College Students, Experiences on Smart Phone Technology Usage: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study

Authors

Fatemeh Jafarzadeh-Kenarsari, Medical Education Research Center (MERC), Education Development Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, IranFollow
Parand Pourghane, Medical Education Research Center (MERC), Education Development Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, IranFollow

Abstract

Besides many benefits of the cell phone technology, numerous arguments are raised on the different and important negative effects of such a technology. This qualitative content analysis study explored the common usages of smart phone technology, its challenges, and benefits among Iranian college students. Participants were 32 bachelor degree students who were recruited using purposive sampling method with maximum variation. Data were collected through 11 individual semi-structured interviews and 3 focus group discussions (5-8 students in each group). Data analysis was done based on a conventional content analysis approach. Data analysis resulted in 3 main themes and 12 sub-themes. The main themes included “Easy life” (achieving information, handling school affairs, easy communication, and cheap communication); “Spending time” (virtual friendship, participation in various social networks, computer games, watching movies and cartoons, and reading stories and novels); and “The experience of challenges” (physical problems, psychosocial stress, and mood and behavioral problems). Based on the students' experiences about the smart phones technology usage, authorities, cultural institutions, and educational policy makers should encourage culture development using education through media and education during the early childhood and before using any software.

Keywords

Information Technology, Smart Phones, Students' Experiences, Qualitative Content Analysis

Author Bio(s)

F. Jafarzadeh-Kenarsari, PhD. is an Assistant Professor in Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Medical Education Research Center (MERC), Education Development Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. Her areas of research include medical education, qualitative studies, and reproductive health.

P. Pourghane, PhD. is an Assistant Professor in Department of Nursing, Medical Education Research Center (MERC), Education Development Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. Her areas of research include medical education, cardiac rehabilitation, and qualitative studies.

F. Jafarzadeh-kenarsari and P. Pourghane were responsible for the study conception and design. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: p.pourghane@yahoo.com.

Researchers were involved in this study F. Jafarzadeh-kenarsari and P. Pourghane. They performed the data collection and data analysis. Also, both researchers were responsible for the drafting of the manuscript and making critical revisions to the paper for important intellectual content.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the vice chancellor for research and medical education research center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. Also, we thank the students for their support and taking part in this study.

Publication Date

11-3-2017

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2783

Recommended APA Citation

Jafarzadeh-Kenarsari, F., & Pourghane, P. (2017). College Students, Experiences on Smart Phone Technology Usage: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study. The Qualitative Report, 22(11), 2864-2880. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2783