1.

Introduction
This section will discuss the background of the study, the statement of the problems, the
purpose of the study, objectives of the study, the questions of the study, methods used and
the limitations of the study.
1.1

Background Of Study
Our research, The effect of social network on students from private and public
universities, is conducted to observe the factor that contributes to the effects of
social networking on student from private university and public university and
also to find comparison between private university and public university. We use
three journals to support our research objectives.
The definition of social media is the relationships that exist between network of
people (Walter & Riviera, 2004). In the last ten years, the online world has
changed dramatically. Thanks to the invention of social media, young men and
women now exchange ideas, feelings, personal information, pictures and videos at
a truly astonishing rate. Seventy-three percent of wired American teens now use
social media websites (Oberst, 2010). Schill (2011) states that the social media
sites encourage negative behaviours for teen students such as procrastination
(catching up with friends). However, every day, many students are spending
countless hours immersed in social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and
Tweeter. In our research we would like to investigate the factor that contributes
the effects of social network on students from private and public universities by
the questionnaire that we distribute.
At first glance this may seem like a waste of time; however it also helps
students to develop important knowledge and social skills, and be active citizens
who create and share content. At present, whether social media is favourable or
unfavourable, many students utilize these sites on a daily basis. As social media
sites continue to grow in popularity it is our belief that technology is a vital part of
todays student success equation. Many researchers have been diving into a
considerable amount of research on how social media influences student retention

at colleges. Many parents are worried that their college students are spending too
much time on Facebook and other social media sites and not enough time
studying, In our research, we would like to observe the comparison between
private university and public university on social networking.
1.2

Statement of the problem

To address the issue of the effectiveness of using social networking, the first question
raised in this study is: for what purpose is the student utilizing social networking?
Research on this topic will start to reveal social networking sites are simply part of how
students interact with each other with no apparent impact on grades.
1.3

Purpose
To investigate the effect of social network on students from private and public
universities

1.4

Research Objectives
1.4.1` To identify factor that contributes to the effects of social networking on
1.4.2

student from private university and public university

To compare usage of social network between private university and public
university.

1.5

1.6

Research questions
1.5.1

What are the factor that contributes to the effects of social networking on

1.5.2

student from private university and public university?

How find comparison between private university and public university?

Methodology

Researchers will use quantitative method. This method is more suitable, more
accurate

and easy to interpret.

Researchers used questionnaire to achieved our report objective. The

questionnaire is

divide to 3 section which is section A, section b and section C.

Section A is about respondent back ground, aims to find comparison usage of

social network between

private university and public university. While question in

Section b and Section C is to

identify factor that contributes to the effects of

social networking on student from private

university and public university.

Researchers also prepared one question for qualitative method which is open
question to get respondent opinion in order to tests theories and objective

1.7

Limitations
1.5.1

Time constraint
One of the limitations in completing this research is time constraints.
Researchers have to find suitable time to distribute the questionnaires to
the respondents. It takes time for researchers to complete this research
because some of the respondents take a long time to return the
questionnaires.

1.7.2

Respondent constraint
The researchers have chosen respondents from public university and
private university. Some of the respondents refuse to answer the
questionnaire. Constraints that the researchers face are that it is difficult to
find a respondent who are willing to answer the questionnaire since it is
done during office lunch hour.

1.7.3

Lack of cooperation

The researchers found that some of the students are not willing to
cooperate. They give reasons such as busy in order to refuse to answer the
questionnaires. Furthermore, the constraint that researchers face is that the
respondents do not fully answered the questionnaires, especially in Section
C, where they have to give comments and opinions.

Findings
Pie Chart 1 - Gender of Sample

To explore the effect of social media on students from private and public university, 10
questionnaire was distribute to public university and and another 10 to private university. A total
of 20 students took the survey. Of these students, 12 were female, and 8 were male that give a
response. Thus, of those who provide response, 40% were male and 60% were female. These
result can be found in Pie Chart 1.
Pie Chart 2 - Types of University

The name of universities of the respondents were sought. Thus respondent from UiTM and
University of Northampton were from Public University, and UNIKL and Sunway College were

from Public College. The names and proportions of respondent per university are shown by Pie
Chart 2. 40% of the respondent were from UiTM. Another 35% were from UNIKL, 15% from
Sunway College and 10% were from University of Northampton.
Pie Chart 3 - Race

The respondents was asked about they race, mostly it comes from Malay student which is 80%.
Another that is Chinese which is 15%, Indian 5% only. The respondents race can refer from pie
chart 3 below.
Bar Chart 4 - Hours spent on social networking by the respondents

The respondent were asked how many hours they spent on social network on ever week basis.
Column 4 above show the summary of the findings . Totally they spent more than 5 hours.
Available evidence suggests that most internet users probably visit social network sites daily or
at least every other day (Ofcom, 2008), and young people lead the pack.

Bar Chart 5 - Member of group on Social Networking

Refer to column 5, mostly private and public university students has been joined communities or group
members in social networking 11 to 20 groups, and follow by 1 to 10 groups and lastly 21 to 50 groups.
Normally students will be joined into group Whatsapp, Wechat and Facebook to communicate in group
and easy to get info.

Bar Chart 6 - Social network frequently use

No of User

Percentage
%

Facebook

20

100

Twitter

14

70

Instagram

16

80

Whatsapp

20

100

10

20

100

Social Network

Skype
Youtube

Others

15

From a sample of 20 students we found that all students use more than one social networking
site. Refer to column 6, 100% students using Facebook, 70% using Twitter, 16% by Instagram,
100% use social network by Whatsapp. Another that 10% students use Skype, 100% by Youtube
for entertainment and lastly 15% others such as Wechat, Blogspot, Tumblr and Line.

Bar Chart 7 - Way to access social network

No. of
Answers

Percentage
%

Laptop

15

75

Smartphone

20

100

22.5

Items

Tablet

Above Column 7 shows students from private and public university access their social networks.
Students will give option to choose laptop, smartphone or tablet, and students also can choose
more than once. 75% access social network using laptop, 100% access by Smartphone and lastly
22.5% using tablet. (Social Times, Jon Sotsky) The growing use of smartphones to access
and share information holds tremendous opportunities for news organizations and
other content creators to develop new, mobile-friendly ways of capturing audience
attention and getting people the information they need.

Pie Chart 8 - Post or respond to social network

The respondents giving a respond or post to they social network. 80% respond or post during free time,
15% while students public and private university completing homework or assignment. Another that
student will respond or post during their class hour. Pie chart 8 shows the figure.

Bar Chart 9 - Purpose of using social networking

No. of
Answers

Percentage%

17

85

25

20

100

Part Time Income

35

Online Shopping

20

To get opinions

15

75

To play games

25

11

55

Purpose
Completing Assignment
Make a new friend
Entertainment

To keep in touch with family and

friends

Students were asked to choose one or more than one option.85% students use Social Networks
Site to completing assignment,25% to make a new friend,100% for their entertainment,35% to
gain part time income.,20% to online shopping,75% to get other opinions,25% to play games,
and 55% to keep in touch with family and friends. Column 9 below further displays the graphical
distribution of the percentages above.

Bar Chart 10 - Frequently Liked or Befriended

No of User

Percentage
%

15

10

40

30

20

100

Frequently

Total

To know frequently students befriended and liked on social networks. In this we find 5% only 1
frequently, 15% only 2 frequently, 10% under 3 frequently, 40% only 4 frequently and lastly is 30%
which is only 5 frequently. Column 3 below show more detail percentage how frequent students befriend
and liked.

Bar Chart 11 - Using Social Networking for learning

Opinion

Percentage %

Strongly Agree

3.5

Agree

6.5

Disagree

Srongly Disagree

Total

100

To obtain opinion using social networking technology for learning in colleges. From this bar chart we
find 3.5 percentage students strongly agree by using social network technology and 6.5 percentage is
Agree to use social network technology for learning in colleges.

Pie Chart 12 - Effects on Social Networking

People

Percentage
%

Does not have an effect face to face

communication

1.50

Somewhat has an affect on face to

face communication

4.00

Replaces most face to face

communication

4.50

The pie chart show the effect of using social network to our social life. On the survey 1.50 percentage
students said does not have an affect face to face communication, 4.00 percentage students said somewhat
has an affect on face to face communication. Lastly 4.50 percentage students said it replace most face to
face communications.

Column 13 - Participate on Social Network

Participate on Social Network

Percentage

Yes

100%

No

0%

Based on survey obtain from students, 100 pecentage students would feel missing if they not participate
on social network.