Investigation of the effect of digital addiction levels of Communication Faculty students on their communication skills: The case of Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University

With the development and spread of digital communication tools, long distances have become closer and people have been informed worldwide. In addition, with the spread and development of communication opportunities, individuals' lives have become easier. In addition to these conveniences, digital communication tools can also cause negative situations for individuals. With this situation, which is especially expressed as digital addiction and affects many people every day, individuals become more lonely by avoiding face-to-face communication. On the other hand, it has become important to research the development of communication skills in individuals, considering that this negative effect will be reduced with the concept of communication skills, which is the subject examined within the scope of the research. Within the scope of the research, the interactions between digital addiction level and communication skills perceptions were examined. In this regard, the research questions were determined as "How and in what direction is there an interaction between communication skills and digital addiction" and "What are the relationships between communication skills and digital addiction perceptions according to demographic factors?" In order to answer the research question, a quantitative research method was used and a survey was conducted for Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Faculty of Communication students (n=408). The data obtained was analyzed with the SPSS 25 analysis program. Within the scope of the analysis, frequency analysis, ANOVA, independent sample t-test, percentage analysis, regression analysis, and correlation analysis were performed. According to the analysis findings, communication skills show a significant difference according to gender. It has also been determined that the level of digital addiction varies according to gender and field of education. On the other hand, while a significant negative effect of the level of digital addiction on communication skills was determined, a negative relationship was also determined between the level of digital addiction and communication skills. According to these findings, it has been determined that increasing communication skills reduces digital addiction levels, in other words, it has a weakening effect on digital addiction. In the conclusion section, practical and theoretical suggestions are presented in line with the research findings.