Radio evolution - ICS - Universidade do Minho

Teresa Piñero-Otero & Fernando RamosThe first group of 45 graduate students in communication was selected on the assumption that, by theirproximity to the communication field, they would present an active consumption of media as well as hold aninteresting perspective on the possible contents of this web radio (which could be incorporated later in research).The selection of the second group of 18 undergraduate and graduate in other scientific areas was due tothe need for a sample of students from the AU whose media consumption, and ideas regarding the potential ofan university webradio, would not be influencied by their proximity to the field. This sample could offer a differentperspective from communication students.The third group consisted on 15 foreign students-researchers (all of them users of the residence of the UA)as a representation of the relevance from this population in Aveiro university community.These three groups of students have in common their status as active users of social networks (one ormore). Indeed, 89% were connected at least once this week and 68% interact in social networks every day.This volume of hits in the sample reveals a prevailing culture of networks that could be transferred to theuniversity community realm. Transfer that would enable the establishment of horizontal links (between equals),vertical (students-professors) and even of diagonal type (with other audiences AU) encouraging the universitycommunity cohesion.Figure 1. Frequency of use of social networks among students in the sampleThe questionnaire was chosen as the tool to understand the precepts that students have about thepotential of webradios for the university community. Data was collected quantitatively and qualitatively throughdifferent types of questions (depending on the type of response: open, closed, multiple choice, yes or no, Likertscale or hierarchy scale).The last part of the questionnaire focused on students preferences and perceptions about webradios andtheir ability to establish relationships with other community members, to strengthen the academic community andto foster a sense of belonging. It also included other issues, regarding the use of social media, as other tools ofweb 2.0, and the interest in participating in a possible college radio. In order to validate the questionnaire, acontrol group of five individuals (belonging to the population under study) was used, which allowed theimprovement of the formulation of some questions, as well as the overall coherence and organization of this datacollection tool.ProfessorsProfessors are the other main public from college radio and, for this reason, it would be interesting to learnabout their perception about college radio possibilities to strengthen of the academic community. Their inclusion30 | ECREA: Radio Evolution: technology, content, audiences – conference 2011