Examination of the relationship between technology use of 5–6 year-old children and their social skills and social status^*

* This research was presented in International Congress on Education for the future: Issues and challenges (ICEFIC 2015, May 13–15, 2015, Ankara University) as an oral presentation.

ABSTRACT

The primary objective of this study is to determine the predictive effect of technology use durations of 5–6 year-old children on their social skill levels and social status. In this study, children’s technology usage is restricted to the use of television, portable computers, tablets and smartphones. The sample group of the study consisted of 162 children aged 5 and 6 years old who are actively enrolled in seven kindergartens. The data required for the study were obtained from children, parents and teachers. The ‘Determination of Use of Technology by Children–Parent Form’, the ‘Social Skills Evaluation Scale’, ‘The Picture Sociometry Scale’ and ‘The Personal Information Form’ were used. The results revealed that the use of mobile technologies had no predictive effect on the social skill level, whereas, some mobile devices have predictive effects on the social preference and social impact.

KEYWORDS:

• Use of technology
• social skills
• social status
• young children

Notes on contributors

Hülya Gülay Ogelman is an associate professor at the Department of Preschool Education, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. Her research interests include social skills, peer relationships, environmental education, resiliency in early childhood. Some of her articles have been published in the following journals: Early Education and Development, European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, Early Child Education Journal, Death Studies, Education: 3-13, Journal of Research in Education, Educational Research and Reviews, Social Behaviour and Personality, Early Child Development and Care, Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, and Education. Some of her books include: Social skills in preschool period (PegemA Publishing: 2009), Peer relationships in preschool period (PegemA Publishing: 2016), Earthquake awareness program in early childhood (Egiten Kitap: 2012).

Hande Güngör is a lecturer at the Department of Child Care and Youth Services in Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. She is also pursuing a PhD degree at the Department of Preschool Education in the same university. Her research interests are targeted to preschool education and include social skills, environmental education, media literacy and technology use. Some of her research outcomes have been presented in respected conferences and published in proceedings and journals. She is also a co-author of several book chapters.

Özlem Körükçü is an associate professor at the Healthcare Services Vocational School, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. Her research interests include empathy, self-esteem and academic self-esteem. Some of her articles have been published in the following journals: An Analysis of Self-esteem Levels and Parental attitudes of the students attending child development program (Procedia Social and Behavioural Sciences; 2010); The relationships between mother's perfectionism and five years old children's academic self-esteem (3. International congress on Early childhood Education, Abstract Book: 2012); and An Investigation of empathic skills of children and parents (International Journal of Social Sciences and Education: 2013).

Hatice Erten Sarkaya is a preschool teacher at the Preschool, Denizli, Turkey. She is also pursuing a PhD degree at the Department of Preschool Education in the Pamukkale Üniversity. Her research interests are targeted to preschool education and include social skills, peer relationship, school adjustment, environmental education, media literacy and technology use. Some of her research outcomes have been presented in respected conferences and published in proceedings and journals. She also a co-author of several book chapters.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Pamukkale University (Turkey) Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit [grant number 2014HZL019].