The Impact of Mobile Phones on social Interaction

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 The Impact of Mobile Phones on social        

 Interaction

   

Marwan Nawaz

                                                                               

ABSTRACT

This dissertation attempts to understand the reasons behind the growth of mobile phones and the impact of this growth on social interaction.

In order to achieve this aim, the study looks at two separate communities. It firstly looks at the impact the mobile phones have had on the social interaction of the general public, and secondly it take a more concentrated look at the subject by studying the impact on the 13-18 year old community.

This aim was achieved through the use of questionnaires, a focus group and a literature search. The questionnaires were conducted on both the general public and 13-18 year old community. Similarly, the focus group was also conducted on the

13-18 year old community to gain a deeper understanding of the questionnaire results. Analyses of these questionnaires and focus group, combined with the literature search form a major part of the project.

Findings suggest that there is no single reason behind the growth of mobile phones and different factors hold varying levels of importance depending upon geographical, economic, political and social factors. Similarly, whilst mobile phones have had both a positive and negative effect on social interaction, it may be fair to conclude that the positive effects outweigh the negative effects. It is concluded that, it is vital to sustain these benefits whilst attempting to reduce the risks involved through taking a cautious approach in using this technology.

CONTENTS

1. Background and Context ……………………………………………………….1

   

    1.1  History ……………………………………………………………………....1

    1.2  In current context …………………………………………………………..2

    1.3  Aims and Objectives ………………………………………………………..5

2.  Methodology …………………………………………………………………….8

   

     2.1  Methodology Overview…….……………………………………………….8

     2.2  Questionnaires – Basis for choice …………………………………………9

     2.3.1 Questionnaire 1 – Data collection process ……………………………...10

     2.3.2 Questionnaire 2 – Data collection process ……………………………...11

     2.4.1 Questionnaire 1 – Issues and problems experienced …………………..12

     2.4.2 Questionnaire 2 – Issues and problems experienced …………………..13

     2.5  Focus group discussion …………………………………………………....13

     2.6  Research methods for each objective …………………………………….14

3.  Literature Search ………………………………………………………………15

     3.1  Impact of mobile phones on social interaction …………………………..15

     3.2  Impact of mobile phones on young people aged 13-18 ………………….18

4.  Growth of mobile phones ……………………………………………………...20

     4.1  Changing Culture …………………………………………………………22

     4.2  Increased accessibility, freedom and safety ……………………………...23

     4.3  Decreasing costs and increased choice …………………………………...24

     4.4  Growth of pre-paid phones ……………………………………………….25

     4.5  Lack of fixed networks ……………………………………………………26

     4.6  WAP and personalisation …………………………………………………26

5.  Results and discussion: The effect of mobile phones on social interaction …30

     5.1  Profile of people interviewed ……………………………………………...30

     5.2  Society’s perception of mobile phones …………………………………...30

     5.3  Positive Impact on social interaction ……………………………………..31

     5.4  Negative Impact on social interaction …………………………………….33

     5.5  Conclusion ………………………………………………………………….35

6.  Results and Discussion: The impact of mobile phones on 13-18 years olds ...37

     6.1  Usage and growth of mobile phones amongst 13-18 year olds ………….37

     6.2  Situational factors determine form of communication ………………….39

     6.3  Mobile phones as a symbol of status ……………………………………...40

     6.4  Functional use of mobile phones ………………………………………….42

     6.5  The pressures associated with mobile phones …………………………...44

     6.6  Mobile phones as a business amongst 13-18 year olds …………………..45

     

7.  Conclusion  ……………………………………………………………………46

8.  Appendices  ……………………………………………………………………49

     8.1  Questionnaire 1 …………………………………………………………...50

     8.2  Questionnaire 2 …………………………………………………………...53

     8.3  Focus Group questions …………………………………………………...55

     

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor Cliff McKnight for his support and advice throughout my project. All his help has been greatly appreciated.

Secondly, I would like to thank all those at the school which was part of my research. This includes all the teachers and students, who gave me their help,

Co-operation and time.

Finally, I would like to thank all my family and friends who gave me support and encouragement this year and throughout this project, and to let them know that I really do appreciate all they have done.

1- Background & context

1.1 - History

The basic concept of mobile phones began in 1947, when researchers looked at crude mobile (car) phones and realized that by using small cells (range of service area) they could increase the traffic capacity of mobile phones substantially. However the lack of technology combined with Federal Communication Commission (FCC) regulation meant that it was not until 1968 when the FCC reconsidered its stance that AT&T and Bell Labs proposed a cellular system to the FCC of many small, low-powered, broadcast towers, each covering a 'cell' a few miles in radius and collectively covering a larger area. The system proposed that each tower would use only a few of the total frequencies allocated to the system and as the phones travelled across the area, calls would be passed from tower to tower (1).

Dr Martin Cooper, a former general manager for the systems division at Motorola, is considered the inventor of the first modern portable handset. Cooper made the first call on a portable cell phone in April 1973. He made the call to his rival, Joel Engel, Bell Labs’ head of research. Bell Laboratories introduced the idea of cellular communications in 1947 with the police car technology. However, Motorola was the first to incorporate the technology into a portable device that was designed for use outside of an automobile.

However, despite registering one million users by 1987 (1), it was not until the mid – late 1990’s that mobile phones became more then a yuppie status symbol and began to become one of the fastest growing technologies in today’s society.

1.2 – In current context

 In the words of Ericsson president Kurt Hellstrom, “the mobile phone revolution will have the same impact on society in the 21st century that the industrial revolution had on society in the 18th century” (Cited in (2) ).

This statement by Hellstrom is based upon the unprecedented growth that the mobile phone industry has experienced in the last 5 years. This growth is reflected in a recent BBC online new report entitled the future is mobile (3), which shows that over 50% of Britain’s population now owns a mobile phone. Similar growth has been seen throughout Europe with figures from leading management consultants Mckinsey (4) showing a mobile phone penetration rate in Europe of 39% in 1999, increasing to 68% in 2001 and expecting to grow to 83% by 2003.

Mobile phone penetration rate by region 1998 – 2003 (4)

This growth is expected to continue with sales expected to be driven by the next generation of mobiles coming into service in the next few years that are expected to offer internet access, e-mail, video conferencing and computer services, all through a single handset.

It is feared that this growth in technology will have a direct effect on traditional methods of social interaction. This fear is summed up by Norman Lamonts description of mobile phones as “the scourge of modern life” (5). Social interaction is defined by R.J.Rummel (6) as “the acts, actions, or practices of two or more people mutually oriented towards each other's selves, that is, any behaviour that tries to affect or take account of each other's subjective experiences or intentions”. This response is not limited just to friends, family and close ties, but incorporates the ways in which people respond to everyone that they interact with.  This can be further defined using the Shannon and Weaver communication model (7) which is a transmission model for communication. This model identifies six key elements of source, encoder, message, channel, decoder and receiver which must be present in all communication. It is the channel aspect of the model where the mobile phone is becoming an increasingly used tool and as a result this growing use may have a direct effect on the interaction habits of the user.

Conversely, many such as Norman Lamont (5) argue that mobile phones are having a direct impact on traditional methods of social interaction such as physically meeting people and going out with friends. It is argued that mobile phones isolate individuals with their ability to be ever present to interrupt an important conversation, family gathering or night out with friends.

In contrast, the traditional view on the effect of mobile phones on social interaction is summed up well by Timo Kopomaa’s statement “the mobile phone has accelerated the experience of freedom” (8). Many believe that mobile phones increase the speed, accessibility and freedom to both information and people and therefore mobile phones have not only introduced new and more efficient methods of interaction but also increased traditional methods as people now have greater accessibility to each other.

Finally, mobile phone technology continues to grow with the introduction of Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) following the recent sale of third generation (3G) licensing. WAP is defined (9) as a protocol that allows wireless devices such as phones, pagers and PDA’s to retrieve information from the Internet and display it on a wireless browser. This allows mobile phones the capability to send and receive email, indulge in video conferencing and access information. Furthermore this technology is seen as the stepping stone towards m-commerce which is defined as “next generation e-commerce” and allows the buying and selling of goods, services and information through a wireless handheld device such as the mobile phone. According to Boston consulting figures (4), m-commerce is expected to be a $122.6 billion industry by 2004.

This study will attempt to research, analyse and understand the reasons behind this growth and the impact that this growth has had on social interaction.

1.3 – Aims & Objectives

The main aim of this dissertation is to investigate the impact that the growth of mobile phones have had on social interaction. It will also assess the reasons behind this growth, whether this growth has helped or hindered social interaction and the future impact of this continuing growth and technological advancement.

The following objectives will be used to achieve this aim:

  • To investigate the reasons behind the growth of mobile phones

  • To investigate whether mobile phones have had a positive or negative effect on social interaction

  • To investigate the impact mobile phones have had on the 13 – 18 year old age group

I have chosen these objectives as I believe that they allow me to successfully draw conclusions and answer my aim. The first objective that seeks to understand the reasons behind the growth of mobile phones, offers good background knowledge regarding the growth of this tool and reasons why it has become so popular. The second objective seeks to understand the effect that this growth has had on social interaction on society in general and provides a very broad and generalised overview. Finally, the third objective compliments the second objective by looking at a particular community such as young people aged 13-18 and the effect that mobile phones have had on the social interaction habits of this particular segment of society.  This objective therefore looks at the effect of mobile phones on social interaction in a much more focused way by concentrating on a particular community and segment whereas objective two looks at the general impact.

I therefore feel that these three objectives combined will allow me to gain a good understanding of the impact of mobile phones on social interaction and allow me to form appropriate conclusions. Similarly, they will allow me to make recommendations on how to maintain the balance of social interaction in the face of the growth in mobile phone technology.

References

1.    Inventors

      (URL: )

      [22 February 2002]

2.    Mobile phone issues

       (URL: )

       [6 January 2002]

3.     BBC News Sci-Tech – The future is mobile

        (URL: )

        [28 March 2002]

4.     EPS statistics file – Mobile Markets

        (URL: )

        [27 February 2002]

5.     FT.com – UK Budget’99

        (URL: )

        [18 March 2002]

6.     Understanding Conflict and War

        (URL: )

        [2 March 2002]

7.     Claude E. Shannon and Warren Weaver,

        Mathematical Theory of Communication (1949)

8.      Speaking Mobile – The city in your pocket

         (URL: )

         [14 March 2002]

9.      Yahoo Mobile

         (URL: )

         [12 March 2002]

2 – Methodology

2.1 – Methodology overview

The data collection consisted of three main methods of research. The first method of data collection was through questionnaires whilst the second method was through the use of a focus group.

I decided to conduct two separate questionnaires as two of my objectives were looking at two separate communities. My first questionnaire aimed at collecting data to analyze the following objectives:

  • To investigate whether mobile phones have had a positive or negative effect on social interaction
  • To investigate the reasons behind the growth of mobile phones

My second questionnaire aimed at collecting data to analyze the following objective:

  • To investigate the impact mobile phones have had on the 13 – 18 year old age group

This questionnaire was combined with a focus group as I felt that questionnaires offer a general overview of the issues involved whilst a focus group will allow me to gain a better in-depth understanding of the specifics of the issues involved. Similarly, I felt that the two approaches would give me a good balance between quantitative and qualitative data as questionnaires offer a more quantitative approach whilst focus groups offer a more qualitative approach.

Finally, the third method of research was through desk based research using the Internet, books and journals. However perhaps the biggest problem that I encountered was that although there is wide spanning literature on the topic of mobile phones, nevertheless there is very little authoritative work in regards to the impact of this technology on social interaction. I was therefore largely restricted to using the Internet for my desk research and tried to get as much authoritative information as was available. Similarly, due to the shortage of authoritative information on this topic, I was forced to use and incorporate the opinions, comments and work of sources that are somewhat less reliable and lacking authority.

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2.2 – Questionnaires: Basis for choice

  • Questionnaires are easy to analyse. Data entry and tabulation for nearly all surveys can be easily done with many computer software packages.

  • Questionnaires are familiar to most people. Nearly everyone has had some experience completing questionnaires and they generally do not make people apprehensive

  • Questionnaires reduce bias. There is uniform question presentation and no middle-man bias. The researcher's own opinions will not influence the respondent to answer questions in a certain manner.

  • Questionnaires offer a broad quantitative set of results that provide a good overview of the ...

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