Term Paper on "Email Use and Perception of Efficiency"

Term Paper 40 pages (10852 words) Sources: 15 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Students' Email Usage and Student Perception of Self-Efficiency

Technology is an important part of the academic setting. The use of technology has been recognized as an important part of the academic setting by colleges and universities around the globe. There have been many studies that demonstrate frequent use of technology such as the Internet and email in the academic setting. However, there have been few studies that demonstrate its usefullness in an academic setting.

This research study explored the connection between students' use of email and their perception of self-efficiency. The results demonstrated that email is an important part of academic life and that students use technology such as email on a daily basis. The results of the study were straight forward and indicated that students felt that email improve their efficiency and ability to handle their workload better. This study supports sweeping statements regarding email use found in other academic sources. It supports email as an effective means of communication in the academic setting.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Purpose of the Study

Hypothesis and Research Questions

Background of the Problem

Significance of the Problem

Chapter 2: Literature Review

The Importance of Email

Managerial Efficiency vs. Overall Productivity

Email Use in Other Fields

Benefits and Risks of Email Communication

Student Satisfaction

Conclusion

Chapter 3: Methodology

Sample Population

Research Instrument

Variables

Data collection

Data Analysis

Limitations of Study

Chapter 4: Results

Result Summary

Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusions

Discussion of Results

Conclusions

Recommendations

Final thoughts

References

APPENDIX 1

Chapter 1: Introduction

The amount of student self-efficiency that a student feels has a direct effect on their motivation and drive to succeed. Technology has improved the speed with which students can communicate with one another and with their professors. Email has become a common mode for transmitting completed assignments. Technology has changed the world of academia for both students and professors alike. Students can complete assignments and turn them in almost instantly. Professors can provide feedback faster using this media as well. This research will explore the impact of email on student perceptions of their own efficiency, in regards to completing and turning in assignments.

This research explores the role of technology in changing student lives. The research will explore the use of email by ten students for the submission of class work and assignments. The email activities of 10 students was observed for a period of one school term (4 months). It was anticipated that the use of email would speed the submission of assignments due to the ability of the teacher to check for them online. The use of email is expected to eliminate late assignments, due to the speed of submission. It is expected that email will increase the obligation of the student to turn assignments in online. The results of this study will have implications as to the importance and usefulness of technology in the academics world.

Purpose of the Study sense of self efficiency helps to build a positive attitude towards academics. This positive attitude is an important element in the ability to the student to achieve academic success. Email speeds the process of assignment submission, therefore decreases the frequency of late assignment. This is expected to build a greater sense of self efficiency in the students, which will in turn lead to improved grades. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of email in building up the student's sense of self-efficiency, therefore having a positive impact on academic scores.

Hypothesis and Research Questions

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect that email submission of assignments has on the perception of the student regarding their self-efficiency. It is expected that this perception of self-efficiency will translate into lower stress levels, and that it will have an effect on academic performance. In order to explore this research topic, the research will address the following hypothesis.

H1: There is a statistically significant correlation between students' use of email for class or studies-related communication and their perception of self-efficiency.

H0: There is no statistically significant correlation between students' use of email for class or studies-related communication and their perception of self-efficiency.

The primary research questions will center on the hypothesis, and will address the importance of email in a student's academic career. It is expected that the research will demonstrate that email has a positive impact on the student's perception of academic performance and that it will lead to feelings of increased efficiency. It is expected that the null hypothesis will be rejected in favor of the hypothesis.

It is expected that support of the hypothesis will be due to several factors. The first is that email will lead to faster submission of assignments. It is also easier for the teacher to check assignments online and provide more rapid feedback than using standard submission processes. The student may feel a greater sense of obligation to turn in assignments on time, due to the increased speed. There are no excuses for late assignments. It is expected that these factors will lead to increased feelings of self-efficiency.

Background of the Problem

No one suspected the impact that the Internet would have on our daily lives when it was first invented. However, the Internet has become the backbone of our communications system and allows us to transfer information more rapidly than any previous form of communication available. The internet was originally designed to help transfer messages more efficiently from one department of the Pentagon to another (Segaller, 1998). Now the world depends on the Internet to transfer messages quickly and efficiently. It could be argued that the invention of the Internet has transformed society as much as any invention since the advent of the lightbulb. People the world over depend on the Internet to transfer messages quickly and efficiently to persons all over the globe.

Businesses of all types, on all scales have benefited from the advantages that the Internet brings. However, academia has also been significantly changed by the advent of the Internet. In a recent study, it was found that:

79% of college Internet users say the Internet has had a positive impact on their college academic experience.

73% use the Internet more than the library for research.

72% check their email every day.

60% think the Internet has improved their relationships with classmates.

56% believe that email has enhanced their relationship with professors.

46% say email enables them to express ideas to a professor that they would not have expressed in class. (Pewinternet.org, 2002).

It is difficult to deny the impact that the internet has had on the lives of students in the academic setting. The current study will examine a different aspect of the above mentioned study. It is apparent from the above mentioned study that student use the Internet, email and other available technology in order to increase their academic achievement. This research will expand on another aspect addressed by this study. It will explore how much the student's feelings of self-efficiency are increased by use of the Internet, particularly how the email increases this feeling of efficiency.

We live in a technological society. If the purpose of academics is to prepare students for the challenges that they will face in the workforce, then technology must be a part of the educational process. Many universities realize this and have instituted policies in order to encourage student to embrace technology as a part of the educational process. If students learn to use email and the Internet effectively then they will transfer these skills to the workforce and become better workers in the future.

Harris (1997) stated that achieving technological competence is a primary educational goal at many universities. Students must be able to use the tools of technology in order to achieve the minimal competence level needed in the workforce. The following examples of email policies highlight the necessity of technology in the achievement of academic goals.

A e-mail has become an efficient, fast, and cost-effective method of communication that has many advantages over printed communication." (Southeastern Louisiana University, 2002).

A provides electronic mail resources to support its work of teaching, scholarly research, and public service." (University of Colorado, 1997).

In support of its threefold mission of instruction, research, and public service, the University encourages the use of University electronic mail services to share information, to improve communication, and to exchange ideas." (University of California, 1998).

It is easy to see the importance that those in the academic setting hold for the use of email. Email has become an essential tool for the learning environment. Although one can find many statements about the importance of email to the academic setting, there has been little research to substantiate these claims. This research provides quantitative evidence as to the impact that email has on the individual student and their academic experiences.

Significance of the Study

This study will provide significant insight as to the real importance of email in the daily lives of students. It will support, or negate that assumptions that are found throughout the… READ MORE

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