There appears to be a relationship between the latest communications technology and how effectively young people communicate. It is a world-wide phenomenon. This research investigates how young people in the Czech Republic communicate today in an era of increased use of social media and mobile technology. The research was limited to the city of Olomouc. Results suggest that face to face communications by and amongst young people are diminishing fast at the expense of social media such as Facebook and What’s App and sending SMS text messages. This trend could have adverse effects in future on how well young and older people live and work together within their communities. The outcome of this research suggests that proactive steps should be taken now to educate young people in the appropriate use of mobile technology and social media. It would ensure that they retain their ability to communicate effectively not just with their peer groups but also with other age groups and with people from other cultures. Social \Psychology/Psychology needs to take a much more proactive role to address this issue so that the lives of people at all ages can be improved. The outcomes of this research should be of interest to other countries, too, as this phenomenon is not limited to the Czech Republic.
Keywords: Effective Communication, Communication Style, Attitude and Behaviour, Social Media, Mobile Technology
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Literature Review
1.3 Main Research Questions
2. Research Methodology
2.1 Method
2.2 Data Collection and Interpretation
3. Results
3.1 Literature Review
3.2 Face to Face Interviews
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Research Objectives and Themes
This research investigates how young people in the Czech Republic communicate in an era dominated by mobile technology and social media, aiming to identify shifts in communication styles and potential future impacts on social cohesion and intergenerational relationships.
- The impact of mobile technology and social media on communication habits.
- The decline of face-to-face communication among young people.
- The role of social and educational upbringing in shaping communication styles.
- Practical applications for psychologists to improve communication skills in young people.
- The significance of effective and intercultural communication in modern society.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Introduction
Young people across the world have been influenced how they communicate with others by advances in mobile technology and social media. Gone have the days when young people would sit around the table, for example, with their elders and listen and learn from the life experiences of older people. This is particularly true to say in countries and within local communities within these countries where the livelihood of people depends on how well people communicate. It appears that the modus communicandi (how people communicate) is of paramount importance to the quality of social lives of people and that it is highly desirable that young people retain or regain this ability to communicate effectively through the spoken word.
Recent research by Fisher (2013) reports that new technology has changed people’s lives forever and that it is possible that this situation cannot be reversed. Young people today see it to be their right to have access to this new technology whenever and wherever they want it. Digital communication has grown at such a fast rate that most people are finding it impossible to catch up with it. Fisher and Santana Gonzalez (2014) conducted some research recently to ascertain how young people in Cuba communicate. They found some hard evidence that suggests that young people in Cuba have already started to communicate differently with their peers and elders compared to, for example, how they communicated some 10 or 15 years ago. An emerging country such as the Czech Republic has seen a significant increase in advanced technology in areas such as mobile telephony and social media.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the global influence of technology on communication and establishes the research focus on young people in the Czech Republic.
2. Research Methodology: This section details the constructivist, interpretivist research approach and the use of semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students to gather contemporary insights.
3. Results: This chapter synthesizes existing literature on communication dynamics and presents the verbatim findings from face-to-face interviews regarding current habits and attitudes.
4. Discussion: This chapter analyzes how increased access to digital tools has created a gap between direct and virtual communication, leading to potential social challenges.
5. Conclusions: This chapter emphasizes the need for proactive educational efforts by social psychologists to help young people balance technology use with effective, respectful communication.
Keywords
Effective Communication, Communication Style, Attitude and Behaviour, Social Media, Mobile Technology, Intercultural Communication, Czech Republic, Face to Face Communication, Peer Pressure, Psychology, Social Psychology, Digital Communication, Intergenerational Relationships, Technology Impact, Social Interaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research examines the changing communication patterns of young people in the Czech Republic, specifically focusing on how mobile technology and social media influence their daily interactions and intergenerational relationships.
What are the central themes of the study?
Key themes include the decline of face-to-face interactions, the role of social media in shaping behavior, the influence of peer pressure on communication styles, and the necessity of maintaining effective communication skills for future success.
What is the core research objective?
The primary aim is to investigate how young people in the Czech Republic communicate today and to provide insights into how they might communicate in the future, ultimately offering guidance to social psychologists to improve these communication styles.
What methodology was used in this study?
The authors utilized a constructivist interpretivist research approach, employing both a literature review and semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 17 undergraduate students in Olomouc.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the theoretical framework, a literature review of communication processes and non-verbal symbols, the empirical results derived from student interviews, and a discussion on the social implications of current communication trends.
Which keywords best describe this research?
The research is characterized by terms such as Effective Communication, Social Media, Mobile Technology, Communication Style, Attitude and Behaviour, and Intercultural Communication.
How does the author define effective communication?
The authors define it as an iterative process where messages are exchanged between a sender and receiver, ensuring mutual understanding and successful task completion through shared information, attitudes, and emotional feedback.
What role does non-verbal communication play in the study?
The study highlights non-verbal communication as a critical "silent language" that builds trust and provides nuance which is often lost in digital or text-based communication.
What are the findings regarding the future of communication?
The participants expressed concern that future communication might become increasingly impersonal and "cold," though some remain optimistic that face-to-face interactions will survive alongside advancements like holographic technology.
- Quote paper
- Prof Dr Eddie Fisher (Author), Pavlína Rupová (Author), Dominika Bittnerová (Author), 2014, How Young People Communicate, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/286062
