On the use of email in further education

The benefits and drawbacks of email have been widely researched using a number of approaches in a variety of contexts. Whilst there has been a general consensus regarding these there has been no unified approach to tackling the issues presented. Methodological limitations, contextual differences and focus on recipient behaviour have limited toe tools that have been presented to users to enhance use. A mode was proposed to overcome these limitations and provide a basis upon which email use can be enhanced and the effectiveness maximised. A large scale study was undertaken in the Welsh Further Education sector which included all institutions both pre and post-merger. A total of 1198 survey responses were received with 1010 used for analysis. A follow up exercise comprised of fifteen in depth interviews to build upon the survey responses. Descriptive and content analysis was undertaken along with Chi Square, ANOVA and Bivariate Correlation tests. Results have demonstrated that role culture has a significant part to play in the use email. This analysis has also used email to demonstrate the divide between managers and non-managers. Usage statistics have shown an upward trend in the volume of email use and the extent to which it exceeds perceived manageability, an indicator of overload. The importance of working relationships has been investigated and linked to email behaviour. The future perceptions of email have been explored to show how users perceive unsustainable increases to be likely and that behavioural modification is necessarily. Finally, the proposed conceptual framework has been refined and justified along with recommendations for the development of appropriate and robust training to replace current training which is poorly engaged with.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Silverstone, Benjamin M.

• L Addysg (Cyffredinol)

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:592