Research Methodology

I will be doing research in order to gather valuable information which cover issues regarding mobile phones and their effects on society. If I conduct my research in the best possible manner, I should be able to form a suitable conclusion to the topic.

I can gather this information from websites, books, journals magazines and newspaper articles- this is all secondary research. Primary research is the most reliable and effective source of information. However, due to restrictions in time, it will not be possible to collect, decipher and organise the data in a way that would be beneficial to my research.

I would like to use quantitative and qualitative data to ensure that I have both facts as well as individual views. Quantitative data would be beneficial as it is more factual and qualitative data gives society’s feelings and emotions on that subject.

Hopefully, if I can gather the correct and relevant data, I can then form a clear conclusion to my essay in regards to mobile phones and their effects on society.

Literature Review

Mobile phones are a significant form of communication, which is why people have been debating how they can affect relationships positively and negatively.

Computer Science for Fun 2005(?) says that before the industrial revolution, friends and families would live together, having close relationships. However, due to the spread of society, relationships became more distant, it then states that mobile phones can bring people closer together again: “because of our mobiles we can constantly chat or text with them just as people used to.”

Despite bringing people closer together, mobile phones can in fact have a damaging effect on relationships. Höflich .R J n.d. states that

“…something small seems to be having a relatively large effect on relationships.”

Goldacre. B 2006 believes that the use of digital imaging capabilities on the phone limits the verbal communication between partners, reducing their interaction.

Goldacre. B 2006 draws attention to services that make it easy for someone to illegally track whoever they hold the mobile phone number of: “…delete two text messages that arrive immediately, warning them they are being tracked. You can stalk them for a couple of days, find out if they really are where they say they are, work out who they are with…”

Mobile Phones & their Effect on Society - Ideas Mind Map

Personal SWOT Analysis

Strengths:
I am determined. I have good interpersonal skills and am confident in my ability to take notes. I am a visual learner so I feel that I am capable of presenting work in a visual manner.

Weaknesses:
I have a poor short term memory due to Dyspraxia, making it difficult to remember what I have learnt after moving on to a different problem/topic.

Opportunities:
Gaining a degree would put me ahead of come competitors as well as relevant work experience. I live in a convenient location for being employed in London.

Threats:
My career has been threatened by potential failure of not getting a degree, not having enough experience to compete with other aspiring candidates or being restricted financially while at university.

VARK Learning Styles Questionaire

I have completed a VARK questionnaire and had the following results:-

Visual: 7

Aural: 6

Read/Write: 3

Kinaesthetic: 8

The results suggest that I am a kinaesthetic learner, meaning I prefer to go ahead and learn by doing things rather than hear or see instructions first. My second highest result score was for ‘visual’- visual learning could involve watching a demonstration or viewing a diagram.

I was expecting to score highest in visual and lowest in aural and kinaesthetic as they have always been my least favoured ways of learning. My preferred style of learning is visual as I instructions seem to be a lot clearer when they are presented in this way.

To support my visual learning I could record notes using diagrams, brainstorms and well formatted text etc. Following this, the notes taken could be put into practice shortly after to meet my kinaesthetic learning style.

Learning Line

The above diagram shows my major learning stages from earliest to latest. At St Joseph’s Primary School, I learnt basic skills usually taught at reception level, before moving to New Hall Primary School where I received a lot of support for my dyslexia and studied topics that would be beneficial for secondary school.

At Secondary School, I was studying for GCSEs while partaking in other groups, such as a voluntary service to help the elderly or children with disabilities, which was beneficial for my communication skills.

I then progressed to South East Essex College to study Animation where I gained skills in multimedia, which helped me with my next course at Cambridge Regional College where I studied Moving Image. At Cambridge, I learnt techniques required for working in the film industry.

Working at WHSmiths has enabled me to improve my communication skills as where I work is in an airport, meaning I deal with people who English is not a first tongue for. I then moved to the cash office, where my problem solving skills improved due to working alone the majority of the time. I am now at University where I will further my knowledge in computing.