What Predicts the Frequencies of Activities on Social Networking Sites among the D/deaf and Hard of Hearing?

摘要

This study examined the predictions regarding the frequencies of activities on social networking sites among D/deaf and hard of hearing people in Germany. Regression analysis revealed that gender, level of education, frequencies of attending social networking sites using smartphones and tablets, as well as purposes of using social networking sites for fun and school or work, account for about 33% of the variances in the frequencies of activities on social networking sites. The findings indicated that men tend to conduct activities on social networking sites more often than women and users with lower levels of education tend to also be more active on social networking sites. Frequent attending social networking sites from smartphones and tablets predicted even more frequent activities on these sites and likewise the using of social networking sites for fun and school or work. These findings could importantly contribute towards actual debates about the possibilities of successfully including social networking sites within the education process. Future research should be attempted to identify which characteristics predict the frequencies of activities on social networking sites in other countries in order to compare the possible effects in countries on these activities and, consequently, users’ experiences with social networking sites.