DIGITAL LIBRARY
FACEBOOK USE, PREVIOUS EDUCATION AND SUBJECTIVE STUDY SUCCESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (NETHERLANDS)
About this paper:
Appears in: ICERI2013 Proceedings
Publication year: 2013
Pages: 139-144
ISBN: 978-84-616-3847-5
ISSN: 2340-1095
Conference name: 6th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation
Dates: 18-20 November, 2013
Location: Seville, Spain
Abstract:
In the following paper I investigate the relation between the purpose of Facebook use and its possible relation with students’ previous education and their subjective study success in higher education. Three surveys (six in total) were conducted in two successive years (cohort 2011-2012 and 2012-2013) amongst the first year students in the Department of Media, Information and Communication at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

Facebook use will be categorized, according to a previous paper, by the motives of Facebook use:
1) for information sharing
2) for educational purposes
3) for social purposes
4) for leisure.

Furthermore, the use of special group pages on Facebook is also compared with the students’ previous education. The subjective study success is measured by questioning how much time a student thinks he needs to complete all first year exams and is measured in all three surveys in both years, to uncover possible changes in their opinion. All variables are measured amongst the 904 students in both cohorts, using digital surveys and all data is analysed with the help of statistical tests. This study is part of a broader (PhD) research in which I investigate the possible relation between media literacy and students’ success in higher education.
Keywords:
Facebook, student success, higher education, social network site, integration theory, Tinto, engagement, digital divide.