The Relationship between University Students’ Social Media-Specific Epistemological Beliefs and Technology Addiction

Authors : Emine Merve Uslu, Tuba Özgün

Pages : 629-645

View : 42 | Download : 54

Publication Date : 2024-07-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The current study explores the relationship between university students’ social media-specific epistemological beliefs and technology addiction levels. This study was conducted using a correlational survey model with 350 university students studing at a state university in Turkey. SPSS-23 software was used to analyze the data. The findings highlighted that the relationship between university students’ social media-specific epistemological beliefs and technology addictions is above average and high. The social media-specific epistemological beliefs of pre-service teachers differed significantly according to gender, department, grade, place of living for a long time, and father’s educational status. Technology addictions differed significantly according to gender, department, and place of living for a long time. The study found a significant and positive relationship between university students’ social media-specific epistemological beliefs and technology addictions. The simplicity and certainty of social media-based knowledge and the source of knowledge were significant predictors of technology addiction. As a result, the data of the study will contribute to the literature on social media-specific epistemological beliefs and technology addiction and will shed light on future studies. Instead of knowledge and comprehension activities, it is suggested to create learning environments in which individuals actively participate in practices with activities that will enable the evaluation of application analysis, synthesis, and cognitive skills.
Keywords : Teknoloji Bağımlılığı, Sosyal Medya Bağımlılığı, Epistemolojik İnançlar, Sosyal Medyaya Özgü Epistemolojik İnançlar