The Influence of Facebook Platform on the Behaviour of Female Mass Communication Students Towards Journalism Profession

ABSTRACT

This study examined the influence of the Facebook platform in changing the behavior of female mass communication students towards the journalism profession.

The major objective of the study was to determine ways Facebook could influence the behaviour of female mass communication students towards journalism as a profession. The survey method was adopted using the questionnaire as the primary means of data collection. The simple random sampling technique was used which enables every member of the population an equal chance of being selected. The findings of the study revealed that the Facebook platform has a positive effect on female mass communication students towards journalism. However, the findings also revealed that as female mass communication students progress from level 100 to 400, their interest in practicing journalism begins to decline. In reversing this trend, the study recommends among other things that institutions of learning should revise the curriculum to include courses that will educate students about social media and its benefits especially in the ever-changing media industry

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page………………………………………………..……..…..……………. …i 

Certification…………………………………………..……..……………………..ii

Dedication …………………………………………………………...…................iii

Acknowledgment..…..…………………………...………….……...……………..iv 

Abstract …………………………………………………………………………...v

Table of Content…………………………………..………….….………………..vi

List of Tables….……….………………...…..........................................................ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background of the Study..............................................................................................1

1.2     Statement of the Problem............................................................................................4

1.3    Objectives of the Study................................................................................................5

1.4     Research Questions.................................................................................................................6

1.5     Significance of the Study............................................................................................6

1.6     Scope of the Study.........................................................................................................................................7

1.7    Significance of the Study............................................................................................7

1.8    Definition of Terms........................................................................................................................................8

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0     Introduction................................................................................................................10

2.1     Theoretical Framework...............................................................................................................................10

2.2      Review of Concepts...................................................................................................16  

2.2.1   A Brief History of Social Media...............................................................................16

2.2.2   Concept of Facebook.................................................................................................17

2.2.2   Concept of Mass Communication.............................................................................22 

2.2.3   Concept of Journalism...............................................................................................29 

2.3      Review of Related Studies .......................................................................................................................41

2.4      Summary............................................................................................................................................................43

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1       Introduction................................................................................................................44

3.2      Research Design.........................................................................................................44  

3.3      Population of the Study...................................................................................................................................45

3.4      Sample Size and Sampling Technique.......................................................................................................45    

3.5      Instrument of Data Collection........................................................................................................................46

3.6     Validity and Reliability........................................................................................................................................46

3.7     Method of Data Presentation and Analysis................................................................................................47

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1   Introduction…………………………………………………………….............................................48

4.2   Data Presentation………………………………………………………........................................48

4.3   Discussion of Findings………………………………………………….....................................66

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1   Introduction…………………………………………………………...............................................69

5.2   Summary of Findings……………………………………………………....................................69

5.3   Conclusion………………………………………………………….................................................71

5.4   Recommendation………………………………………………………......................................73

5.5   Suggestions for further studies…………………………………………............................75

        References                                                                                                 76

       Appendix                                                                                                    89

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1:  Distribution of respondents according to gender------------------------52

Table 2:  Distribution of respondents according to age ---------------------------53

Table 3:  Distribution of Respondents according to the level of study------------54

Table 4:  Distribution of respondents with android phones-----------------------55

Table 5:   Distribution of respondents with Facebook accounts ------------------56

Table 6: Respondents’ daily Facebook usage --------------------------------------56

Table 7: Time spent on Facebook daily --------------------------------------------57

Table 8: Respondents’ motive for using Facebook---------------------------------58

Table 9: Respondents’ perception of Female Facebook usage--------------------59

Table 10: Respondents’ choice of mass media-------------------------------------60

Table 11: Respondents’ attitude towards Facebook as a medium of information

dissemination------------------------------------------------------------------------61

Table 12: Respondents’ perception of Facebook-----------------------------------62

Table 13: Respondents’ response to the influence of Facebook in practicing journalism-63

Table 14: Respondents’ response to journalism as a male profession-------------64

Table 15: Respondents’ response on the stereotyping of female journalists------65

Table 16: Respondents’ response to the portrayal of female journalists----------66

Table 17: Respondents’ response to journalism as a good profession for women---------66

Table 18: Respondents’ response to journalism as a boring profession-----------68

Table 19: Respondents’ response to practicing journalism-------------------------69

Table 20: Respondents’ choice of career in journalism-----------------------------69

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1:  Distribution of respondents according to gender-------------------------------------52

Table 2:  Distribution of respondents according to age ----------------------------------------53

Table 3:  Distribution of Respondents according to the level of study-----------------------54

Table 4:  Distribution of respondents with android phones------------------------------------55

Table 5:   Distribution of respondents with Facebook accounts ------------------------------56

Table 6: Respondents’ daily Facebook usage ---------------------------------------------------56

Table 7: Time spent on Facebook daily ----------------------------------------------------------57

Table 8: Respondents’ motive for using Facebook----------------------------------------------58

Table 9: Respondents’ perception of Female Facebook usage---------------------------------59

Table 10: Respondents’ choice of mass media---------------------------------------------------60

Table 11: Respondents’ attitude towards Facebook as a medium of information dissemination-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------61

Table 12: Respondents’ perception of Facebook-------------------------------------------------62

Table 13: Respondents’ response to the influence of Facebook in practicing journalism ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------63

Table 14: Respondents’ response to journalism as a male profession-------------------------64

Table 15: Respondents’ response on the stereotyping of female journalists ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------65

Table 16: Respondents’ response to the portrayal of female journalists-----------------------66

Table 17: Respondents’ response to journalism as a good profession for women-----------66

Table 18: Respondents’ response to journalism as a boring profession-----------------------68

Table 19: Respondents’ response to practicing journalism-------------------------------------69

Table 20: Respondents’ choice of career in journalism------------------------------------------69