A study on the impact of technology devices use on the psycho social problems of school children

Abstract

The increasing dependence on modern technological devices due to periodic social changes and the arrival of COVID-19 pandemic has become a contemporary issue in society. It exerts various impacts on the social, behavioural, physical, and psychological health of school students representing different economic and social levels. Due to scarcity of studies conducted on the psychological and social problems arising from the use of technological devices among school students in the local context, this research aims to explore the psychological and social issues faced by school students as a result of their use of technological devices, completing the research gap. It will be expected to study the impacts on behavioural, social, physical and psychological health issues by the use of technological devices. This study will be conducted under a mixed methodology that integrates quantitative and qualitative approaches, following a descriptive sequential design. During the implementation of the study, it will be expected to select a representative sample of 10 schools from Kurunegala and Puttalam districts in North-Western Province, proportionally according to strata through simple random sampling. In this process, a sample of 150 students from grades 8 and 9 will be selected through systematic sampling, and quantitative data will be collected by providing questionnaires to them. Qualitative data will be gathered through focus group discussions with students and their parents, semi-structured interviews with teachers. The quantitative data collected in this manner will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis such as chi-square, and inferential statistical methods like T-test and ANOVA, while qualitative data will be analyzed through thematic and content analysis methods. This study recommends an understanding to researchers and community about psycho-social issues arising from school students' use of technological devices within local context, contributing new knowledge to research field, and implementing a mental counseling programme through human resource contributions.