cognitive needs, affective needs, personal integrative needs, social integrative needs, and tension release needs.With respect to modern technology such as mobile phone, this theory still applies.The mobile phone has multiple functions communication device (voice calls, text messaging), entertainment device (music, games), information source i.e. mobile internet (Google-ing, online news, etc). For this study, mobile phone will serve the communication function of media and will investigate male and female interpersonal motives and the channel (voice call/ text messaging) they prefer most to encounter their interpersonal needs. Out of in a higher place mentioned needs, only six interpersonal needs inclusion, control, affection, pleasure, escape, and relaxation will be taken in the perspective of both voice calls and text messaging.Blumler Katz wraps up the model that different people can use the same communica tion message for very different purpose. Single media content may gratify different needs for different individuals and there is not only one way that people use media, there are as many reasons for using the media as there are media users. In interpersonal motive context, one may satisfy his inclusion need through sending a text message but the other may feel it pleasure to send a text message. In the same way it may be an act of escape for a person to make a voice call but the other person may feel relax while making a call. Even a voice call/ text message may mayhap satisfy more than one interpersonal needs of the sender/receiver.Research questionsFollowing are the main research questions addressed in this researchRQ1 are there differences between men and women in frequencies of using voice calls and text messaging.RQ2 Are there differences in men and women in interpersonal motives for using voice call and text messaging?In order to collect data on our main variable, we replicat ed Rubin et al.s interpersonal motives inclusion, control, affection, pleasure, escape, and relaxation in context of both voice calls and text messaging.MethodologyThis is research is quantitative in nature, and data was collected in a survey using a close-ended questionnaire. The instrument was developed to footfall the differences between men and women in the interpersonal motives for using voice call and text messaging. Respondents were also asked to report their frequency of mobile phone use, overall name of calls and text messages sent and received in a day.Like most of this kind of researches, we used ordinal level of measurement wherein attributes were rank ordered. Likert scale was used to measure the interpersonal motives.The population under investigation is mobile phone users from all the universities of Islamabad the capital of Pakistan. Since these mobile phone users are diverse and discrete, it is not easy to investigate the entire population. The researcher adopte d cluster sampling technique to collect a exemplification of 200 students all the six exoteric sector universities, including 100 from each gender. Both genders have been divided in five faculties by randomly selecting forty students from each faculty.For this study, the variables that were conceptualized and operationalized include young adults, text messaging and interpersonal motives.Young adult are those attaining age between late teens and early twenties. For data order of battle on this key variable, we selected a group of male and female ages between 18 and 26 as our target population.According to PC magazine, sending short messages to a smart phone, pager, PDA or other handheld device is called text messaging4. For this study text message is conceptualized as Short Messaging Service (SMS) through mobile phone, which supports messages of up to 160 characters.An emotion, desire, physiological need, or similar impulse that acts as an incitement to action is called motive5. T he data have been collected on Rubin et al.s interpersonal motives inclusion, control, affection, pleasure, escape, and relaxation.The six interpersonal motives have been conceptualized and operationalized in the following mannerPlease The gratification of the senses or mind or agreeable sensations or emotions is called pleasure6. For the purpose of research pleasure is operationalized as an act that a person do for entertainment, fun and enjoyment.Affection Affection is a tender feeling toward another7and was operationalized for this study affection as an act of showing appreciation and care for others.Inclusion The act of including or the state of being included is called inclusion8. We have conceptualized inclusion as the desire to be with someone. To avoid being lonely.Escape Escape means to break loose from confinement or get free9. For data collection on this motive, we have operationalized escape as to pass the time or avoid other activities.Relaxation Relaxation is generally taken as rest or freedom from activity/work/strain or responsibility and it is operationalized as an activity to chill out.Control Controllability is to exercise authoritative or rule influence over someone or to direct someone10. For the purpose of data collection on this variable we have operationaized it to gain compliance or obedience from others.ResultsOf the respondents, our sample was equally represented by both male and female. 24% of the respondents were between the ages of 18-20, 52% were 21-24 years, and 18% were in 24-26 years age bracket, while the remaining 7% were in over 26 years age group. Age distribution of the respondents dont show an even representation of all age groups as the research emphasis was on even gender representation.However in the income distribution, 33% of the respondents fell in the 20-30 (thousand) category, while 28% fell in 31-40 (thousand) category. simply 17% 21% fell in 41-50(thousand) and above 50 thousand categories respectively. In P akistan, income below Rs.30,000 is considered below average, and average between Rs.30,000 and Rs.40,000, while people with income over Rs.40,000 is considered good. However, it greatly depends on the area one lives in besides the size of family.Gender difference in communication motives was calculated on the basis of six interpersonal motives (inclusion, control, affection, pleasure, escape, and relaxation) in context of voice call and text messaging and use of mobile phone was calculated on the basis of calls and text messages sent or received in a day. Results indicate that 36% of the respondents use mobile phone very often, 52% often, while 11% of the respondents use their cell seldom and only 1% reported that they dont use mobile phone daily.In the context of voice call and text messaging, inclusion and affection motives are closely related to each other as 68%, 56% agree, and 16%, 32% powerfully agree to the statement respectively that they make a voice call / text messaging t o show affection and care to their dear ones. While 50%, 49% agree and 14%, 30% strongly agree to the statement respectively that they make a voice call / send text message to be with someone or avoid being loneliness.RQ1 Are there differences between men and women in frequencies of using voice calls and text messaging.Descriptive statistics indicate no significance difference in mobile phone use among male and female users. Almost equal percentage (male 92% female 84%) of our population used mobile. Hence, the results do not indicate any significant difference in mobile phone by both the genders.Five bands with options 0-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40 and over 40 calls in a day were employed to observe the differences in call making in both the genders. The sample was described in three categories, viz casual, moderate and excessive users of mobile for calls and text messaging.Our results indicate that female casual and excessive users make more phone calls than male casual and excessiv e users, while there is hardly any significant difference in mobile call making between the moderate users of both the genders.On the other hand, the results indicate that males are more profound texters than females in almost all the categories of users.RQ2 Are there differences in men and women in interpersonal motives for using voice call and text messaging?The study collected data on six interpersonal motives as defined earlier, namely pleasure, inclusion, control, affection, escape, and relaxation in the context of both voice calls and text messaging.Our data predict that male segment strongly disagrees (54%) with this notion that when they are interested to seek pleasure they opt for call making as compared to a relatively smaller equilibrium (31%) who opt for making a call when seeking for pleasure. Females are also not found to be very different from males in this context. The prime reason seems to be the call rates which are though not very high, but most of our populatio n is not earning hands rather students, for them cost for pleasure seeking matters.On text messaging for pleasure, the results indicate that most of our population (65%) agrees to that they opt for SMS use. However, males have been found to be heavy users of text messages for pleasure seeking motive as compared to females.For the interpersonal motive of inclusion, our results show that majority (65%) of both males and females opt for making a call to their friends. But, 28% of both the genders could not to prove their opinion on this. In gender difference perspective, the male segment of our population has been found to be making more voice calls than females in order to talk to or be with someone.On the other hand for text messaging, the results point out that majority (75%) opts for text messaging to gratify their interpersonal motive of inclusion. Furthermore, as compared to females (60%), male (99%) send more text messages when they need to talk to someone.For interpersonal mot ive of relaxation, considerably large number (45%) of our population has been found to be using voice call option. For reasons to be explored, it has also been found that about 23% of our population did not opt for either agreement or divergence rather was suffering from ambivalence. And both the genders were equal in size on ambivalence state. Nevertheless, female segment has been found to be using voice calls about more (45%) than males (38%) to satisfy their interpersonal motive of relaxation.On text messaging pretext, data collected indicates that a good number of respondents (65%) opt for SMS to chill out. We could not find out any significant difference between the genders on the use of text messaging to relax.Interestingly, about 60% of both the genders have been found to be uncertain in their feelings whether they do opt for voice call to gratify their interpersonal motive of control which was operationalized as to gain compliance or obedience from friends and people aroun d when they ask them anything to do. Only 33% of the respondents have agreed that they opt for voice call to gain obedience or compliance from their friends, of which males (46%) are greater in size than females (21%). The picture has not been very different in text messaging as about 53% of the sample was confused about their action. We could not observe any significant difference in gender usage of text messaging for this interpersonal motive.When affection motive is investigated for gender difference in context of both voice call and text messaging, it is revealed that females (91%) prefer text message to show affection while males (77%) like to make a voice call to show love and care to their dear ones. Though males have not been lesser in size (80%) who manage to convey affection to their friends and family through text, however, conveying their affection through voice calls is their preferred mode of communication.With regard to escape as interpersonal motive, we have found a confused response as a handful number of the respondents (30%) opted for dont know option. For voice call, we have found clear divide among the respondents, of almost same size, opting for a voice call and not agreeing to making a voice call to gratify their interpersonal need of escape. There is no significant difference of gender variable on this variable.Same response has been found in text messaging in both the genders. An ambivalent response to whether they opt for text messaging to gratify their interpersonal motive of escape, and same almost equal divide in their responses as we observed voice call option.Besides above variables, the study attempted to know the quantum of calls made, received and text sent and received on average in a day by the both the genders. For all the categories, three classes have been constructed causal, moderate