Family Perceptions of the use of Interactive Entertainment Technologies and new Patterns of Social Behaviour among Children in Mbengwi Sub Division

Abstract

This study investigated family perceptions of the use of interactive
entertainment technologies and whether it leads to new patterns of social
behaviour among children in Mbengwi sub division. The main research
question for this study was; does the use of interactive entertainment
technologies as perceived by parents lead to new patterns of social behaviour among children? To answer this question a hypothesis was formulated as follows; there is a significant relationship between family perceptions of the use of interactive entertainment technologies and new patterns of social behaviour among children. A triangulation of both the descriptive survey design and the phenomenological research design were used to conduct this study. In this light, qualitative data was used to buttress quantitative data. The population of this study was made up of families living in the Mbengwi sub division. A sample of 200 parents was chosen for this study using the purposive and snowball sampling techniques to obtain quantitative data with the aid of a close ended questionnaire and qualitative data with the aid of an open ended
focused group discussion guide. Data were analysed following a triangulation approach in methodology, analytical process and statistical packages. From the data analysed, it was realised that, the use of interactive entertainment technologies as perceived by parents lead significantly to new patterns of social behaviour among children which were negative by nature (sexual immorality, violent actions, drug abuse and poor dressing styles). The following recommendations were made to various stakeholders concerned as follows; parents should strive as much as possible to provide parental guidance and select the types of programmes their children watch over television and other interactive entertainment technologies. Parents should equally monitor, regulate and control the amount of time children spend on socialising with interactive entertainment technologies.