The perceptions of university students regarding mobile communication technologies

This study aims to determine the perceptions of university students regarding mobile communication technologies. A literature review was conducted regarding mobile communication technologies, their users, and perception. Designed as a descriptive case study, the opinions of students from the Anadolu University Faculty of Communication Sciences were obtained through a semi-structured open-ended interview. The interview questions were derived from a theoretical basis established through the Media Naturalness Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model. The data gathered was studied using thematic analysis, and the findings were evaluated with regards to both the theoretical framework of the study, and the literature in the field. The foremost findings were that participants perceived synchronicity and voice communication to be more important, while facial expressions, body language, and colocation were not sought qualities. The thematic analysis revealed that access to knowledge and information, voice communication, and asynchronous text based communication were the foremost uses for mobile communication technologies. Participants reported that the degree of closeness and intimacy was a determining factor in preference regarding immediacy, facial expressions, and body language. Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were heavily influenced by technical limitations of devices, unwillingness to be disturbed, and text based communication. Media Naturalness Theory was lacking in explanatory power regarding the lenience towards text based communication, while the Technology Acceptance Model was proven to be a powerful tool in determining user perceptions.