Usage of WhatsApp and Interpersonal Communication Skills among Private University Students

Tak Jie Chan, Wai Kay Yong & Amira Harmizi


* Tak Jie Chan
Faculty of Communication and Creative Design, SEGi University
Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Email: chantakjie@segi.edu.my

Wai Kay Yong
Faculty of Communication and Creative Design, SEGi University
Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Email: vikingminjy@gmail.com

Amira Harmizi
Faculty of Communication and Creative Design, SEGi University
Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Email: 96miramz96@gmail.com

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between the usage of WhatsApp and interpersonal communication skills among students in a Malaysia private higher education institution. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) proposed by Davis (1986) was used to guide the study. Purposive and quota sampling was employed in this study, whereby students who have experiences using the WhatsApp were chosen to be the respondents. A survey method was employed in this study, where questionnaires were distributed and generate 125 valid responses. The data were then analyzed using Spearman’s rho correlation test through the SPSS version 25.0. Based on the findings, all the variables under TAM model, namely; perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use have a positive and a moderate relationship with interpersonal communication skills. Limitations of the study, implications of the findings, and suggestions for future study are also discussed.

 

Key word: Usage of Social Networking Sites, Technology Acceptance Model, Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease-of-Use, Interpersonal Communication Skills, Computer-Mediated Communication

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