Citation
Brahim, Ismail
(1997)
Home Computer Use and Shifts in Family's Time-Allocation Patterns.
Masters thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Abstract
The Malaysian government's serious commitment to make computers
more accessible to all would mean more personal computers are expected to
move into the Malaysian homes. Since computers are effective time consuming
devices which force users to reallocate their limited time for doing
various activities, computing particularly in the home, has the potential to
change the way family members interact with each other. However, despite
the increasing importance of computers, little attention seems to have been
paid towards understanding computer use in relation to the household.
This study was conducted specifically to determine (1) the
characteristics of home computer users, (2) the relationships between shifts in
family's time-allocation patterns and indicators of computer use (actual time
spent on home computing, frequency of computer use, and number of software packages used), and (3) the relationship between home computing
and family communication.
This study was conducted on active computer users, representing the
principal users of family computers, on Internet services and other software
packages, and/or both packages. A total of 109 individuals from the Klang
Valley participated in this study.
Data were collected through self-administered mail questionnaires and
analyzed by using statistical analyses, such as, frequencies, means, medians,
standard deviations, percentages, Chi-square, and Spearman Rank-Order
Correlation, by means of SPSS-WIN computer program.
The findings showed that home computer/Internet users were middle aged,
well-educated professional managerial workers, males, heading average
size households with high annual income.
Shifts in time-allocation patterns for eight activities were negatively
related to time spent on home computing, frequency of computer use, number
of software packages used, and overall home computer use. Time spent for
taking family members to various services; time spent for sleeping; time for
hobbies; time with friends; and time spent for using other media, that is, for
watching television, listening to radio, reading newspapers, and reading
books, were significantly reduced.
The amount of communication in the family was found to be
positively related to the time spent and frequency of computer use, suggesting
that using the family computer had enhanced communication among family members. However, home computing had only occasionally helped family
members communicate more effectively and achieved desirable
communication environment in the family_
Based on the findings of this study, there is a need for family members
to reallocate time and reprioritize household activities to satisfy the family's
basic demands and functioning, and be able to cope with the increasing social
implications of the technological innovations in communication.
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