Use of social networks and their influence on social skills in university students

Abstract

The objective of the research was to determine if the use of social networks influence in university students social skills in the psychology degree of a particular university. Upon reviewing specialized literature, the existence of various correlational studies has been found, with samples small. The purpose of this study was to specify the influence of the use and impact of social networks in university students’ social skills. For this, a significant sample of 320 was obtained. It was used a non-experimental, causal correlational cross-sectional design, with an explanatory scope, which served as a contribution to the study and understanding of this complex and interesting topic of the use of social networks and its personal social and academic impact. The method used was the hypothetical deductive, having as a quantitative research approach. Two instruments were applied to measure the variables use of social networks by Escurra Mayaute & Salas Blas (2014) and the Goldstein social skills scale adapted by Ambrosio Tomás Rojas, validated by judgment of the experts and having a reliability through the Cronbach alpha of 0.890 and 0.928 respectively. For the hypothesis test, ordinal logistic regression was applied. Results allowed to determinate that there is a significant influence of the use of social networks on social skills in university psychology students; because the logistic model is significant (p < 0.05); fitted the data well (Deviation with p < 0.05); and explained 70.2% of the dependent variable social skills.