WhatsApp Use and Interpersonal Communication among Postgraduate University Students in Lahore, Pakistan
A Technology Acceptance Model Perspective
Keywords:
WhatsApp, Interpersonal Communication, Technology Acceptance Model, Higher Education, Mobile Learning, Social Networking ServicesAbstract
The increasing integration of mobile instant messaging applications into higher education has transformed the way university students communicate, collaborate, and engage in academic activities. Among these applications, WhatsApp has emerged as one of the most widely used platforms for academic interaction due to its accessibility, ease of use, and interactive features. Despite its widespread adoption, previous studies have reported contradictory findings regarding its influence on students' interpersonal communication. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between WhatsApp use and interpersonal communication among postgraduate students enrolled in four universities in Lahore, Pakistan. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the study investigated two key dimensions of WhatsApp adoption: perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. A quantitative survey research design was employed, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 159 MPhil and PhD students studying at the University of Lahore, the University of Education, the University of Management and Technology, and Riphah International University Lahore Campus. The questionnaire demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha values of 0.806 and 0.912 for the two constructs. The collected data were analysed using correlation analysis in SPSS (Version 25). The findings revealed a strong positive relationship between the perceived usefulness and convenience of WhatsApp for academic communication and students' interpersonal communication (r = .746, p < .001). The results indicate that WhatsApp facilitates academic discussions, resource sharing, peer collaboration, and continuous interaction between students and teachers, thereby supporting effective interpersonal communication in higher education. The study contributes to the growing literature on educational technology by providing empirical evidence on the educational value of WhatsApp in postgraduate learning environments. The findings also offer practical implications for university administrators and educators seeking to integrate mobile communication technologies into teaching and learning practices.
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