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Dissertation
The Effect of Media Literacy as College Students Consume News and Information on Social Media: An Explanatory, Sequential, Mixed-Methods Study
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Dec 2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000674
Abstract
This study explored the relevancy of media literacy as college students obtained their news and information from social media sites. The past several decades have experienced a transformation from single-sourced, trusted news in newspapers and television to a multi-sourced, unchecked, and growing social media presence. News shapes social and political attitudes and awareness, making the ability to understand, process, and analyze the information critical for forming an individual's worldview. Data collection methods for this exploratory, sequential, mixed-methods study included: a quantitative online survey with a seven-point Likert-type scale (n = 58), five semi-structured, one-to-one interviews with students, and a focus group of five faculty within the communications department at the study site. The study's quantitative findings suggest that students consume news and information from various sources, including social media sites such as Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and online news publications (e.g., The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times). The study's qualitative findings suggest that students acquired their media literacy skills from their undergraduate communications courses, rather than their parents of K-12 education. The study identified three results: (a) students use multiple techniques and methods to confirm news and information on social media and online news, (b) faculty in the communications department embed media literacy training and education in their curricula, and (c) students and faculty view media literacy concepts and definitions similarly. The researcher recommended the following actions: (a) create a faculty group to conduct short- and long-range planning, (b) reach out to local and regional employers to better understand if Sunshine University graduates have the skills they need to perform well within these organizations, and (c) research university communications programs to identify what other higher educational institutions have implemented for media literacy education.
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Details
- Title
- The Effect of Media Literacy as College Students Consume News and Information on Social Media
- Creators
- Christine Meholic
- Contributors
- Vera J. Lee (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xiii, 172 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991016053931504721