Problematic Digital Technology Use Scale Among University Students: A Validity and Reliability Study

Authors : Hasan Tutar, Hakan Tahiri Mutlu

Pages : 135-146

Doi:10.53478/yuksekogretim.1454547

View : 119 | Download : 141

Publication Date : 2024-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :As the prevalence of digital technology increases, issues related to its use have also become more widespread. This study aimed to develop a scale to measure the perceptions of university students, assumed to experience problematic digital technology use, regarding their usage patterns. During the scale development process, a literature review was conducted to identify common themes, factors, causes, and consequences of problematic digital technology use. Subsequently, in the qualitative phase, interviews were conducted with university students to gather their views, which were used to create an initial pool of scale items reflecting problematic digital technology use. In the next stage, a pilot study was conducted, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to refine and simplify the scale items. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to identify the dimensions of digital technology use, and overlapping items were removed to improve the scale. The factor analysis revealed that the scale consisted of three factors: Loss of Impulse Control, Social Isolation, and Physical and Mental Fatigue. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess the stability of the factor structure, and Cronbach’s alpha reliability analysis was performed to evaluate the internal consistency of the scale. The analysis indicated that the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient demonstrated a high level of internal consistency (0.918). In conclusion, the scale developed was found to be a reliable and valid tool for researchers and practitioners aiming to assess problematic digital technology use.
Keywords : Dijital Teknoloji, Dijital Bağımlılık, Sorunlu Dijital Teknoloji Kullanımı Ölçeği