Science Journal of Business and Management

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Usage of WhatsApp and Voice Calls (Phone Call): Preference of Polytechnic Students in Ghana

Received: 31 July 2014    Accepted: 16 August 2014    Published: 30 August 2014
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Abstract

With the surge of social network and more improving technological messaging functionalities, Polytechnic students in Ghana are more likely to rely on WhatsApp application for their day-to-day communications than mobile voice calls (phone calls). Cost efficiency, effective, quick and easier mode of communication, confidential, and convenient usage are some of the major factors which might influence their decision. However, not much is known empirically of students’ preference of voice calls and WhatsApp applications. Thus, the objective of the study was to empirically investigate students’ preference of WhatsApp and voice calls in Ghana. A cross sectional approach was used from January to June, 2014. Both primary data and secondary data were used. A structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from a sample of 600 students in three polytechnic institutions in Ghana. Descriptive statistics- tables, pie charts and percentages were used to present the data. The empirical evidence suggests that students’ attention is switching to WhatsApp application as their most preferred mode of their day-to-day communications than it is to mobile voice calls. But it was observed that the kind of the situation and circumstances relating to the communication determines what choice they make. Most prefer using phone calls for situations where they need to be more expressive and effective, as well as in their formal communications. However, in communications involving peers and mates such as to say hi, sharing of academic materials etc., WhatsApp emerged as a preferred choice. It was found that, although WhatsApp is making in-roads per students’ preference, voice calls still remain more important to them as they rely on it at certain situations and circumstances for their communication.

DOI 10.11648/j.sjbm.20140204.11
Published in Science Journal of Business and Management (Volume 2, Issue 4, August 2014)
Page(s) 103-108
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Social Network, Social Media, WhatsApp, Voice Calls, Phone Calls, Students, Preference

References
[1] Underwood, J. (2009). The impact of digital technologies on learning. Retrieved from URL:http://www.slideshare.net/pburgess/ [March 5, 2014]
[2] Cristian, B. O., Răzvan D., & Eugen R. N. (2011). Estimating the importance of social media in consumers’ education and information using new techniques. Amfiteatru Economic, 13(5)
[3] Yeboah, J. and Ewur, G. D. (2014). The impact of WhatsApp messenger usage on students’ performance in tertiary institutions in Ghana. Journal of Education and Practice, 5(6): 222-1735.
[4] Ofcom Communications Market Report (2012) URL:Http://www.ofcom.org.uk/cmruk [Accessed: March 20, 2014]
[5] Lenhart, A. and Ling, R. (2010). Teens and mobile phones. Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. URL:Http:www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/ Teen-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx. [Retrieved: May 15, 2104]
[6] Klutse, F. D. (2013) WhatsApp killing telecom industry? URL:http://business.myjoy online.com/pages/news/201302/100896.php [Retrieved: May 15, 2104]
[7] Ling, R. and Baron, N. S (2007) Text Messaging and IM: Linguistic Comparison of American College Data. Department of Language and Foreign Study American University, Washington DC
[8] Melissa, J. P. (2013). With voice, WhatsApp is now much better than your phone's texting app. URL:http://www.citeworld.com/mobile/ [Accessed: March 8, 2014]
[9] Lenhart, A., Ling, R., Campbell, S., & Purcell, K. (2010). Teens and mobile phones. Washington, D.C.: Pew Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx [Accessed: April 10, 2014]
[10] Shyti, B. (2011). The use of Information and Communication Technologies from the Students’ of Elbasan University A. Xhuvani”, Elbasan, Albania. International Review of Management and Marketing, 1(1): 14-18
[11] Boyd, D.M. & Ellison, N.B. (2008). “Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship,” J Compur- Mediat Comm. 2008 (13), 210-230. Boyd D (2007), ‘Why youth (heart) social network sites: the role of networked publics in teenage social life’. In: Buckingham D ed. MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Learning: Youth, Identity, and Digital Media Volume. Cambridge, MA : MIT Press
[12] Safran, C. (2010). Social media in education: Application scenarios supporting communities in technology- enhanced learning. PhD thesis submitted to The Institute for Information Systems and Computer Media, Graz University of Technology.
Author Information
  • School of Business and Management Studies, Department of Marketing, Cape Coast Polytechnic, Cape Coast, Ghana

  • School of Business and Management Studies, Department of Marketing, Cape Coast Polytechnic, Cape Coast, Ghana

  • School of Applied Sciences and Arts, Department of Liberal Studies, Cape Coast Polytechnic, Cape Coast, Ghana

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  • APA Style

    Yeboah Solomon Tawiah, Horsu Emmanuel Nondzor, Abdulai Alhaji. (2014). Usage of WhatsApp and Voice Calls (Phone Call): Preference of Polytechnic Students in Ghana. Science Journal of Business and Management, 2(4), 103-108. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20140204.11

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    ACS Style

    Yeboah Solomon Tawiah; Horsu Emmanuel Nondzor; Abdulai Alhaji. Usage of WhatsApp and Voice Calls (Phone Call): Preference of Polytechnic Students in Ghana. Sci. J. Bus. Manag. 2014, 2(4), 103-108. doi: 10.11648/j.sjbm.20140204.11

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    AMA Style

    Yeboah Solomon Tawiah, Horsu Emmanuel Nondzor, Abdulai Alhaji. Usage of WhatsApp and Voice Calls (Phone Call): Preference of Polytechnic Students in Ghana. Sci J Bus Manag. 2014;2(4):103-108. doi: 10.11648/j.sjbm.20140204.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjbm.20140204.11,
      author = {Yeboah Solomon Tawiah and Horsu Emmanuel Nondzor and Abdulai Alhaji},
      title = {Usage of WhatsApp and Voice Calls (Phone Call): Preference of Polytechnic Students in Ghana},
      journal = {Science Journal of Business and Management},
      volume = {2},
      number = {4},
      pages = {103-108},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjbm.20140204.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20140204.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjbm.20140204.11},
      abstract = {With the surge of social network and more improving technological messaging functionalities, Polytechnic students in Ghana are more likely to rely on WhatsApp application for their day-to-day communications than mobile voice calls (phone calls). Cost efficiency, effective, quick and easier mode of communication, confidential, and convenient usage are some of the major factors which might influence their decision.  However, not much is known empirically of students’ preference of voice calls and WhatsApp applications. Thus, the objective of the study was to empirically investigate students’ preference of WhatsApp and voice calls in Ghana. A cross sectional approach was used from January to June, 2014. Both primary data and secondary data were used. A structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from a sample of 600 students in three polytechnic institutions in Ghana. Descriptive statistics- tables, pie charts and percentages were used to present the data. The empirical evidence suggests that students’ attention is switching to WhatsApp application as their most preferred mode of their day-to-day communications than it is to mobile voice calls. But it was observed that the kind of the situation and circumstances relating to the communication determines what choice they make. Most prefer using phone calls for situations where they need to be more expressive and effective, as well as in their formal communications. However, in communications involving peers and mates such as to say hi, sharing of academic materials etc., WhatsApp emerged as a preferred choice. It was found that, although WhatsApp is making in-roads per students’ preference, voice calls still remain more important to them as they rely on it at certain situations and circumstances for their communication.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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    AU  - Yeboah Solomon Tawiah
    AU  - Horsu Emmanuel Nondzor
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    JO  - Science Journal of Business and Management
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    AB  - With the surge of social network and more improving technological messaging functionalities, Polytechnic students in Ghana are more likely to rely on WhatsApp application for their day-to-day communications than mobile voice calls (phone calls). Cost efficiency, effective, quick and easier mode of communication, confidential, and convenient usage are some of the major factors which might influence their decision.  However, not much is known empirically of students’ preference of voice calls and WhatsApp applications. Thus, the objective of the study was to empirically investigate students’ preference of WhatsApp and voice calls in Ghana. A cross sectional approach was used from January to June, 2014. Both primary data and secondary data were used. A structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from a sample of 600 students in three polytechnic institutions in Ghana. Descriptive statistics- tables, pie charts and percentages were used to present the data. The empirical evidence suggests that students’ attention is switching to WhatsApp application as their most preferred mode of their day-to-day communications than it is to mobile voice calls. But it was observed that the kind of the situation and circumstances relating to the communication determines what choice they make. Most prefer using phone calls for situations where they need to be more expressive and effective, as well as in their formal communications. However, in communications involving peers and mates such as to say hi, sharing of academic materials etc., WhatsApp emerged as a preferred choice. It was found that, although WhatsApp is making in-roads per students’ preference, voice calls still remain more important to them as they rely on it at certain situations and circumstances for their communication.
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