Nova Southeastern University NSUWorks CEC Theses and Dissertations College of Engineering and Computing 2018 Exploring Generational Differences in Text Messaging Usage and Habits Daniel Wayne Long Nova Southeastern University, [email protected] This document is a product of extensive research conducted at the Nova Southeastern University College of Engineering and Computing. For more information on research and degree programs at the NSU College of Engineering and Computing, please click here. Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd Part of the Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Computer Sciences Commons, Digital Communications and Networking Commons, and the Mass Communication Commons Share Feedback About This Item NSUWorks Citation Daniel Wayne Long. 2018. Exploring Generational Differences in Text Messaging Usage and Habits. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Engineering and Computing. (1060) https://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/1060. This Dissertation is brought to you by the College of Engineering and Computing at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in CEC Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1 Exploring Generational Differences in Text Messaging Usage and Habits By Daniel W. Long A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Information Systems College of Engineering and Computing Nova Southeastern University 2018 2 APPROVAL PAGE 3 An Abstract of a Dissertation Submitted to Nova Southeastern University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Exploring Generational Differences in Text Messaging Usage and Habits By Daniel W. Long October 2018 Members of society today embrace multiple communication media for various purposes and intents. Text messaging has been identified as the medium of choice for continual relationship maintenance and text messaging from mobile devices overshadows all other media forms for the support of social connections. Text messaging is changing everything from how operators market their plans to how advertisers and service providers reach consumers. But just as technology usage of social media and internet access are different across generational boundaries, text messaging usage and habits may also be different for various generational groups. The majority of peer-reviewed research regarding text messaging usage habits has focused on adolescent and young adult users with less attention on text messaging usage habits by older adults; there is a scarcity of peer-reviewed research examining cross-generation text messaging habits and texting usage patterns. The primary goal of this study was to assess the similarities and differences in text messaging usage habits, purposes, and support of social connections differentiated by five of the commonly designated generational groups in America; the Post-War Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. A mixed methods study provided data on the text messaging usage habits of members of the generational groups using a pool of adult college students, members of the researcher’s LinkedIn network, and data from a survey service to determine to what extent differences and similarities exist between users’ text messaging usage habits within each generational group. Results indicated generational group membership has a significant effect on a participant’s messaging volume (UV), text messaging partner choices (TMPC), and text messaging social habits (SH), regardless of gender, education level, or employment status. The older the generational group, the more likely they are to prefer talking over texting and to have issues with the device interface. The Post-War Silent generation texts their spouses the least of any group, while Generation X texts their spouses the most, and all generational groups with the exception of Generation Z would limit texting while driving. Generational characteristics seem to have some influence over texting behaviors. Contributions to the existing body of knowledge in the human computer interaction field include an investigation of factors that contribute to each generational group’s willingness to embrace or reject the text messaging medium, and an investigation into the into how each generation views and exploits the texting medium. 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation is dedicated to my wife, Kim. Were it not for your loving guidance, support, and encouragement, accomplishing this goal would not have been possible. You never let me get off task for very long, and encouraged me through all the setbacks, keeping me positive and upbeat. I cannot begin to tell you how much you mean to me. I would like to thank my dissertation advisor, Dr. Maxine Cohen, for her leadership, guidance, support, and understanding throughout this dissertation process, for sticking with me beyond the call of duty. I have learned so much from you and hope to instill your patience and positive attitude into everyone whom I mentor. My heartfelt thanks also go out to my committee members, Dr. Ling Wang and Dr. Simon Cleveland, for their encouragement and support, and wisdom, and to my Delphi committee members, Dr. Michael Nelson, Dr. Albert Ball, and Associate Dean Tracey Lanham, as well as my other two members who have asked not to be acknowledged. Also, a special thanks to Dr. Steven Terrell, who helped me in determining the correct statistical tests, and to Josef Long and Kim Long who provided some much- needed proofing and editing. Thank you all for challenging me and guiding me through this process. I am very grateful and fortunate to have had you all in my corner. Table of Contents Approval ii Abstract iii Acknowledgments iv Table of Contents v List of Tables ix List of Figures x Chapters 1. Introduction 1 Background 1 Problem Statement 3 Dissertation Goal 5 Research Questions 6 Relevance and Significance 7 Barriers and Issues 9 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations 10 Definition of Terms 12 Summary 13 2. Review of the Literature 15 Introduction 15 Social Connections through Texting 15 Generational Groups 21 GI Generation 23 Post-War Silent Generation 23 Baby Boomers 24 Generation X 26 Millennials 27 Generation Z 29 Text Messaging and Technology 32 Summary 35 v Table of Contents (continued) 3. Methodology 37 Overview 37 Theoretical Model 37 Research Methods Employed 39 Quantitative Method 39 Sample Development 40 Hypotheses and Model 42 Instrument Development and Validation 44 Pilot Study 47 Pre-Analysis Data Screening 47 Quantitative Data Analysis 49 Qualitative Method 53 Qualitative Data Analysis 54 Presentation of Results 54 Resource Requirements 55 Summary 56 4. Results 57 Overview 57 Quantitative Data Analysis 57 Demographic Statistics 61 Reliability Analysis 65 Research Question Analysis and Results 65 Testing Gender as a Covariate to Generational Group 74 Testing Employment Status as a Covariate to Generational Group 78 Testing Education Level as a Covariate to Generational Group 81 Quantitative Findings 85 Effect of Generational Group on Usage Volume 85 Effect of Generational Group on Text Messaging Partner Choices 85 Effect of Generational Group on Social Habits 87 Modifying Effects of Gender 88 Modifying Effects of Employment Status 89 Modifying Effects of Education Level 90 Qualitative Findings 91 vi Table of Contents (continued) Qualitative Data Analysis 90 Qualitative Findings 92 Common Questions 92 Generationally Specific Questions - Post-War Silent Group 96 Generationally Specific Questions - Baby Boomers 97 Generationally Specific Questions - Generation X 98 Generationally Specific Questions – Millennials 99 Generational Characteristics 100 Post-War Silent Generation 100 Baby Boomers 102 Generation X 103 Millennials 105 Generation Z 106 Summary 108 5. Conclusions, Implications, Recommendations, and Summary 112 Conclusions 112 Implications 117 Recommendations 119 Summary 121 Appendices 127 A - Text Messaging Questionnaire 127 B - Interview Script and Initial Questions 131 C - NSU Institutional Review Board Approval 132 D - Participant Letter for Anonymous Survey 133 E - Invitation to participate in Telephone Interview 135 F - Participant Letter for Telephone Interview 136 G - Between Group Comparisons of GG on UV 138 H - Between Group Comparisons of GG on TMPC 139 I - Between Group Comparisons of GG on SH 150 J - Pairwise Comparisons of GG on UV with Gender covariate 153 K - Pairwise Comparisons of GG on TMPC with Gender covariate 154 L - Pairwise Comparisons of GG on SH with Gender covariate 165 vii Table of Contents (continued) M - Pairwise Comparisons of GG on UV with Employment Status covariate 168 N - Pairwise Comparisons of GG on TMPC with Employment Status covariate 169 O - Pairwise Comparisons of GG on SH with Employment Status covariate 180 P - Pairwise Comparisons of GG on UV with Education level covariate 183 Q - Pairwise Comparisons of GG on TMPC with Education level covariate 184 R - Pairwise Comparisons of GG on SH with Education level covariate 195 S - Summary of Common Semi-Structured Interview Questions and Consensus 198 References 200 viii List of Tables Tables 1. Generational Groups and General Characteristics 30 2. Text Messaging Social Habit Construct Groups 51 3. Mahalanobis Distance Extreme Values 59 4. Gender Representation 61 5. Survey Data Collection and Cleaning Summary 61 6.