How the Internet Is Used by the Millennial Generation and Its Impact
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Eastern Illinois University The Keep Masters Theses Student Theses & Publications 2016 How the Internet is Used by the Millennial Generation and Its Impact on Family Interaction Kendra Myers Eastern Illinois University This research is a product of the graduate program in Family and Consumer Sciences at Eastern Illinois University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Myers, Kendra, "How the Internet is Used by the Millennial Generation and Its Impact on Family Interaction" (2016). Masters Theses. 2503. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/2503 This is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses & Publications at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact tabruns@eiu.edu. 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How the Internet is used by the Millennial Generation and its Impact on Family Interaction (TITLE) BY Kendra Myers THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF Master of Sciences in Family and Consumer Sciences IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL, EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS 2016 YEAR I HEREBY RECOMMEND THAT THIS THESIS BE ACCEPTED AS FULFILLING THIS PART OF THE GRADUATE DEGREE CITED ABOVE THE\slS COMMITTEE CHAIR bEPARTMENt/SCHOOL CHAIR OR CHAIR'S DESIGNEE THESIS COMMITTEE MEMBER DATE THESIS COMMITTEE MEMBER DATE THESIS COMMITTEE MEMBER DATE THESIS COMMITTEE MEMBER DATE Abstract The purposeof the current study was to examine how Internet technology is used by the Millennial Generation and how it impacts family interaction. A questionnaire developed by the author was posted online and the final sample consisted of 92 participants, 13 men and 79 women. The average age of the participants was 27.97 (SD= 4.46). Findings showed that that the Millennial Generation used the Internet multiple times a day and for many reasons which were sorted into six distinct themes: 1) research/information seeking, 2) work, 3) social media/communication (besides email), 4) academics, 5) email, and 6) personal/entertainment. In addition, the results implied thato verall, the participants perceived that the use of Internet technology has a positive effect on family interactions and communications. 11 Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my family. For my husband, who has been my rock through everything and my biggest supporter, my children who learned to be patient with me while I spent countless hours researching and writing, my parents and brother who have always been there for me andwho always have encouraging words or hugs when I need them most, for my aunt who spent endless hours helping me with homework assignments and for being the wind beneath my wings, and for my grandparents who have always believed in me. I thank each and every one of you for your continuous support. Without you, this would not have been possible. iii Acknowledgments I would like to thank Dr. Lisa Moyer, my thesis advisor who has been with me every step of the way. Without Dr. Moyer's guidance, support, and reassurance that I was on the right track, this achievement would not have been possible. I could not have asked fora more dedicated person to work with. I would also like to thank Dr. Katherine Shaw and Dr. Lisa Brooks for being on my committee as well, your feedback wasinstrumental in giving this thesis direction. It has been a pleasure working with you all. iv Table of Contents Abstract ............... ........... ....... ...... ..................... .... ......... ...... .......................... i Dedication ...................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................ iii Table of Contents.................... ....................................................................... iv List of Figures/Tables ....................................................................................v Chapter 1: Introduction . .......... ..... ... ... .... .. ... ...... .. ....... ........... ... .. 1 Purpose of study . ....... .. .... .. ... ... ..... .. .. .... ..... ..... ... ...... .. 3 Definitionof terms . ........ .. ....... ... ..... ... .... ... ... .. ....... .. ... .......... 4 Chapter 2: Review of Literature ..... .. ....... ......... ..... ... ... ... ... .. .. .. ... 6 Chapter 3: Methodology . .. ......... ........ .. .... .... ...... ..... ... ...... ... ... .. 28 Research design . .... .... .......... .... ........ .... ......... .. .... .. .. 28 Instrumentation . .... ....... .. ...... .. ... ... ..... ... .. .. ...... ..... .. 28 Reliabilityand validity .... ... ..... ..... ... ... ......... .. .. ... ... ... ... ....... 29 Data analysis . ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. ....... .'......... ............................. 30 Chapter 4: Results .. .. .. .... ... .. ... ... ..... ... .... .. .... ........ .... .... .... 31 Chapter 5: Discussion and Implications . .... ... ...... ..... .. ...... .. ..... .. ...... 37 Limitations . .... .. .......... ..... .... ... ... ..... .. ... .. ... ......... ... .... .... ... ..... 39 Recommendations. .... ... .. ... ... .. ....... .... .... ..... .. ... ... .. .. 40 References... ......... ...... .. ..... ..... .... ...... ....... ..... ... ... ...... .... ... ... ... 42 Appendix A: Family Development Tasks Through Life Cycle.... .. ... ..... .47 Appendix B: Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Theory . ............ .......... ..... ... ... .48 Appendix C: Research Instrument. .. ... ........... ... ..... .. .. ... ....... ... .... ... .. 49 Appendix D: Consent Form ........................................................................... 54 v List of Figuresffabl es Table 1: Year Participants Were Born........................... ................................32 Table 2: Ethnicity of Participants .............. ....................................................33 Table 3: How Often Participants Accessed the Internet During Meals ......... 35 Table 4: How Often Romantic Partners Accessed Internet During Meals .... 36 Table 5: How OftenParticipants Accessed InternetDuring Meals with Romantic Partner's Family ............................................................................................................ 36 Table 6: Descriptive Statistics for Family Interaction Variables ...................36 1 Chapter 1 Introduction Overview of Topic In the 1980s personal computers became available and foundtheir way into the homes of the children and families that could afford them. During the early 1990s, more homes were able to afford personal computers and the Internetbeca me available to the general population and altered the way people were able to communicate